The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-14
THE PRESIDENTIAL OUTLOOK

y
who may be the candidates of the two
parties.
The most striking fact that looms upon
the educated eye is the disappearance
from the scene of the great figures upon
whom In foRner years attention has been
chiefly directed General Grant, Mr.
Blaine and Mr.. ConkHng are now all out
fof the running; and. 10 come down to
lesser lights, John Sherman and William
Window are Likewise eliminated Indeed,
the only men of any magnitude in the
republican party, who descend to us
from the earlier period is Senator Ed
munds, of Vermont. who has just been
elected president of the senate But he
is likewise substantially unavailable. The
republicans are sure TO carry Vermont,
anyhow and the nomination of Edmunds
would add nothing to their strength in the
Middle States, where they must get votes
or perish.
Who is there, then, that the Republic
cans can take up with any cheerful hope
of success? Under whom can they enter
the contest in cheerful array? Alas, there
remains to them only lot of men of the
second order, such as Harrison, Allison,
Hawley. Logan, Dawes, Don Cameron
and ingalls,. OF the whole crowd Ingalls,
seems to be the one who possesses the
talents out of which an original and effec
tive statesman might be made. But
would he be able to carry Pennsylvania
or Ohio? Would New York be brought
back into the republican fold if Ingalls,
were the shepherd Could he carry Indi-
ana, and be certain of Illinois? We are
sorry to say that we fear not. His slash
ing style of attack has m tde him foes;
and we believe there are some recollec-
tons of the past that might be summoned
up to do him injury. Thus the one excep-
tiOnal republican becomes rs unavailable
as the Others; and tn once mighty party,
with its famous history and its gigantic
| exploits seems to be reduced 10 the neces-
| sity of falling back upon some decent
| specimen of unassailed mediocrity and
| going into the election with him fore
doomed to destruction.
| 1t is q very interesting circumstances
that, while the republicans are in this re
duced condition, the democrats, who have
so long played the inferior part, now
stand forth comparatively well provided
with experienced and competent men.
Among these there is no doubt that in the
public estimates Mr.. Bayard holds lead
ing place. He is perfectly upright, IN
| dependent, and highly accomplished
statesman. 1t is true that among poll
ticians of discrimination and experience
there is fear that his judgment is some
times rather craky and uncertain; but this
is far from being sufficient to prevent his
selection as the candidate of the demo
crazy. The fact which is the most against
him. is that he lives in Delaware, a little
state counting only three votes in the
electoral college; and that these are sure
to be cast for the democratic candidate,
no matter who the man may be. For this
reason the democracy is quite likely to
look elsewhere, and to seek for some one
who may be relied on to carry New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio or Indiana, one or
two of the large states, without whose
assured support the success of the demo
cratic ticket cannotbe regarded as certain
beforehand.
The three tidal wave governors -But-
ler Cleveland and Pattson-have been
supposed to. enjoy some prospects of
getting the nomination; but so far as
Cleveland and Pattison are concerned,
their chances may be regarded as entirely
wiped out. Concerning these two gov
errors public opinion has settled down to
the conviction that they do not fill the
bill. They have not the intellectual out
fit that is desirable for presidential
candidate. They must tarry at Jericho
until their boards are bigger This how
IyiS
provided with brains thap he, few equal
him in varied experience of public affairs.
He has also an enthusiastic following in
all parts of the union; but, after all, it
will not be forgotten that his return to
the democracy is only recent fact, and
that for many dreary years, when others |
were fighting against desperate odds the |
great battle of liberty and good govern
ment Butler remained an adherent of /
Grantism, justifying and defending its |
most atrocious outrages. All the tidal
wave governors may, then, be left out of |
calculation for 1884.
Turning to the west, we find there
among democratic magnates four very /
conspicuous persons. First, there is the |
veteran Thurman, of Ohio, a man ofhigh |
quality and wide experience, learned, |
able, imbued with democratic ideas. 1t |
is true that only few years ago he was
LED into the serious error of adopting. for
a time at least, some of the absurdity of
the greenback currency programme; but
for this fault he has been severely chas-
tened and it need not now be much laid |
up against him. Indeed. no man would
be more sure of being elected president
than Allen G. Thurman. provided he
could obtain the nomination of the demo
cratic national convention. But to do
this, the delegation of Ohio must be
unanimously and earnestly and per-
sistently combined in supporting him as
their only choice. Can this be accom-
plished by his friends next year? We
know not, but we know that, if it is not
done, Thurman. too, with all his public
services and all the prestige of his
character and his ability will be ruled
out.
The other three western aspirants of
whom we have spoken are Mr.. Hendricks.
Mr. Mcdonald and Gen. Pal
mer. Either of them would doubt
less make a respectable president,
and Palmer would likely make
a brilliant one. But SO long as Hendricks
and Mcdonald are both DESTROYS of the
neither can hope 10 win it;
and while Palmer would everywhere
prove strong candidate, the rivalries
which surround him in Illinois are, we
fancy, likely to prevent that union and
that zeal of the democracy in his behalf
which are necessary to give him the dele
CATION and to carry his name in triumph
through the ordeal
Such are the difficulties which confront
the older champions in the effort to bear
of this supreme honor of politics. But
there is younger generation of demo
cratic athletes who may contend for the
Al