Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-25
BAYARD AND THE PRESIDENCY
What the Senator'S Right-Hand Man
Thinks of the Outlook.


Attorney General George Gray, Of Della
ware, prominent citizen Of Wilmington,
and the right-hand man Of Senator Bay
ard, says a Washington special, was in
this city yesterday comforting with the
friends Of the Senator upon matters pre-
liminary TO the coming Democratic Ma
tional Convention. Mr.. Gray stands at
the head Of the Delaware Bar, has a great
deal Of political sagacity, and is known
beyond the borders of his State. He is a
polished orator. He was a delegate
to the convention of 1880, and to him fell
the lot Of making the speech nominating
the Senator at that time.
"What are Bayard's chances;'' asked
correspondent to-day of Mr.. Gray, after
he had alluded TO the efforts Of certain
Baltimore politicians to get up a boom
for Cleveland in Maryland.
without any organized effort having
been made, he is gaining with the Demo-
Gratis Of the country. We want TO nOmi-
nate a man who shall have points exactly
antipOdal to those of the Republican can
didate, and we can certainly not do so
well as by the nomination of Senator
Bayard. Before the nomination of Blaine
at Chicago / said Blaine's nomination
would make Bayard a necessity. You
have heard the same thing. Well, since
that nomination has been made, certainly
that feeling has not weakened, and that
necessarily is just as apparent to those
who are opposing Mr.. Bayard now as it is
to those who are his warmest and most
enthusiastic supporters. If there is a man
in this country who can stand stripped
stark naked with the glaring electric light
OF public opinion turned on his every word
(Dover speech and ALL, and his every
achievement, and stand by the verdict,
that man is Bayard. There is not a weak
point in his private or public character.
The only thing alleged against him to
affect his availability is the fact that
twenty-three years ago he made a speech
as tTue-hearted and patriotic Middle
State Democrat, and that speech voiced
the best sentiment of his party at the
North. No one can doubt the honesty of
patriotic feeling which dictated that
speech, and if that is all his enemies can
urge against him he would be the most
invulnerable candidate ever presented to
the American people,"
"Will he get the Independent voter'
SHE will. That bias been definitely set
tied. The Independents will vote for him
to man, and no one would be so wild as
TO suppose that he will lose a Democratic
vote anywhere"
''What of Mr.. Bayard's strength in the
conventioni''
81 have done some figuring. and l be-
lieVe that his strength will increase every
day till the convention meets, and that
the first ballot will surprise his warmest
friends. think he will lead in the con-
VentiOn."
"YOu have seen Senator Bayard recent
ly, supposer7
eyes; 1 just left him when started to
take the train. He is not taking any per-
sonal part in the matter. Heis attending
to his duties in the Senate as quietly as
though nothing were going on. He istaking
deep interest IN the contest; he does not
pretend to conceal that, and he talks to
his friends eagerly on matters pertaining
to the preliminary skirmishing. But l
firmly believe this" added Mr.. GRAY, seri-
ously, 'that Senator Bayard's first desires
are the good of the party and the triumph
OF the great principles which he holds
most dear, and that his own interests are
secondary to his beloved Democracy"
''You have just come from Delaware;
how are the boys feeling about 1t there?''
delaware Democrats are very en-
thusiastic this time and very hopeful.
They think they see in the signs Of the
times every indication of Mr.. Bayard's
success. The little State would 90 wild
with joy from end to end were he nomi-
mated. Our State Convention last Thurs
day was a wonderful one for enthusiasm
and harmony. A large delegation will
go from Delaware to Chicago in Mr.. Bay
ards interest this year. 1t will be COM
posed of our best men, and we expect it
to do us considerable good, as all are
effective workers."
As the reporter left him Mr.. Gray said
refiectively: "If you can remove between
Mr.. Bayard and the people the barrier of
self-seeking politicians, and let the peo-
pie get at him, he will go to the White
House very speedily