Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-06-27


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Ier An uMPRoBaRLE CANDIDATE
The Democratic press throughout the
country il Just now earnestly discus
,ina the strength and merits of prob
.ble and possible candidates for the
nomination. The tidal
nave Of last year which landed 30 many
iaht weights of that party upon tue
rock OF success has developed not I'M
natural scramble for higher grade OF
POLITICAL preferment. The result Is
crop Of candidates for office 70 which
the Iocusts Of Egypt would hardly COM
psre favorably in numbers, or, We
might add, iavenousness. The history
of the Democratic party during the past
twsnty-three years develops two things.
First, that it IL party Of eminent dis
oipliue. Il has few boilers. The men
Who nov and then rebel against party
rule. and decide elections By boiling
party tickets are not Democratic Nei-
Their does third or independent party
expect TO get much strength from that
source. Few Democrats repudiate their
marty dictum. Second, that it IL party
Of neeatious. II advances no new doc
triues. Il has never taken affirmative
o,ound save 10 enunciate opposition TO
the Republiean party and its admins
trations since the beginning OF the war
of the Rebellion, but has contented
itself with fighting against every radical
measure proclaimed by the Republican
party until IL has been enacted into law
and then coolly adopting the same as
one OF its cardinal doctrines OF faith.
The Democratic party will not want for
candidates at its next National Conven-
ton. "The woods are full Of them"
There are possible and probable candi'
dates; politicians with a record and
veuId-bs statesmen without record
var horses and dark horses. high tarif
ana free trade, var democrats and cop
psrbsads, post.military and post-civi'
functionarics of high and low degree
all anxious 70 serve the country at III
salaries, and all enthusiastic for tn
success-with attendant and appendan
suolumeuts- -of the party Of inquisitioi
and reaction. Among the possible, ant
not only 20 bot probable, candidates i
BENJAMIN r. Butler, now Governor o
Massachusetts and horrifisr Of the blue
bloods Of Beacon Hill. The Democratic
party could do worse than TO nominate
Butler for the Presidency. He ha
becn known AZ man who general!
stood his ground. He is a Democrat o
ancient and honorable political lineage
Away back before the war Ben Butlel
voted almost uncounted times 10 nom
mate JEFF Davis for the Democratic
Presidential candidate. This ought II
satisfy the Southern element of that
peculiar party even though later on the
redoubtable Major General glorified
himself by getting ''bottled up" in front
Of Richmond, in conflict with that por-
tion of the Democratic party with whom
hs had whilom affiliated. Upon the
Northern and war element Of his party
he certainly has claims, both Of mill
taYy and civil nature. Besides all this,
the General has been successful, and II
there 10 any one thing which gratifief
the Democratic vanity and gives con.
ISOLATION to the hungry patriots of that
party, that one thing Ii success. Suc.
cess means Office and patronage and
power. What more Ia there to live fori
Ben Butler has prestige, too. He has
succeeded by sheer force of will, persist
sncy and impotence in humbling to the
dust the long time rulers Of proud old
Massachusetts; has made them onnw
the hles Of oksgrin and defeat {, his
hearts content and the secret satisfac-
tiou Of numerous plain-thinking people
outaide the party whose banner he car
risd 10 victory. Therefore, We say, he
h not only possible but probable can-
didats. and II IL b legitimate to judge
Tho future by the past, his chances for
the Democratic nomination next sum-
NOR are not At all below the average.