The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-04-18
THE CONVENTION OUTLOOK.

THE CONVENTION OUTLOOK.
While the selection Of delegates TO the Re-
publican National Convention has not yet
progressed far enough for . count that can
be . basis for other than q wild estimate, the
meeting Of conventions day after day Is plac-
Ing IN the hands ofthe calculators figures that
will before the month ends indicate with toll
cradle certainty the relative strength Of the
contestants - frst choice. The abolition of
the unit rule, the ego - you please" COM
missions issued TO delegates by so many con-
ventions and the number Of candidates prac-
tically In the field, will add greatly to the
difficulty Of making close calculations, and
the correct assumption that there Is an at
tractivs quality In the biggest figures will
lead adherents Of the respective candidates
TO rate their man for every certain and pos
sible vote. But among the calculators will
be cold-blooded ones wbe will anticipate the
convention . month and set up In nearly ex-
act tables the first ballot At Chicago.
II is evident now that there will be no Sc
lection on that ballot, and probably not on
many succeeding ones. Arthur, Blaine, Ed
munds, Logan, the Shermans, and Lincoln
will all be represented and no one is at all
likely TO have . pronounced majority al the
outset. The successful candidate must draw
his strength from the friends Of hopeless
competitors, and 1t Is not outside the reason
able possibilities that the convention may
turn In rush for one not now prominent.
In the belief that no choice will be made on
the earlier ballots We base our belief that
ted. That they will have the largest pro-
nounced, enthusiastic and fully committed
strength Is not only admitted, but taken rs a
strong element of the basis for this view. II
is between them the strife Is now wsging,
and 1t will grow fiercer. Blaine's following
Is determined one. He is of the type Of a
cavalry leader and his legi ons 60 it under
whip and spur with eyes front and ssbers
drawn. He is no mans second choice. His
delegates 60 into the convention with a
ever polls much greater strength than on
the first formal ballot. Arthur's supporters
too, II New York develops favorably, will be
formidable and stsadfast. He will have
nearly or quite $50 southern votes that can
be relied on and . considerable strength
from the north, scarcely less enthusiastic
than Blains's, but It Is obvious his strength
will manifest itse II fully at the outset, and
again like Blsine's Is not likely to be greatly
augmented. II Is true there 10 the improba-
BILE contingency Of = sudden conversion by
some lesser delegation to Blaine or Arthur,
involving . stampede by all Others that will
decide for one or the other Of them, but the
history of conventions points to different re-
suits.
While Blaine, who is brevet Pennsylva-
nisn, Is carrying the delegates Of that State
with a hurrah, Arthur is not doing so we'll
a. be could hope for in New York. It Is not
at all certain now that he will control a ma
jority Of Its delegates, although 1t Is q tradi-
tional requisite that q candidate shall be
endorsed by his own State. Blaine 10 get
ting larger representation from New York
than Arthur is from Pennsylvania, and Ed
munds has an active or latent strength that
Ii very formidable. The New York Times
and Tribune, and Harper's Weekly, which
are standard opponents Of the best Republic
can sentiment in the State are singularly
reticent this campaign about expressing
preference. Whils they admit the general
excellence Of Arthur's administration, nei-
thor endorses him IS the most desirable can
didate, and they certainly do not favor
Blaine. "Between the lines" all three are
unmistakably for Edmunds. The latter will
have . very considerable strength frem the
Northeast, more than an Offset for Blaine's
Pacific coast following, and will have por-
tions Of the delegations in almost every
Northern State. We consider him essen
TALLY and pre-eminently the worthiest can
didate named, and II his friends stand by
him Is they should do at Chicago, he has the
best chance Of being the next President OF
the United States. He will not get 1t through
the Blaine delegations, ~ the relations of
Blaine to Edmunds are as strained as they
are toward Arthur or Grant, but II Arthur's
candidacy fails his supporters will naturally
20 to Edmunds. Logan, Of Illinois, will
have some following, and would have had
moro but that the sentiment is practically
universal that Lincoln, of Illinois, shall
have the Vice Presidency, 80 inexorably uni
versal that In this instance the lesser en-
compasses the greater Office, and Logan will
have to wait. He 10 young yet, and there
will be other Presidential elections. Il Is
not apparent now that the other candidates
will be formidable, but the unexpected often
happens In Presidential Convention. We
are not unmindful Of the fact that the dark
horse frequently wins, nor Of another that
Grant still lives, aud that at an opportune
moment the mention Of his name might
sweep the Convention like cyclone, but ~
indications point now, We believe the out
look for Edmunds Is the best In the field.