The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-17


nominated he would take the field far him. This
gentleman is so near TO BttIue that his sta e
mcuts are important II THIS - true. it would
nuicate That Artnur's policy Of ignoring fac
lions, and thus considering tie interest Of the
partv, sad offended Grant and Conkliug. TINS
latter animation | have the best authority Tor
believing.
The next gentlemen met was prominent
Democrat OF the THnmany Scnuol. VINO is us
ell posted IN New York politics as any man on
Manhattan island. He said II the election for
delegates were held now, Arthur wousd have a
d. cided majority. He did not believe, under The
district system that is to prevail, any man
would have a united delegation to start with;
but Arthur would come nearer to it Than any
other man VINO had been named As to carry
ing the State, shat WAS another filing. He
tnousbt the Democrats, ii they did not fool
away their chances, would carry II. But Ar
thur carried New York for Garfield, and he
ungnt TO be able to do well for himself as
could be done for any other Republican. There
was nothing that Arthur did that gave more
nfonse than his trim TO Albany 10 help Conkling.
If the latter should turn against him, as is now
reported, IL would help Arthur rather than hurt
him. An alliance between Grant, Conklng aud
Blame against Arthur, and against the field,
would Seem unnatural that it would not
strike the country favorahly, and iT would
make more friends for Arthur in New York than
enemies.
Another gentleman 1 conversed with is him
self strong man i'll the Republican party, aud
he has relations that give peculiar significance
to his opinions. He is "a strong and very decided
party man, but is not the partisan Of any candi-
date. He believes that an election held now for
delegates would result in favor of Arthur, and
II ne SHOULD ne nominated falrly Oy tne conVen-
ton, without drawing his strength from dele
gates who are not backed up by electoral votes,
he would poll the strength OF the party, and
carry New York.
The next candidate in order is Blaine. It was
reported ct Washington. and seemingly by at.
thorty, that Blaine would not permit his name
to 90 before the convention, and Mr.. Frye's
statement in the national committee that he had
no candidate, aud never would again press any
mans claims, gave color to the report. Never
tb"less there must be a mist, ke about this. Mr..
Dlalne himself Is in the background, writing
book, but he is a candidate through his friends,
and II these friends can accomplish what they
are aiming NJ. lie will prove a very formidable
candidate. He is strong man in the party; is
full OF ma gneJlSm, which he lmparts to mis- sup
pOrters, is brilliant, has a faculty of turning
enemies into friends, and no one, either Repub-
lican or Democrat need be told who or what
Blaine is He manifestly does not expect much
support in the convention from The South. This
is reasonably inferred from the opposition by
newspapers in his interest to the Malone effort
in Virginia to break the backbone of Bourbon
ism in that State, and to their disposition to ig
more the recent outrages and the election frauds
in South Carolina, by which Republican major
ltY of 10000 was driven from the polls The re-
lance Is upcn the North for nomination, as
the reliance of the party must be for election.
Another candidate is General Logan, bur
whatever may come to pass in the future, his
chances are not now seriously discussed.
Senator Sherman looms up in this way: He Is
not doing anything himself, nor are his friends,
so far as known. Nevertheless his chances for
the nomination are far better now than they
seemed four years ago. The opinion is almost
unanimous that Sherman is the strongest man
III the Republican party. He is in every sense
statesman, thoroughly familiar with pubic al
fairs, and his nomination would be an assurance
10 the country of stability in business, sound
ness in finance and honesty and economy IN the
administration.
The gentleman to whose conversation have
referred said that while sherman is not per-
sonally as magnetic or popular as others, he
would poll the full strength of the party in New
York. and carry it if anybody could, and if his
nomination and election depended upon the
for anybody in either party to oppose him. The
opinion to Sherman's great ability and purity
OF character is not confined to Republicans.
II is shared by observing men of all parties.
This being the case, his appearance at Chicago
az a very formidable candidate is far more than
probable. In case of his nomination there need
be no speculation as to the course OF his adj
ministraton in regard to the vital interest of
stmaster-general Gresham is widely spoken
of. He is the strongest man in Arthur's cabinet
is the master of his department, and is as pure
as he Is able. He was gallant soldier, and is
full of bullet holes. But there is far more to
him than his military record and his wounds.
He is admitted to be, IN point of capacity and
personal character, one of the foremost men of
the country. He is both negatively and posi-
lively strong, and If the Indiana Republicans
should unite upon him and rally TO his stand
ard in the convention as they did for Morton in
1876, his chances for the nomination would not
he second rate. He would be entirely accepJa-
bic to the East
Senator Harrison, of Indiana. is also largely
in the minds of the Republicans: it would not be
hard if Indiana Republicans would push him, to
place him in front position. He has inherited
4 great name. and what is far more and better. he
has fully sustained the reputation of President
Harrison.
Senator Edmunds is spolsen of occasionally
but no one seems TO regard him as strongly in
the field.
IL may be said in conclusion that with tn g.
spirit now prevailing in the Republican ranks
throughout the country, the nomination OF any
one of the distinguished gentlemen named would
be acceptable There would he neither kicks
nor sulks nor bolts, but united fight for victory
and, as | believe, successful fight. 1t is per-
feeiy safe to say that the packing of delegations
which has been practiced IN times past, would
he neither popular nor profitable. If such a
thing should be successfully charged upon any
candidate it would be fatal to him. 1t is de-
manded that the convention shall be delibera-
tive body, and that the nominee shall be the
choice of untrammeled and IInpedged delegates,
and that the interests of the party shall be rep
resented and expressed, rather than the inter
ests Of men. This is sentiment that at this
time is distinctly in the air, and if there
didates who think such call for reform in the
methods of conventions can be disregarded, they
will find themselves previously mistaken.