Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-08-15
The Presidential Canvass.

Inc freSlQenClal CauVdSS.
MR. BLAINE's DEsPoNDENCE-.BAD SHOW
ING FOR THE REPUBLICANS IN CALI
FoRNIA, NEVADA, KANSAS, WISCONSIN,
ILLINOIS AND OHIO.
I From the Washington Special Correspondent of
the New York SUM-
Mr. Blaine is causing those who are
managing his canvass no little anxiety
He is no longer the dashing and audaci
GUS Plumed Knight of 1876. He Is a
changed man. Though always the most
cautious and secretiye of men, he used to
conceal these traits by an assumption of
dash and pluck that was a most artistic
as well as long-sustained piece of acting.
Now, however, his friends fad that the
brilliant aggressiveness is gone. He seems
to be not only timid but almost indiffer-
emit. If he has any great interest in the
approaching canvass he does not reveal it.
He simply urges his friends to go on with
the canvass in their own way, and let him
be at peace so far as possible.
Mr.. Blaine has already received great
deal of information respecting the politi
cal situation, and he thinks that it justi-
fies his dependency. He claims at all
events that his political forecasts of last
winter were correct, and that the coun.
try has entered upon canvass that will
be unique, and that will show some unex-
pected results which the wiset man can
not now predict.
Mr.. Blaine last winter said that the
rank and file of the two parties would not
decide the battle, but the deserterS would.
and be knew that his candidacy would re-
suit III large number of deserterS. His
friends did not believe it. He did. While
Mulligan powder may have been burned.
it left in its burning a very deep scar on
the Republican party, and no one knew
that better than Blaine himself. 1t was
supposed that the fatal minority would be
mainly confined to New York, but the re-
ports already received show that it exists
throughout the country.
The Republican managers, both of the
National Congressional Committee and
the National Committee, while they do
not share Blaine's gloom, are very anX-
ious about some Of the States that have
been counted surely Republican. Unless
there be a change of sentiment in these
States before November the party is in
very serious danger OF losing some of
them. and is certain to lose others.
Taking some of the States from which
the committees have received bad news,
it will be found that there is much to JUS
tify alarm. Beginning with California,
the report comes that Blaine's reputed
popularity there is confined to San Fran
cisco. Republicans write that they fear
the State is hopelessly Democratic. There
will be no great Republican DETECTION
from Blaine; the German and Prohibi-
tion vote will not make any serious in
roads in the party. But, the truth is. the
Republicans have gained no strength
have. The private advices received set
the State down as anti-Republican by ten
thousand.
Nonews comes from Nevada that cheers
the Republican managers either by the
committee here or in New York. The
State is confidently claimed by the Demo-
cratic managers, and privately conceded to
them by the Republicans.
From Illinois comes some interesting
news, and of kind that makes it plain
that the canvas will be complicated.
There are about 130, 900 Germans voters in
Illinois. Eighty per cent. of these are ma
turally Republican. But the high-license
and local-opJion liquor law passed by the
Republican Legislature had caused many
of them to become dissatisfied before
that cannot be driven from the minds of
the Germans all through the West, that
Blaine is himself prohibitionist. The
result is that every day the news that
comes from the German districts of the
State gets worse and worse. In Chicago
alone the feeling is so strong that Mayor
Harrison, who IS running for Governor,
expects to carry the city by 10000, and he
predicts that the State will give Demo-
cratic plurality of 10000.
Kansas may cut up some very queer an
tics according to the information receiv-
ed. At the recent Prohibition Convention
in Pittsburgh the Kansas delegates said
that Gov. Sc. John would receive not less
than thirty thousand votes in that State,
and that nine tenths of them would come
from the old Republican organization.
The Republican managers do not be-
lieve that Gov. st. John can get thirty
thousand votes in Kansas but they admit
that if the Prohibition canvas is correct,
the State becomes doubtful. In Kansas.
too, the conviction has seized upon the
Germans that Blaine is a prohibitiOnlst,
aud because the Republican party is re-
sponsible for the sumptuary laws that
have been enacted in many States. Now
the ProhibitiOnists are opposing the Re-
publican party. because they assert that it
is not for suppression of the liquor traffic.
Between these two, the Republicans in
Kansas run some risks of falling into
minority. There are some twenty-five
thousand German voters in that State.
Reports received here show very serious
1iuof foatinn aorofp1 90 pQfi-
mating that at least Is 900 German Repub-
licans will not vote the Republican ticket.
Some Republicans. too, are known to have
repudiated Blaine because of his record,
though there seems to be less of this in
Kansas than in some other States. But
if the $4,000 Germans and the so 900 Pro-
hibitionists leave the Republican party,
Kansas is lost to the Republicans.
The news from Wisconsin is very gloomy
for the Republicans. Appeals for money
are already beginning to be received from
the State, coupled with the assertion that
unless substantial eanvassing of that sort
is done at once in Wisconsin, the State is
lost. Wisconsin gave Democratic plu.
rality of 5000 in 1882. and while Garfield
carried it by 10000 in 1880. Hayes re-
ceiyed only 5000 in 1876. The same COM
bination that threatens the Republicans
in Kansas and Illinois, is still more dang
erously threatening in Wisconsin. The
German vote is reported to be almost sol
idly antI-Republicao, and the Prohibit
tionists claim 20 900 votes. The German
press of the State is hostile to Blaine, and
the reports received at Democratic head
quarters here are that the Republican
ticket will be in a minority of ten thous-
and votes unless the situation changes be-
tween this and November.
Michigan is going to bear very close
watching. Its $4,000 Republican pIurali-
ty in 1880 was altered to 1000 Democratic
plurality in 1882. The tidal wave swept
over the state with greater force than
anywhere else excepting New York. The
same causes of discomfort that effected