The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-02-29

lished to the effect that Blaine would
not take a second place on the ticket in
the coming election. To us it appears
a ridiculous superstition to entertain.
Why should Blaine take a second place?
Who is the man to assume the first
place, to..which Blaine should be second?
No man in the United States can justly
take precedence Of James G.. Blaine to-
day. No man has accomplished more
for, or deserves better of, the country.
No man is better calculated to stand at
the head of public affairs during the
next four years. Blaine is the great
American statesman Of the present age.
A truth that will be conceded by future
ages, though now denied by the politi-
cal foes of the opposite and rivals Of
the same party.
Who are Blaine's competitors for the
presidency We will not deny that
among them are very able and deserv-
ing men, who are worthy of the high
position to which they aspire, but the
question now is, not who is worthy, but
who is the most capable Of the pace.
The most prominent of Mr.. Blaine's
rivals is Gen. Grant. who has already
served two terms, and with all respect
to Gen. Grants military ability, we
must allow that his career as president
did not rebound to his credit. He was
In nearly all respects a poor president.
In the capacity of chief magistrate, his
reputation is as low as it was justly
high in the position Of general of the
army. To support this statement it is I'M
necessary to cite instances of particular
failures. Such instances were, unhap-
PLY, of too frequent occurrence for the
welfare of the nation. We have no de-
sire to impugn the character Of Gen.
Grant, but closein the language Of his
admirers, who say, THAT owing to ex-
p~erience at home and abroad he will
make a BETTER president than before"
Mr.. Sherman, and the present incum-
bent, are both men of great ability and
would fill the executive department
with credit to themselves and the coun-
try. The latter, however, is not at
present prominently before the people,
and has in a measure renowned all
idea of becoming a candidate, by his
declaration to the contrary on the v
of his election. Secretary Sherman
has proved himself an able %inancier,
and gained a reputation as secretary OF
the treasury, unequalled since the days
of Hamilton.
L. b. Washburne's chief claim to the
position seems to be owing to the fact
of his giving aid and encouragement to
Grant during his early career. His
election would be simply a repetition Of
the scene enacted forty years ago, when
Gen. Jackson transmitted his scepter
to his admired successor, Martin Van
Buren,, who had about as well founded
claims to the presidency as Mr.. WASH
burne has at present.
None Of the above mentioned, when
all things are taken into account, can
compare with Blaine, with as patriotic
a record and with ability far surprising
that Of Grant. With all the profundi-
ty of Sherman, and the brilliancy Of
Conkling, he stands pre-eminent among
all political compeers in America at the
present time. He is the man for the
place, and the only man for it. He
may never attain to the position, polit-
ical intrigue and the jealousy of rivals
may defeat him, as they did Henry
Clay fifty years ago, but should such
prove the case, the country would lose
more than her greatest statesman.
Henry Clay's reputation for genius and
wisdom is perhaps greater with the
present generation than it would have
been, had he realized his aspirations and
inscribed his name among the presi-
dents of the United States. Mr.. Blaine,
in case of n defeat or q failure to re-
ceive the nomination of his W party,
will undoubtedly suffer keen disap-
pointment, as he witnesses the triumph
of an inferior man. The succeeding
generation, however, will look back
with mingled establishment and indig-
nation at the folly of a people, who
could sacrifice their best interests, by
ignoring an extraordinary and selecting
a much inferior man for chief magis-
trate of the nation.