Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-05-03
from the New York Times, Rep.l

Is the republican party In q condition to 60
into the presidential campaign In an indefen-
sible attitude ? That is an interesting ques-
ton Just now for all who believe, as we 90,
that the republican party is capable OF mana
cling the affairs OF the country far more safely
and successfully than the democratic party.
A few facts from recent elections will throw
light on the subject. Twelve years ago the
republicans elected Gen. Grant for his second
term by a majority of more than three quar-
lions and q half. Four years later Mr.. III,
den received q majority of 25O,0o0, In round
numbers, IN q vote of eight and q half mil
lions. At the last election Gen. CARRIED re,
ceived q plurality of barely 9!Ooo IN q totai
vote of over nine millions. In 1882 elections
were held in all the states of the union; some
S,oOO, 900 votes were cast, and the democrats
had q plurality of over 100000. Last year
elections were held in fifteen states; the vote
was over 100000; the democratic plurali-
ty was 1900. OF the states which gave their
say how the following will go next fall: New
York, Ohio, Indiana, Connecticut Together
these states had 70 electoral votes in 1883 aud
will have 80 this year. In this condition OF
things what ~justifies the belief that the re.
publican party can elect any canuiaa5e II
chooses to nominate, can carry any burden,
can, indeed, win ut all except with a candl-
date who represents the progressive spirit Of
the party, who can lead and not be dragged
in the contest?
The question answers itself. The party has
no strength to spare to bolster q weak candi.
date. It needs all the strength the best OF
candidates can give. It cannot start out with
saying: 'sThe man whom WI would like to
elect used to be 3 machine politician, and was
undoubtedly addicted to. the vices OF that
class, but he has since been in an exalted
position and has done, on the whole, o great
deal better than could have been expected. If
he has not abandoned his old practices he has
at least carried them on with great secrecy.
1t IS true that he is supported and will be
nominated, II at all, by the exertlons OF .
very d~isreputable lot of hack politicians. with
out principle, without scruple, who work for
their personal advancement, and expect to be
paid with Office or patronage If he is elected.
But our candidate has publicly declared his
devotion to the civil service reform law, and
has done everything which the letter of that
law required of him. 1t cannot be proved
that the corrupt machine OF which he is the
acknowledged boss has any pledges from him,
and it Is impossible to deny that he has won
golden opinions from many business men,
All things considered, he is 3 safe man, and
not exactly a reformer, we don't pretend that
he represents the conscience, or the high IN
telligence, or sensitive integrity, or the cour-
age Of conviction of the republican party. His
election would not be an inspiring event. but
he is q prudent conservative practical
and personally respectable man, and the
country might go further and fare worse" 1t
needs no prophet to foretell the result of q
campaign begun and continued in that style.
On the other hand, the party cannot afford
to be forced to say: eve confess that our
candidate has net a spotless reputation. He
has been a long time in public life; he is an
aggressive man; he has made q great many
enemies, n there are scandal connected
with his name which he has not dissipated as
we should like to see him dissipate them. He
has held important trusts; he has amassed q
good deal of wealth; there are acts of his which
It requires much obtuseness to believe to have
been honest acts aud q good deal of charity to
overlook. His own explanations of them are
insufficient and ~disingennous. He Is unques-
~tionably ambitious, and his ideas of the des-
tiny Of the American Union on this CONT
nent are full of peril. Very probably he
would, as president, be either mischievous Or
ridiculous, and might be both. No one knows
what he believes IN finance Except his pro-
found belief in the money value of q speakers
decisions). and as to the revenue, we admit
that he is the author of the maddest scheme
that a shallow demagogue ever invented, q
scheme which had only TO be announced to
instantly silence his most ardent admirers.
But he Is a sound republican; he can be re-
lied on to prevent the payment of rebel war
claims; he has force and personal magnet
ism,' and If he Is surrounded by one OF the
most desperate gangs Of adyenturers this
country has seen since the days of Aaron
Burr, That may not be his fault"