Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-07
THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.
A Western Editor Names What he
Thinks Would be the Winning Ticket
-Tilden and Payne Out of the Race.

reporter Of the Washington Pos
meeting DR.. Mumford, editor of the Kan
sas City Times, Friday at the capitol
asked him If the report that Col. Oliver
Payne had stated to him that his father
Henry b. Payne, would not be candi
date for the Presidency, was true.
sit was" he replied. Il am well ac.
quainted with Col. Payne, son of the
SenatOr-elect, having been thrown with
him on voyage to Liverpool last summer
We then talked good deal of politics, and
he told me of a good many things that have
since come to pass in Ohio. After his
fathers election wrote HIM a cOngratula.
tory letter in which l hinted at the possible
availability of his father as a Presidential
candidate. In course of time he replied.
thanking me personally, and also for what
the Times had said in defense of his father
against lll-adYlsed and unjust attacks. In
that letter he also stated that his father
would not be a candidate for President.
but as he did not say he would not accept
the nomination if rendered him, |, like
everybody else, was of the opinion he
would, and that his friends and family
would be very glad to have him nomi-
mated. 10 my surprise and disappoint-
ment, Col. Payne not only reiterated
what he had written me, but assured me
IN the most positive manner that not only
was his father not candidate, but that
he would not accept the nomination If he
knew he could receive it without effort.
and was assured Of election afterWard,
His reasons were entirely personal and
We're based on his fathers age and con-
dltlon of health, that while he was
IN most excellent health for a man of his
age and was fully prepared to discharge
tne duties OF a Senator, he was not able
TO undergo the eXcitements of a political
campaign, and the worry and wrangles
OF the Presidency. Col. Payne informed
me that they had held a family conference
ON the subject, and that this was their
hnaI and irrevOcable conclusion. in which
his father cOincided. There is no more
question of MIR. Payne being out of the
race than there is that Mr.. Tilden is out.
Neither one of them will be our candi-
date.''
''Do you believe Mr.. Tilden is really out
of the racer"
'No, don't believe it, l simply know
II, and from sources equally as trust
worthy and authentic as my information
about Mr.. Payne's position. There is no
man who has inside sources of informa-
tlon, but knows this, although it may be
to the interest of some to talk otherwise
for the present. The Democrats might as
well quit drifting and understand they
Will have to look elsewhere for their
candidate. This may be the misfortune
of the party, but it is a fact"
Who, in your opidiOn, is She next most
available candidate, with Tilden and
Payne out?'
That's the question. When in New
1 ork learned from reliable sources that
Mr.. Flower Will, in all probability. carry
the delegation from that State. If so, this
Will make him quite formidable candi-
date. Still l hardly believe he can be
nominated for first position. He is a most
excellent gentleman, of solid practical
business sense, with thoroughly splen-
did Democratic record. He is very popu-
lar and strong in the State, especially
with the rural Democracy, and he would
make safe and admirable President if
he could be nominated and elected But
the trouble is, he hasn't a national repu-
tation, and isn't well enough known to
secure the first position. Senator Bavard
Is also being discussed as an available
candidate, but l was assured in New
York his candidacy would endanger that
state. am inclined to think he is not as
strong in the doubtful States now as he
was four years ago. Gen. Hancock's
and kindly by leading Democrats;
"But you have not yet indicated who
in your opinion is the available man and
one we can elect. Who is heY
"Candidly, | see but one man left as an
absolutely available candidate, and that
man is Judge Field of the Supreme bench.
As recollect, he was the third leading
candidate in our convention four wears
ago, and but for the Hancock boom, either
he or Mr. Payne would undoubtedly have
Oeen nominated. He possesses every
9 fOrs a f1o1.T l.,
is able and strong, pure and upright. hon
est and brave. He has no record on the
tariff question; and his opinions covering
a period of over twenty years, while they
would antagOnize some elements, would
alone be splendid platform on which to
go before the conservative. law
abiding, business inter ests of the
country. He was loyal Union man. and
was appointed Supreme Judge by Mr..
Lincoln, but the South has never had a
warmer, more discreet and sensible friend
than he. Along with Gen. Hancock he
ought to be more endeared to the south
than any man who was against them.
Why, his opinion in the Father Cum
mlngs' case from my own State wherein a
Catholic priest was attempted to be pre-
vented from exercising the duties of his
high calling, simply because he would
not take the Drake test oath in 1865, ought
10 secure lOf MIN the vote of every eX-
and every Catholic in the
country. But over and above this ques-
ton OF sentiment the greatest and stroug-
est point OF Judge Fields candidacy
would be the fact that he would be ac-
ceptable to the business interests of the
country. Outside of Mr.. Tilden and Mr..
Payne l do not believe there is a single
Democrat who would so certainly com
mand the confidence of the great business
interests as Judge Field. We may sneer
at these interests sometimes and antago-
nize them as our revenue reform papers
out West very frequently do, but the fact
is patent to my mind that this is the
element that holds the balance of
power in Presidential years. The busi-
ness interests that take no concern
in any other election are always enlisted
on one side or tle other in a Presidential
contest. This great force and influence
would be for Judge Field if he was our
candidate, for his record has always been
consistent and conservative. At the same
time his opinions have as frequently been
in favor OF the weak and downtrodden as
they have been for the rich and powerful.
In short, he seems to strike the golden
mean, and, in my opinion, is the most
available man we can nominate for Presi-