Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-08-13
THE FIELD REVIEWED.
A Careful Survey Of the Political
Ground.
GENERAL BUTLER A CONFUSING SUM.
No Enthusiasm For Cleveland and Gen.
eral Apathy Peradss the Repub-
liean Rank and File.

WASHINGTON, August l2.-Mr. Blaine is
causing those who are managing his can
vass no little anxiety. He is no longer the
dashing and audacious Plumed Knight of
1876. He is changed man. Though al
ways the most cautious and secrehve of
men, he used to conceal these traits by an
assumption ofdash and pluck that was most
artistic as well as long-sustained piece OF
acting. Now, however, his friends find that
the brilliant aggressiyeness is gone de
seems to be not only timid but almost in
different If he has any great interest In
the approaching canvass he does not reveal
it. He simply urges his friends to go on
with the canvass in their own way, and let
him be at peace so far as possible. Now,
that was not all what the energetic Elkins
and the diplomatic Phelps expected when
they procured his nomination. They looked
for an abundance of brilliant suggestions,
some audacious and overwhelming line OF
policy for carrying on the canvass from the
candidate, but Mr.. Blaine so far has seri-
ously disappointed them,
The reports that are trustworthy already
received, both by Mr.. Blaine and BY tie
National Committee here, show that there
exists in the great Republican States OF the
Northwest no such fiery and overwhelming
desire that Blaine shall go to the White
House as there did in 1876. This is pre-
eisely what Mr.. Blaine saw to be the case
last winter. He knew that his heyday was
in 1876. and that since then his popularity
has waned, like that of all politicians who
have had their day. All the aattery Of the
men who sought him last winter could not
dissuade HIM from that belief.
The Republican managers, both of the
National Congressional Committee and the
National Committee. while they do not
share Blaine's gloom, are very anxious
about some ofthe States that have been
counted surely Republican. Unless there
be change of sentiment in these States
before November the party is in very ser
ious danger Of losing some of them, and is
certain to lose others. The committees
have not failed to take notice that the
Western Germans, the Prohibitionists, the
labor and Irish-American voters, the inde-
pendent Republicans, and Gen. Butler are
to elect the next President, unless, in fact
the House Of Representatives does-a con-
tiugency which some regard as far from i'm
possible.
Bad Outlook on the Pacific Coast.
Taking some Of the States from which
the committees have received bad news, it
viii be found that there is much to Justify
alarm. Beginning with California, the re-
port comes that Blaine's reputed popularity
there is confined to San Francisco. Repub-
Hcans write that they fear the State is hope
lessly Democratic. There will be no great
Republican detection from Blaine; the
German and Prohibition vote will not make
any serious inroads in the party. But the
truth is the Republicans have gained no
strength there for some years, while the
Democrats have. The private advices re-
ceiyed set the State down as snti-Republi-
can by ten thousand. Yet with Ben Butler
running on the An6-MOnopoly ticket,
strange things may happen in California.
Some letters have been received here, in
which the assertion is made that Butler will
receive more votes that Blaine, and some
enthusiasts there insist that he can carry
the State. Cleyeland's nomination caused
no enthusiasm there. he simply represents
an idea-the man who was elected by near
" two hundred thousand majority If the
Democratic party is whipped in California,
it Will simply be on account of Clevelands
nomination.
No news comes from Nevada that cheers
the Republican managers either by the com
mittee here or in New York. The State is
confidently claimed by the Democratic
managers, and is privstoly conceded to
them by the Republicans. The rich Re
DuDOCauS VINO once were lttcIS arc AuC'C hO
longer and the rich Democrats who nomin-
ally live in this absurd rotten borough of
forty thousand people, win take care that
money enough is providec to keep up the
very good Democratic organization they
there.
Queer Antics In Kansas.
Kansas may cut up some very queer an
ties according to the information received
AT the recent Prohibition Convention IN
Pittsburg the Kansas delegates said that
Gov. St. John would receive not less than
thirty thousand votes in that State, and that
nine tenths of them would come from the
old Republican organization. No more
Jealous Prohibitionists are in the country
than those of Kansas. Aside from the 1
-earnestness with which they avow their
principles they have a special reason for
giving Gov. st. John all the support posi-
BE. They feel very sore because he was
beaten when he rap for Governor on the
prohibition issue, and they hold the Republi-
can party responsible for that defeat.
The Republican managers do not believe
that Gov. ST. John can get 10000 votes in
Kansas, but they admit that if the Prohibit |
ton canvass is correct, the State becomes |