New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-26

Washington believes that the recent events
in Maine have advanced Senator Blalne's
prospects as q candidate for the Presidency
Ex-Secretary Boutwell, explains the con-
nection of General Grant and the Treas
ury Department with the transactions of
Black Friday. 1t is discovered that the
Democrats hope to make campaign capital out
of the investigation of the Pension Office.
SENATOR BLAINE'S CANDIDACY.
HIS GROWING PoPULARITY-EFFECT OF THE
COLLAPSE OF THE MAINE CONsPRACY-THE
STRONG Man CRY LOSING EFFECT-rHE STRENGTH
OF GRANT AND SHERMAN.
fFRoa TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or rHE TRlBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-The collapse of the Maine
conspiracy has brought Senator Blame to the front
as Republican candidate for the Presidency, in
manner that is very gratifying to his friends and
adherentsn Washington, while its effect upon the
third-term movement. if it has had any effect at
all has been inst the opposite of that which
predicted. If it WAS one of tho objects or the
Fusionsts of Maine, or of those who furnished the
brains and the money that were necessary in order
TO put the bogus concern on its feet TO steal the
electoral vote of Name this year. and thus by de-
pnyine Senator Blaine of the support of his own
State TO make mis- candidacy impossible and dis
pose in advance of one of the most formidable, II
not the most formidable, candidate which the Re
publcans have, the movement has been a BOOM
erang. IL has gwen Mr.. Blaine an opportunity to
display some of those qualities which, more than
almost any others, essential for brilliant and
successful administration of National affairs.
The Senator from Maine has sometimes been
looked upon, even by friends as bold, dashing,
o. impetuous leader, who carried his points by the
momentum of bis sudden and unexpected blows
and lie has not always been given credit for marked
executive ability, or for the power of sustaining
long contest in which prudence and patient labor
were qualities needed. 1t is true that when he was
so savagely attacked by the Democrats in 1876
Mr. Blaine adopted what might be called cavalry
tactics" He swooped down upon Ben Hill. Proctor
Knott and others with such sudden and Overwhelm-
ing force that they found themselves IN the ditch,
covered with bruises and mud, before they could
gather their scattered senses and find out what had
hurt them. But at that very time when, if ever.
he would have been excusable for negecting to
attend to the details of complicated contest, in
which he had to meet the then Administration and
break " the machine" on the one hand, and check
mate the "refoImers" on the other, old politicians
were amazed when State conventions met, one
after another, to find that Mr.. Blame had left no
point exposed. North, South, East and West. fire.
quently from the most unexpected quarters, Blame
delegates were elected and while his opponents
in and out of the Republican party were declaring
votes.
In his management of the Republican cause in
Maine the Senator has probably displayed his pru-
dence and statesmanlike skill on no previous
occasion. The outrage of the Fusionists on law and
decency was unheard of and provoking, ana the
intensity of feeling among the people Of Maine so
great that almost any acts of violence by which
usurpation should be overthrown and the will OF
the people gwen its full effect would have been
al.
hot-headed leader that he has sometimes been sup
posed 10 be- Garceon's bogus Legislature and prob
ABLY the Governor himself. would have been
pjtched out of the windows of the State House on
the first day of their meeting. That tins was not
done was due to the forbearance of the Republican
leaders and especially of Mr. Blaine, and not to any
lack of ability of disposition to do 1t among thc
rank and file of their followers There he sat for
nine weeks in the midst of the whirlpool OF excite
ment, giving himself almost no rest nlght or oaV'
listening TO all sorts of plans, making no misstep'
and finally bringing about apeaceable solution OF the
whole controversy. The conspiracy has been over
thrown full effect has been given to the will of the
people, the majesty of the law has been vndicated,
the electoral vote of the State has been saved TO the
Repubcans and it has been accomplished without
the firing of a shot the striking of a blow. He
will be a very daring man who VIII hereafter ex-
press doubt of Senator Blaine's political prudence
OF executive skill
While the Blaine stock has risen in Washington
since the peaceabe establishment OF legal govern
ment in Maine and public men, who before told
their preferences under their breath, now speak out
boldly Grant stock has been correspondingly
depressed. AS long the result of the Maine con-
troversy was doubtful, 1t was q popular thing to
talk about what General Grant wonld do under
similar circumstances, and the thIrd-teIm men pre-
dating that the psurpation would be successful,
began TO speak of Mr. Blaine out of the Presi-
DENTAL race Senators Conkling and Cameron, it
was SAID, would carry the New-York and Pennsyl-
vania delegations to Chicago solid for General
Grant and his nomination would become neces-
.ty If for no other than as warning to the
Democrats that tine Maine performance must not be
repeated, either at Washington or at any State
capital This kind of talk has entirely ceased IN
Washington during the past few days.
Senator Cameron is man who keeps Ills own
counsels butI doubt il even he now expects to
have ANYTHING like united delegation from Penn
sylyania for Grant The Blaine movement has de-
yeloped unexpected strength in the Keystone State
RECENTLY. and it now looks doubtful that any at
tempt 70 instruct the delegation from that State
will be made.
In Ney-Yorl Secretary Sherman is certain to have
considerable following and his friends now declare
that majority of the DELEGATES from that state
will 90 TO Chicago uninstructed and that General
Grant will not be their first CHOICE but Mr. Sher-
man will be their second. Senator Blaine is said
also to be likely to have delegates from New
York.
A majority of the Southern delegates are oy
pretty general consent among KepnDhcahs ac-
corded TO Secretary Sherman, although General
Grant could secure many of them if his friends
were to make the effort. The South was very un-
olo IN, he lasf National Convention.