The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-23
Deacon smith TEN. All About H..


Deacon Smith, Of Cincinnati, has ira
yelled east as far as Washington, New
York, and possibly Boston, and writes to
his paper as follows:
Especial to the CommerciaI-Gaze,te.
New YORK, December l7.-Having ziven
you general views az expressed at Wash
lngton and here In regard to Republican
candidates for the presidency, think IL
may be interesting to furnish in this dis
patch something with regard to Demo-
cratic views and plans; and may remark
that my conclusions are drawn from the
highest sources Of information on the
Democratic side, as would be admitted
were at liberty to give names.
THE CARLISLE SIDE.
IL is conceded that the election OF Car
Isle TO the speakership changed the whole
plan of the presidential campaign. Had
Randall been elected the presidential can
didate would have been taken from the
East, and the campaign would have been
conducted on RandalPs tariff platform.
But the West and South having forced
Carlisle upon the party, aud with him his
well-known free-tradc principles, 1t is now
agreed that the candidate must come from
the West; that the eastern States may as
well be abandoned to the Republicans, and
that the fight must be for western votes,
which, added to the solid South, will be
sufficient to elect. Democrats claim, and
some OF them seem to believe, that Illinois,
Wisconsin, and possibly Iowa, can be car
ried on free-trade platform.
This feature OF the case was fully recog-
L. Il
ton OF Carlisle. and having accomplished
the first step in the programme, they are
now ready for the second. Their COnyen-
ton will be held at the West, and probably
at Cincinnati. Their platform will be
tinged with incidental protection. but it
will be virtually free trade, and the candi-
date will be free-trader. The dilemma
In which the election OF Carlisle placed the
party, it was thought by some, might be
escaped by nominating the old ticket. But
this Is out Of the question. by reason OF
Mr.. Tilden's feebleness. An intimate
friend OF his tells me he cannot speak
above whisper, and that bis road leads to
the grave, and not to the White House.
This friend of his also assures HE be would
not accept the nomination ii ii were unan-
imousy rendered. The old-ticket escape
is therefore closed.
The RANDALL SIDE.
There are not wanting politicians who
discover In this logic signs OF that hlunder-
ing which has come 10 be common IN Dem
ocratic political management. They rel-
son differently from the others. To con-
test for Wisconsin and Illinois on free
trade platform is (they sayl to lose New
York and Connecticut inevitably whereas
with an eastern man. whose record on hnan-
cial questions has been conservative, at the
head OF the ticket, is TO make New York
the battle-ground, and to increase the
chances OF the party. 1t is held that
to add to the election OF Carlisle as Speaker
the nomination OF Mr.. Mcdonald or any
other western free-trader for President
would be TO ALLEVIATE the eastern Democrats
who have been counted among the warm
supporters OF Mr.. Tilden. On the other
hand, il an eastern man acceptable TO the
protectonists were nominated upon the
Ohio platform. whatever mischief has been
done by the election OF Mr.. Carlisle would
Ee speedily corrected. Mr.. Randall himself
is such man. But ii Randall is not accept
able, there are net wanting other good men.
Mcdonald. however, Is part and parcel OF
the Carlisle plan. and il he should fail.
then Palmer, OF Illinois-Palmer, in fact,
is looked upon by many as more than a
good second, but if the philosophers OF the
party who pushed free trade to the front
scceeded, Mcdonald will be the presi-
dental nominee. Occasionally Judge
Thurman's name is heard, but there is
no boom as yet. Prominent Democrats do
not undertake to disguise their appreben-
sions OF defeat in 1884, and shrewd men
who have opposed the Southwest dictation
believe that the Carlisle programme as
hitherto marked out leads inevitably to
the election of q Republican In 1884