The Indianapolis journal., 1884-06-24
A PEOPLES CAMPAIGN.

lar will in the selection of the party's candi
dates was abrogated in answer to the demand
of the rank and file of the party; so that when
the convention assembled at Chicago it was
completely in the hands of the individual dele
gates who came directly from the people, and
who knew they were individually responsible
to the people who sent them there to execute
their will The result was the selection of
candidate for the people and by the people
without the trickery and manipulation posi-
BILE under the unit rule. If ever candidates
were selected by the will of an overwhelming
majority of the Republicans of this nation,
James G. Blaine and John A. Logan were.
The big managers" were conspicuously
absent from the Chicago convention, and the
popular demand was needed. This must be
conceded by fair-minded men of all parties.
The result of the Republican convention
of this year is different from the two that
Immediately preceded it, in that the leading
candidate, the strongest man, was strong
enough in the esteem and affections of the
people to easily distance all competitors.
There was no clark horse" to be thought of.
Blaine led from the start and as the second
choice he was the favorite of four-fifths of that
convention, while ninety y-nine-hundredths of
the delegates were willing to cordially and
Loyalty accept him as their candidate. In this
feature the campaign of 1884 differs from
those of 1876 and 1880. Hayes was the dark
est Of clark horses, and only succeeded when
the big men before the convention concluded
to "kill" each other. In that year no one of
the candidates overtopped his competitors;
the people and the politicians were divided,
and compromise fight was made, with
what result is matter of political
history. In 1880 Garfield was given the race
under similar circumstances, but, being more
conspicuous before the people than was Hayes,
he was more popular, and was elected by the
people. The candidates this time represent
the people, and by the people will they be
elected The enthusiasm will not have to be
manufactured. While it may not manifest it.
self in perpetual effervescence of fireworks
anyl hurra, it is none the less genuine, and
will abide and grow stronger as the election
day draws nearer.
But there is one feature of the campaign of
this year that is like those which have pre-
ceded it. The professional calumniator is
getting in his perfect work. The prominence
of Blaine, as congressman, SENATOR and Sec
retary of State; his restless, his resistless en-
| ergy and aggressiSeness, have made him
man to be dreaded by the opposition; and as
a most natural but no less shameless conse-
quence he has long been the object of
the enemy's most malignant at
tacks. Standing in the fierce light
of his exalted position, in which
his every action was subject to the scrutiny of
! his most relentless adversaries, the marvel is
that he has come up out of the fight so free
from the ISLANDERS of the envious. But in these
attacks he suffers only as all other Republican
can didates have suffered. Lincoln was de-
threatening the peace of the nation, and as a
dangerous man in all respects. Grant was
decried as blood thirsty fellow, who had
blundered on to victory through the remorse-
less slaughter of his soldiers, and as man
likely to involve the nation in foreign
wars. Hayes was swindler, and
Garfield was a canting hypocrite posing as a
moral man while intent on trading on his in
fuence. Each and all of these have survived
their spiteful and petty calumniators. The
names of the first and the last are conspicuous
even when mentioned in connection with
that of Washington. General Grant is above
| all detraction 1t will be so with Blaine
Possessed as he is of every qualification for
the exalted Office to which he is nominated,
he will so discharge his duties
ord to the oncoming generations.
James G. Blaine is too wise man to throw
away the opportunity to win the imperishable
gratitude and affection of the American peo-
pie when he shall have been given the office
of chief magistrate. The man now at the head
of public affairs was nominated under the
same shadow of slander that is now cast over
Blaine. 1t was shown (O that President Ar
thur was discharged from the New York
custom-house because of questionable meth
ods. But there are few, if any, who
care to repeat these charges, nor longer to
consider their merits. His administration has
been marked by its uniform fairness, and he
will resign it possessed of the honor and con-
fdence of all the people.
That there should be those who publicly