National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-12
The Candidates.


toned gentleman Gen. Winfield 8. Han
cock was running for president the Now
York Sun described him as "a good man,
weighing $50 pounds" This description
will apply with perfect accuracy to tho
candidate for the presidency nominated
at Chicago yesterday. When ho is pre-
sented TO the country as "a good man"
eulogy has exhausted itself--nothing
moro can be said.
he belongs to that large class Of respect
able citizons, who meet their engage
ments, pay their debts, discharge thoir
duties, public and private, in straight
forward, conscientious manner, and thus
command the respect of their friends and
neighbors.
Grover Cleveland was so highly es-
teemed by his citizens of Buffalo
that they made him mayor, and when
the democr ratio politicians of the Empire
state were casting about for candidate
for governor in 1882, it occurred to thom
that democrat who could be elected
mayor of republican city might stand
q chance of being elected governor Of o
republican state.
He was nominated, and owing to an
extraordinary combination of circum-
stances he was elected by an unprece-
dented majority. This was the stepping
stone to the nomination for the presi-
denoy. People in distant states supposed
that there must be something remarkable
in man who could carry New York by
10000 majority. They knew nothing
about the circumstances which made such
result possible, and the good man."
who was tho merest political accident,
Unexpectedly found himself enrolled
among the great men who are doomed
fit to I'll tho Office Of president. He has
received the nomination, and now his
qualities as q political leader will be
put to the test.
1t may be said of Gov. Cleveland with
out the least disrespect that he is not o
man Of genius. He is not trained
statesman, and has seen so little of public
life that he is utterly unknown to the
masses ofhis countrymen. Norman has ever
been nominated for president by either OF
the great political parties Of whom so
little is known beyond the fact that he is
"a good man." Contrasted with any one Of
the democratic statesmen who have led
the party since the war he shrinks
into very commonplace person.
Contrast him with Mr.. Blaine, either
in his public record or his personal quail
ties. and oven his $50 pounds avoirdupois
do not save him from becoming utterly
insignificant. Fifty millions of people
will have no difficulty of deciding between
great. positive character man of
genius and force-a statesman of exalted
aims and commanding talents, and "a
good man weighing $50 pounds"
In nominating Thomas A. Hendricks
for the vice presidency the democrats
have adhered to geographical considers
tions that seemingly are becoming bind
ing upon the party, and have at the same
time invested tho new ticket with "a
much of the sentiment attaching to that
of 1876 Us the refusal Of Tilden to stand
left it in their power to bestow- Tho
nomination Of a soldier such as Rosecrans
or Villas would have been moro polite.
From democratic standpoint the
nomination of Hendricks is to be regarded
with respect. He has been before the
public for many years, and the measure
of his services and capacities needs less
rehearsal than those of the man with
whom he is associated. His nomination
adds no strength to the ticket for in the
debatable state where he lives he 10 nj
stronger than his party. and it cannot b
said that his name will serve to attract
the clements in New York that Cleve
lands name will surely repel. But h,
will not detract from the popularity o.
the ticket, for he stands we'll with hi
party, and the average democrat in voting
for him will feel in q measure that he II
redressing the great wrong" which the
leaders Of his party have induced him t.
believe was done to Tilden and Hen drickl
in 1876.