The Portland daily press., 1883-11-13
A Word of Caution.

1t was inevitable that after the elections
Of last week, showing as they did favola-
BILE outlook for Republican success in the
national election of next year, there should
at once start into life a great number OF
Presidential "booms." 1t is the time now
for everybody who wants anything, whether
place In the Cabinet, foreign mission,
postcffice, or relationship, to have his
name brought forward as that of one whom
some persons think qualified to be President.
1t Is time for politicians who are out of
power to try to recover prestige sufficient to
give them some sort of a claim to considera-
ton. We do not think it worth while for
anybody to give much heed to reports that
are current at this time; but some of them
are amusing enough.
What, for example, is more unlikely than
that the majority of the Republican party
will consent to take the candidate for Presi-
dent from California: Yet a good many
interesting paragraphs of special CORE
spondence are being written nowadays,
based on the theory that Senator Miller Of
that State is an actual competitor for the
nomination. In spite of the Ohio election,
or. for aught we know, because of it, Senator
John Sherman is talked about in some
quarters as if he would be an eligible man
next year. We suspect that if he could
secure the Ohio delegation, which is not
certain, he would be in about the condition
before the convention that Senator Conkling
was in at the Cincinnati Convention. Gen
sral Logan has some elements Of popularity,
due to his record as a soldier rather than to
his record as a statesman, but we do not
imagine he is seriously thought Of as a
possibility, even in Illinois
Perhaps, all things considered, the sudden
prominence of President Arthur is not the
least strange of recent developments. One
must have but meagre acquaintance with
New York politics to believe it possible that
he would be strong at the polls in that State,
or in other States which will occur to the
reader without mention of them. To read
the result of the late election as an indica-
ton that the section of the Republican party
which allowed his particular and representa-
100000 votes is ready to support him for
President does not betoken keen intelli-
sence. The Republicans of the country are
ready to give him all deserved credit for as
good an administration as be can make, all
the more willing because they did not ex-
pect much:. but as to wanting him for their
candidate In such campaign as there will
be next year that is another matter. This
will appear In due time if it should be dis
covered that he is seeking or that his old
friends are seeking, for him, that kind of a
vlndication.
We are disposed to think the people will
have an uncommoniy weighty voice in the
selection of the next Republican candidate,
and the politicians who want the party to-
be successful will do we'll to withhold their
hands from too much management. It will
not be an easy thing to obtain victory I'M
der any circumstances, and there are good
many plain people who want no offices, but
whose firmly held opinions it will be wise to
take into account. We say nothing now
about the wisdom or unwisdom Of their
prejudices 1t is sufficient that they exist
and must be dealt with as hard fact
OF the situation. Within four years
there has been such evidence on
this subject as it would be fully to ignore.
Fortunately there are men the soundness of
whose Republicanism nobody can question,
whose integrity, ability and patriotism COM
nand the confidence of all, whose nominal
ton would mean union and not division.
Upon wise choice among these depends
more than upon anything else Republican
suceess In 1894