Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-22
RIaine and Arthur

There is active rivalry going on be-
tween MIR. Blaine, the plumed knight of
Maine, and Mr.. G. A. Arthur, the Presi-
dent of the United States. for the next
Republican Presidential nomination. So
when Mr.. Blaine succeeded in securing
to himself the credit of having carried
his State for the Republican party in the
late election, it was challenge to Mr.
Arthur to go and do likewise or throw up
the sponge. Mr.. Arthur promptly &C
cepted the challenge, and presented as
his candidate for the Gubernatorial
nomination of his State Mr.. Charles ].
Folger, Secretary of the Treasury. Mr..
Folger was opposed by Governor Cor
nell, and various other rivals for the
honor of more or less prominence.
He was successful over all, however,
and so far Arthur is triumphant.
The next question is, will he continue
to TRIUMPH He certainly will if he
can, because his future political pros
poets depend on it, and we incline to
believe he will be successful. He will
leave no stone unturned to carry his
point, and he has two powerful agencies
IN his favor-Federal patronage and John
Kelly. The whole force of the former
will be thrown on the side Of his favorite,
and Its power to control elections and
manipulate voters has been already fire.
quently displayed, while as to John
Kelly there is no use denying his
power for evil. He controls about forty
thousand voters, who render him blind al
legiance. They call themselves Democrats
simply because they have gotten in the
habit of doing so because Of the services
of the Democratic party to foreign born
citizens in old Know Nothing days
AS to the principles of either party they
are entirely ignorant, and they, therefore,
simply do what John Kelly tells them.
With this force he can hold the balance
of power, and, by boiling, draw off
enough votes from the Democratic party
to insure Radical success, and that he will
find some pretext to bolt there can be no
reasonable doubt. He is Arthur's man.
He controls Tammany and Arthur con-
trolls him. Therefore just as he sold out
to Arthur and the New York custom
house ring when Cornell was elected
about three years ago, and as he sold out
to Arthur in the Hancock campaign two
years ago, so he will probably sell out to
Arthur now, and secure Folger's cleo
ton.
But the success of Arthur in New
York will by no means bring him sur
cease of trouble. He will then stand on
a level plain with Blaine, and the two
rivals will come before the national
convention with equal claims as
bosses of their respective States.
Then the actual contest in which the
country is more particularly interested
will begin. Blaine is evidently deter
mined to be the next Presidential nomi-
nee of his party or fight. Arthur is
equally as determined that if
he cannot secure the nomination him
self, he will at least be in position to
have power with the next administration,
provided it be Republican. To this
end, therefore, he will work
diligently, either for himself,
Or-fnding his own nomination
impracticable-for some one of his per
sonal friends. The contest will be hard
and bitter, and what the end may be
no one can now foretell. 1t may even
wax so warm as to result in a break up
of the Republican party, just as the
Douglass and Breckenridge rivalry broke
up the Democratic party in 1860.
If New Yorks going Republican this
fall will have this effect, it will, as is
needless to say. BE- a fortunate event for
the country and the Democracy, and
will therefore not be regretted.
The Democrats can watch the contest
with great cOmplacency, satisfied that
whether Arthur kill Blaine, or Blaine
kill Arthur, or they each do kill the
other, every way makes their gain.