Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-07-16
zancaster filtellige,lrer.
MONDAY EVENING. JULY 10. 1888
Too Previous.

Seven closely printed pages Of the New
York Times are taken up to-day with
what looks like a display of journalistic
enterprise, in the shape of answers to
some three hundred and fifty letters OF
inquiry sent out to the different states to
ascertain the drift of popular sentiment
in regard to the presidential candidates.
Asthe sources of the Times information
are not given the value of it cannot DC
accurately or even approximately
pauged. The number of reporters whose
services it has secured is very small!
compared with the vast number of those
who make and represent public senti
ment. The Times says its aim has
been to obtain the preferences Of the
people-the vOters-rather than the
choice of workers of political machlli-
ery.'' but the information has been
gathered by trustworthy men of both
parties, whose interests Oblige them 10
keep thoroughly informed in political
matters" These statements are not
entirely consistent, but the chances
are that its correspondents have given
it mainly an expression of their
own feeling rather than a fair reflection
of popular sentiment in their severa!
localities, if it indeed were possible TO
obtain such in the present unsettled con-
dition of the public mind. Upon the
whole Blaine is shown to be far ahead
in the favor of the Republicans and
Tilden with the Democrats, though moth
ing can be more confidently predicted OF
the presidential conventions next year
than that neither Of these gentlemen
will be the choice of his party. From
Pennsylvania they are given rs largely
leading in the affections of the people
and from this county the only centres OF
information reported are Columbia and
Lancaster at the former EdmundS and
Randall are reported the favorites, and
at the latter Blaine and Tilden. All of
this is, of course, very inconsequential,
and even were it fair exponent OF pop
ular sentiment rs it stands to day, il
would be of little value rs Il guide board
to the events of next year. The eXpe
rience of nearly every national conVen
tiOn has been the defeat of the
favorites and the nomination if not of a
dark horse at least OF some candidate
whose start was very unpromlsing.
Many important political events are TO
take place between the present time and
the presidential nominations chiei
aluong them being the pending fall elec
tions, the organization and the work OF
Congress and they may rs radically
change the present status of candidates
a, they will certainly influence the final
choice of them.
AS for the Pennsylvania Democracy,
we feel quite sure that they are to no
great degree fixed in purpose as TO the
candidate of their party next year. Their
immediate concern is not with that
matter, and any one who sets up
for leader Of them and seeks
now to disturb the organization with
this remOter question will be taken h'
the ear and sent To the rear. The men
who give vitality 10 the Democratic
party of Pennsylvania and unselfishness
and wisdom to its councils understand
that their work is to carry the state this
fall with good candidates on a sound
platform, and that presidential slate
making now will interfere with rather
than promote this work. 1t will be time
enough to canvass The presidential pre-
ferences after more important mattels
are disposed of.