The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-04-02
Waking Up On the Presidency.

The masses OF the Republican party
are beginning to take an interest in the
matter of the Presidency. The general
indifference upon the subject which
lasted so long was not to be wondered
at, perhaps. The earnest contest of
1880, the controversy in Washington and
Albany in 1881, the assassination of
Garfield, and the events that followed
it, seemed to exhaust the political activ-
ity of the people. Then, too, the poht-
ical fashions have changed for the bet
ter. In 1876 and 1880 there were half
dozen candidates ayowedly seeking
the nomination Now there are hardly
more Than two. In 1880 the whole
party was convulsed by combination
OF some of its leaders to nominate a
popular hero for third term, and fol-
lowing this came more calamities to the
Republican party. Nothing like this
situation exists to-day.
One of the best possible signs for Re-
publican success in the election this
year is the thoroughly amicable char
acter of the discussion of Presidential
candidates which is springing up. There
is an old theory among certain
class of professional politicians that
quarrels in party keep its blood NOV
ing, and put it in condition for vigor-
Gus fight against the enemy. The Re-
publican party is at peace with itself
now. but that does not mean that it is
ready to be at peace with the Demo-
cratic party. There is no sign OF in
difference to Republican principles or
to the necessity of keeping the Govern
ment in good hands to be seen in the
good-natured, tolerant, easy-going talk.
over candidates now fairly beginning.
We hear no bitter denunciations of one
candidate by the friends of another.
We hear no angry declarations thai A
can't have the support of b, or that Cs
nomination will cause al immediate re-
volt of the friends of ID. The right of
every Republican to his own prefer
ences is freely recognized, and nobody
proposes to get mad about it. There is
less slangwhanging and abuse than we
remember to have seen in any recent
Presidential year. The newspapers and
leading men are calmly discussing Ar
thur, Logan and others who are under
stood to be candidates, with Blaine,
Edmunds and others who are UNDER
stood not TO be candidates, and usually
end their remarks by saying that the
nominee of the convention, whoever he
may be, can have all the Republican
votes.
The almost entire absence of avowed
candidates is most favorable circum-
stance. Il leaves delegates free from
personal pressure to a greater extent
than before, and this will be a great
help to deliberate choice. So far as
we have been able to see, the system of
district representation will be carried
out in absolute good faith, without any
attempt from any quarter TO interfere
with It. The unit rule is dead. 1t had
q resurrection once after being killed,
but nothing can revive it now. Every
thing promises well for representative
Convention, containing large proper
ton Of independent men, and for a
wise nomination. II there is any vir-
tue in the methods by which it is to be
made up, the Convention Of 1884 ought
TO be one of the sbest, if not the very
best, thst has met since the war.-M
y Tribune.