The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-06-28
ON THE EVE or BATTLE.

ON THE EVE OF BATTLE.
- Soon there will be clashing of the polit-
ical clans at Chicago and the contest
promises to be fierce and strong. The signs
of the times indicate that the Democratic
Presidential probabilities are narrowed
down to Butler, Bayard and Cleveland, and
it is fairly safe to predict that one of those
three will bear Oft the prize-and W ic!. one
of the three shall it be? --#
Buffers political strabismus makes him
an exceedingly uncertain factor in the
Chicago Convention; but this much is
assured that il he can demonstrate to that
Convention that he can carry the New Eng
land electoral vote with respectable fol-
lowing in New York and New Jersey, he
will be the next Democratic candidate for
President.
The average man may hoot at the thought
of Butler being selected by the Chicago
Convention to marshall the Democratic
hosts into line but even stranger things
have happened to the unterr,fied Democracy.
Butler is bold man, IA bad man and
dangerous man, and by adroitly lavoring
his candidacy with promises Of promotion in
case of his securing the election he will be
able to convert to his cause q majority ofthe
Southern delegates. Buffers candidacy is a
living reality and he will not hesitate to
traffic in the votes of the delegates accor, ing
to the fullest measure Of the presenting
opportunities.
---4Fnrthermore, John Kelly is an especial
admirer Of Butles and bis methods, and if by
the time the Chicago ConvcEtien meets John
with Blaine he will throw as much of the
Tammany Hall influence to Butler as may
be at his (Izelly's) command.
Mr.. Bayard's friends are very enthusiastic
in support Of their favorite, but unfortuu-
ately for Mr.. Bayard his forces are not
properly marshaled. Unwise generalship
lost Mr.. Bayard the nomination in 1880 and
present indications point to a repetition of
the blunders of 1880 in the coming Conven.
ion.
Governor Cleveland has apparently struck
the wave which promises preferment at the
Chicago Convention. Without any pre-
arranged efforts on his part State after State
is pronouncng in his favor and well informed
politicians predict Grover Cleyeland's nom
ination on the first ballot
John Kelly is parading his views broadcast
over the country and Kelly is trying to MAKE
the timd voter believe that because Tam
many Hall is arrayed against Cleveland thai
lie (Cleveland) cannot carry New York a
the general election.
1t is true that John Kelly is against Gov
Cleveland, it is equally true that the late w
M. Tweed was against Gov. Tilden and 70
the ve.y same reasons that Kelly is at pres
ent arrayed against Gov. Cleveland-it
equally true that Notwithstanding the lat
w. NJ. Tweeds hostility, Mr. Tiden wa
elected Governor of New York and Twee
was clected-to felon's cell,
Kelly has adopted many of the question
able methods of Tweed, and Gov Clevelan
has followed in the footsteps of the gre;
reform Governor of New York-S j. Tildo
consequently the enmity of Kelly to NJ
Cleveland is not difficult of explanation
An exchange IN speaking of John Kelly
present attitude towards Gov. Cleveland
candidacy at Chicago says
john Kelly with his Tammany Hall b
gade of political strikers, is very rotten t;
to the Democratic dog, and he insists til
the whole dog shall be inoculated with t
rottenness Of the Taminany tail and that t
tail shall then wag the dog
In 1874 the Democrats of New Yo
elected Samuel J. Tilden as reform Gt
ernor. Kelly supported him, assuming Il
a Democratic Governor after the elect
would pay no respect to reform pied!
made before the election. Tilden dis
pointed Kelly by his manly fidelity to
integrity, and forthwith the rotten
insisted upon waggiug the Democratic d
Kelly carried his battle to st. Louis in /
and there declared before the National G
vention that the rotten Tammany tail m
wag Democracy, or the ticket would
defeated. The party decided that the hol
dog must wag the rotten tail, and Til
was nominated and elected President
In 1882 the Democrats of New Y
elected Grover Cleveland as reform {
ernor. Kelly supported him because
believed that Cleveland would be for
party and for the party thieves first and
reform afterwards; but Cleveland scr,