The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-03
Republicans and the Presidency.

New York Times correspondents see
| nothing but ant;-Arthur feeling. The
New York Trf6aHe and the Philadelphia
Press are gifted with men who encounter
an almost unanimous Blaine feeling.
The Springfield Republican, which can
not only, in its own opinion, discern the
face of the sky. but also read the signs
Of the times, can discover Cor divine) a
general yearEing for Edmunds. The
Chicago Tribune and the Eyphenated
Inter Ocean, of that city, the apostle OF
truly FL Mahdi Republicanism in the
Northwest, perceive that the mountains
flame and the prairies flush and the
valleys CLEAN, while all the little hills
do clap their hands. for John A. Logan.
The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
which now unites the NapoleOnic might
of Field Marshal Halstead with the es-
sential ethics of that truly good man.
Deacon Richard Smith, is able only to
size and seize the claims of Honest John
Sherman. The Indiana papers of radi-
calism are certain that either Senator
Ben. Harrison or Postmaster-General
Gresham should be the 1.-the coming
man." And SO it is. There are as
many preferences among the people as
there are desires in editorial breasts.
Republican journalism has simply be-
come a mechanism. Tor ascribing the
wishes and antipathies of editors to
general readers. The sole value of the
prevailing practice of printing Preslden-
tial pointers, in such newspapers, lies
in the presumption that the newspapers
reflect local or larger sentiment and
make themselves the mediums of it.
The impartial Democrat who reads
with judicial mind the medley of i'm
pressions in Republican papers finds
certain facts or characteristics running
through them. The first thing that
strikes the attention is that there is not
very much about the Presidency in that
party at ali. Indifferentism is more
| the rule than interest. The blooms"
for various aspirants have their initial
| impulse in the ambition of the would
| be candidates themselves. The rest is
| the work of not unselfish or unthrifty
| friends of theirs. who know how to ply
the arts of mention, interview. gossip,
advocacy, report, suggestive avOwal
aad safe disclaimer. The notable in
ertness of the Republican rank and file
encourage these efforts. They are
neither resented nor ratified. They are
IMPLY unopposed. Continued little by
little, the efforts have a tendency, be-
ing neither antagonized nor indorsed,
to create a sort of passive acceptance
| for themselves. The Sheer effect OF
iteration can be predicated of them
but not more. Still that has enabled
the candidates in sporting parlance, to
be entered for the race. They are now
taking their exercise on the track; but
the Jockeys and the stable boys number
more than those on the grand stand
and the booksellers have not begun
business at all.
Another consideration which the
ante-convention blooms among the
Republicans impress is the varied
character OF the reasons or ''claims
put forth. A qualification forthe Presi-
dency is hardly urged at all, if at all
urged. it is made second to the asser-
ton of availability" This ''availa-
bility'' does not signify that the candi-
+ date has special points of favor to any
condition of public opinion; but it sig
mites that his friends claim for him
some desirable special strength which
makes him little stronger than the
Republican vote itself. Mr. EdmundS
is urged because it is asserted that 1.-The
Independents would support him.
That assertion has nowhere been tested
by evidence-but it may be regarded as
on offset TO the known fact that the
Vermont Senator is unpopular with the
working masses of his party. AS plain
people are wont to dwell on the beauties
of the mind, so are those Republicans
who have not commended themselves
to the manly and active forces in poll
ties addicted t. references to 1.-THE In
dependent vote" 1.-The better element,
etc. As fact, p01it clans man Hepub-
lican conventions. make Republican
nominations and conduct Republican
campaigns. They may not be able al
ways to nominate whom they would;
but they are invariably able, in the Re
publican party, to de. eat the nomina-
ton of those for whom they have mo
use" They have mo use" for those
whose vocation it is to profess to be bet
ter than other people, and their aversion
TO Pharisees is not to their discredit.
The special claims urged for the others
can be stated in word. Mr.. Blaine S
strength with the corporal ons is urged
Cor him. General Logan's friends in
sist that the entire soldier vote would
be for him. Mr.. Sherman is advocated
on the ground that ''the monied men
would put up for him." Mr.. Harrison
and Mr. Gresham are hailed as those
who could ENSURE Indiana" 1t is true
that genuine desire for Mr.. Blaine ex-
lists among some Republicans. 1t is as
true that he is hated by other Repub-
leans and distrusted by independent
men. The bald and bold question of
his strength with corporations accounts
for that distrJlst. as we'll as the shifty
conduct of the man in public positions.
Corporations and Mr. Blaine are not
benefited by this kind of talk for him.
Corporations have become expert in
politics--not by showing their hand.
There is great sentiment against
them. Mr.. Blaine's enemies could well
advertise his corporation alliances. His
friends are not wise in doing so. The
assumption that General Logan carries
the soldier vote or any other classitia De
vote in his pocket, is not a Justice or
compliment to that vote. Soldiers are
citizens; they are Democrats or Repub-
licans, according to convictions. They
are not men who sink principle, on
an office so large as the Presidency,
even in comradeship. The claim for Mr..
Sherman is based on the policy and po-
tentiality of corruption solely. The
light which history has cast on Dorsey S
metho Is makes the avowal Of pur-
pose to renew them only the hardihood
OF desperation. and the American peo-
PIE can be trusted to deal with it, if it
is attempted. The ability to ENSURE