Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-05-14
The Chicago Convention.

As the time for the holding of the National
Republican Convention at Chicago draws
near, the Interest in the political situation
deepens and it is bound to intensity with
each added day until the eventful hour which
decides the nomination arrives. At present
the result of each succeeding State conven.
ton is watched with eager solicitude, and the
friends of the two leading candidates console
themselves, and attempt to encourage their
followers by making up estimates of the vote
in the convention which show that their fayo-
rite-Grant or Blaine, as the case may be-is
sure of the nomination. Up to this time CON
ventions have been held and delegates chosen
in all but nine States and territories. An esti
mate, which, probably is as fair as can be
made, gives the vote of 27Oof these delegates
to Grant, 19S to Blaine. 90 to Thurman. 10 to
Edmunds, and Is to Washburn. The States
which are yet to elect delegates are Alabama.
20, Louisiana, 1G-both pretty sure for Grant
mississippi, 49, doubtful, Colorado and Ne
braska each six and also doubtful. Minnesota,
TO- probably for Window, her 'favorite son,
and Illinois, II, at present very much in
doubt Dakota and Wyoming territories are
also doubtful. With these figures before him.
every man can cipher on the result for him
self, with full assurance that he knows as
much about it and can probably guess as near
itas his neighbor.
The most interesting aud important deyel-
opment during the past week has been the
accumulation of evidence that the Grant
boom has irretrievably gone to pieces Ru-
mors which have for weeks been afloat have
takendefnite shape, and it isopenly announced
that, in spite of the efforts of Conkling in
the one State and Cameron in the other, there
will be serious defections from the Grant
strength in both New York and Pennsylvania
In New York the detection is yariously esti-
mated at from lG to 20 out of the delegation
of 10 and in Pennsylvania at from 20 to -
out of the delegation of IS. Wisconsin, in
stead of choosing a Grant delegation, has
chosen one instructed for Washburne and
worst of all, there is sure to be division in
Grants own State of Illinois, trouble in which
began in earnest on Monday with bolt of
the Grant men from the Cook county conven-
ton at Chicago, because they could not die
tate the conventions organization. In any
case it seems now, even taking the figures of
Grants own papers as basis, that his case
is hopeless one. Mr.. Baines friends expect
success by recruits from the Grant ranks,
with accessions from the Sherman delegates,
while Sherman's friends profess serene conf
dence that after the first ballot the tide will
turn and carry their favorite enthusiastically
in.
What, then, the result of the Chicago con-
ventiop will be was never more matter of
doubt than it is to-day, with the convention
less than three weeks distant. 1t is definitely
settled that no candidate is the spontaneous
choice of the party, and it is also as well set
tied as any future event can be that there
will be no nomination on the first ballot
Further than this it can only be said that the
indications grow stronger every day that the
nominee will be some other than either Grant,
Blaine, or Sherman. Around whom the SEN
timent of the convention will finally cluster
when the breaking up and scattering comes it
is useless to attempt to foretel With US the
wish is undeniably the father of the thought,
but we nevertheless believe there is well-as
sured ground for the hope that the wisest
counsels may prevail and the one conspicuous
man be taken against whom no objections can
be urged except that he is a Republican.
That man. it is needless to say, is George F.
Edmunds. No earnest Republican can help
awaiting the coming and the result of the na-
tional convention with feeling other than
one of deep solicitude, If he properly realizes
the grave Importance of the situation he will
also await it in the same spirit which we
know animates Mr. Edmunds-that of de-
termination to lay aside all personal prefer
ence and prejudice and give the nominee of
the convention loyal and unwRyering sup
port.