The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-05-03

our side" but "whO are the Repub-
licans going to put up?" 1t has be
come such a regular thing for the Re-
pubicans to have the Presidency,
that Democratic Olicitude tends more
strongly toward the nominee of the
opposition than towards the work of
their own convention. Willy Demo-
Gratis go about limiting that Arthur's
administration has made him a good
many Democratic friends; that he
would be a hard man to beat, etc.
But wide-awake Republicans, recog-
nizlng, as they all do, the satisfactory
character of Arthur's administration,
know very well that the Democracy
do not think he would be the hardest
man to beat. When you sift the thing
down, the man whom the Democrats
fear more than any one else is Robert
T. Lincoln, "not because he is such a
great man." said a leading Demo.
cratic citizens of Washington 10 The
Ameaicao correspondent to-day, "but
on account of his NAME" Be this as
it may, there is great deal of quiet
talking being done here in Washing
ton in Lincoln's behalf, and if dark
horses are to be in order, he is sure
to he in the front row. And, indeed,
sine people have had time to think
over the effect of the New York and
other state conventions, there is more
and more talk of dark horse. 1t is
very seldom that one meets with
man here who does not admit that
James G. Blaine is going to lead the
race at Chicago, and that, in fact. if
the question could be decided in the
primaries, he would be the peoples
choice; but his best friends admit
that his surest, if not his only chance,
is to be nominated on the first ballot,
for the New York convention plainly
showed how his supremacy is recog-
nized, and how hard it will be for
him to make any combination in the
convention. His opponents appear
to be all afraid of him, and seem to
be willing to form almost any alli-
ance among themselyes-anything to
beat Blaine.
II wonder if Mr.. Blaine recognizes
this to be the situ1tion 2" asked The
american correspondent of one with
whom he was talking to-day.
"Undoubtedly," was the reply.
"If Mr.. Blaine were to speak his
mind in this connection, l believe he
would say that he must be nominat-
ed on the first ballot or not at all
but" he added, Mr.. Blaine does
not talk politics, and we can only
guess at his opinions" Thus is the
question narrowed down. from this
standpoint, to query as to whether
it is pc ssible for Mr.. Blaine to go in
to the convention with a majority of
all the delegates There is such a
possibility, it is true. If every dele
SdlC w Nv 10 IlluO lOuileu W
can be counted on when 1t comes to
the pinch, the possibility becomes a
probability. There are those, and
among Mr.. BlaIne's friends, too, who
fear that his prospects are being
viewed through rose. cOlored glasses.
There is fear abroad that Mr.. Blaine
may come few votes short of ma
jority, but the fact remains that he
will have a plurality, and that he
will be very likely to name the can
didate. Then comes chance for re.
newed speculation, Will Mr.. Blaine
throw his votes to Arthur, or Ed
munds, or Logan? This question is
best answered by another, Would
man be likely to aid the plans of a
trio who had united to oppose him?
No! If Mr.. Blaine fills of the NOM
ination on the first ballot, look out
tor the dark horse. One would nat.
urally suppose that a man holding
the balance of power would select for
the man on whom his mantle should
fall man whom he could handle to
his liking, but in the contingency
that is likely to arise. Is such man
likely to be available? The best
thinkers think not. There is good
reason for believing that Mr.. BIaine's
second choice is Mr.. Lincoln. though
as before stated in this correspon-
dence, he is in position where he
could as gracefully put out his hand
to Grant, or Gresham, or Ii awley, or
any other dark horse. This state
ment was made to-day to a group of
Marylanders, and one of them re-
marked that it would be a funny
sight to see Grant accepting favors
from Blaine. And so it went on,
and so it is. in fact. everywhere the
subject of politics is started; but I'M
derneath it all is current of feeling
that is growing more and more evil
dent that "the dark horse is the COM
ing man." 1t is no doubt wave of
enthusiasm that must prove to be the
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