Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-05-23
A Talk with Mr.. Dana.

HOOii uc gave W Tie MAIL anu Express
reporter his views on parties anG poll
tics. To the reporters first question as
to what we're the chances for democrat
ic success in the coming campaign, his
answer was: "The.probability is very
poor likewise the possibility. In order
to succeed in the election against the
party in possession of the government,
you must have your forces all united,
and the position Of Carlisle and Morri-
son is such that the democratic party is
disunited and quarreling among them
selves, and thus the republicans, who do
not deserve success, may succeed. It is
risky to undertake the vocation of a
prophet, and / don't know what the fu-
ture is going to bring forth"
"Who would be your choice for the
democratic leadership"
Il have no favorite at all. The only
man that L would really regarTas fav-
orite is Holman of Indiana, but would
never think of running such man on a
failing chance"
what are your reasonS?'
Il prefer him on account of his pub
lie character, his entire devotion to the
democratic principles of the govern
ment, his breadth of mind, his toleranc-
es Of differences of opinion, his fidelity
under all circumstances and his moral
courage"
"What do you think Of Mr.. Morri-
son?"
'In my judgment he has not the tim
ber to make a president out of. He
might be a very good professor of polit-
ical economy in an academy, but he is
not politician, nor statesman either
if there is any difference between the
two."
"And of Carlisle?''
"He has shown himself man willing
to imperil the success Of his party for his
own personal aggrandizement. He is
not safe man to lead a great party to
success or to exercise great moral in
fluence over the policy of the opposing
party"
"You think highly Of ex-Speaker Ran
dali -
Randall stands in the crisis as the
defender of the only policy under which
the success OF the democratic party is
possible. The democratic party cannot
succeed without carrying New York,
New Jersey, Connecticut and Indiana.
The policy which Randall has opposed
from the first would result in the loss of
those states. He has gained, think,
in personal popularity, or rather in pub
lie Importance, by his present advocacy
of the same ideas which he has contin-
uously supported during his career"
What are his chances for nomina-
tion?''
Il don't know that he is taking much
interest in the nomination"
"And ex-senator McDonaldj"
Mcdonald is respectable lawyer and
a man whose friends are much attached
TO him. don't know him personally
and have no acquaintance with him, ex-
cept as public man. To my judgment
he lacks backbone and force. To make
it worth while to elect a democratic
president we must have a man who will
reform the government after he is elect.
ed. Mcdonald is not of that char2c-
ter?''
HAS Ex-Governor Hendricks chance
for nomination?n
Ills nomination is not probable. If
the old ticket were possible, Hendricks,
of course, would be an indispensable
part of the ticket, but that is out of the
question. Mr.. Tilden will not and can
not take the nomination. When that is
settled, / don't think the convention
will be disposed to nominate Hendricks
for the first place. He has excellent
personal qualities, but don't believe
he will be nominated for president. AS
for Tilden, it is certain that if he were
in a situation to be the candidate for
president he would be nominated by ac-
clamation and he would be elected by
an enormous majority. His nomination
would put an end to all the impractica-
BILE nonsense which Kentucky and IIli-
nois statesmen have brought upon the
democracy; but it is entirely out of the
question:"
How do Cleveland and Flower
stand?''
There is a great deal that might be
said in support of either of them, and
dare say each will have respectable
amount of strength in the New York
delegation, but l don't see signs of any
such enthusiasm and united support on
the part of the New York delegation as
would be necessary in order to insure
their nomination. New York candi-
dates have led the democratic party
very often in past elections, and there is
a just aud natural disposition to look
elsewhere at present."
"Is Hancock an impossibility?"
No; but there is nobody advocating
his election, that am aware of, nor do
l see any interest that is likely to be ac-
tive in his behalf. In 1880 he was strong.
ly supported from Pennsylvania, but it
looks now as though all the strength Of
the Pennsylvania delegation would be
in favor of Randall"
"Bayard and Thurman are out of the
fght?''
''Bayard is in the race now but Thur
man is not. Ny own judgment under
the circumstances would be rather in IA
vor of Bayaid's nomination. He is a
perfectly respectable man, and his faith
in democratic principles is beyond ques-
tion. There is nowhere any intrigue in
his favor, nor would his nomination be
the result Of any narrow considera-
tions.''
''Is Ex-Governor Palmer OF Illinois
likely to be a candidate?w
Il should think not. see no move
ment in his favor. Colonel Morrison is
personally against him, and the whole
thing is SO much at sea that what may