New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-11
LESSONS or LAST WEEK.

Some good Republicans had their eyes opened
last week. They had been assuring us for many
months that Mr.. Blaine was not an available W
candidate that he could not carry the doubtful
States, that large proportion OF the voters did
not trust him; and when his name was hailed
with such enthusiastic applause in the prelmi-
nary proceedings at Chicago, they declared that
those cheers were only the trained exercises of
"Blaine's shouters." Well the Convention had
scarcely come to order when every experienced
onlooller saw that Mr.. Blaines popularity was
going to sweep everything before it. The cal
cuations of the most adroit politicians were up
set The eulogies upon ether candidates were
interrupted by spontaneous cheers Tor the
statesman from Maine. During the ceremony
of bringing out the favorte sons on the call OF
States, each of the rival claimants is under
stood TO be entitled to his little fifteen minutes
of compliment and applause but an irresistible
Blaine sentiment disturbed even this order OF
exercises. The drift of feeling was so plain that
oratory was of little use. The nomination was
| made so rapidly, easily and simply that the
work was finished almost as soon as people real
| lied that it was begun. There have been few
Presidential nominations in the history OF either
| party so free from intrigue and combination
and so obviously dictated by the wishes of the
voting constituencies. The demonstrations
which have everywhere hailed the good work of
the Chicago Convention prove that the dele
gates did exactly what the people desired.
Blaincs shOutcrs" seem to comprise the whole
mass of the Republican party.
Our friends who so egregiOusly deceived
| themselves about the temper and probable
course of the Convention will judge more
| wisely, we hope, about the candidate and the
| campaign. They were so absorbed in their own
preferences that they forgot to study the prefer
ences of the public but it is hardly possible to
| mistake these any longer. Blaine is obviously
the most popular man in the party. the most
popular man in the United States. 1t is clear
that the criticisms and ISLANDERS which alarmed
few have made no impression upon the people.
They have been completely answered. The
voters have found the answers satisfactory, and
will be no more disturbed by a campaign of
caumny in 1884 than they were in 1850 OF in
1864. TO say that a candidate whose name is
greeted as Mr.. Blaines was at Chicago whose
nomination provOkes such a spontaneous and
universal outburst of popular satisfaction as we
have had to report ever since the Convention
adjourncd-to say that he is not available is a
fragrant absurdity of which we have probably
heard the last. If Blaine is not the favorite of
the Republican party there is no such thing as
reading the signs of public sentiment; and if
the Republican party cannot elect its favOrite,
p,ay what can it do9
But we cannot afford to fight defensive cam
paign, objected some of Mr.. Baine's opponents.
Well, we are not going to. We could afford
it if it were necessary. We can always afford to
fight a defensive campaign if the defence is a
good one. But there is no need Of it now. Mr..
Blline's defence has been made and accepted.
The events of the past week show that in the
popular judgment the attack upon his character
has broken down; and an attack which has
failed cannot be made effective by mere reitera
ton. We cannot recall single instance of
successful "mud-slinging campaign" y; every
political observer knows that on the contrary
abusing candidate almost always increases
the obstinacy, the ZEAL and-yes, the number
of his friends. There are many indications that
Mr.. Blaine has already been strengthened by
the recklessness of his opponents. AT any rate
he can afford to disregard their personalities
and we may be sure that the campaign will be
fought upon those positive political principles
which are so clearly defined In the platform and
illustrated in Mr. Blaine's whole career