Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-26

The claim is made that Blaine will have
4l6 delegates at the National Convention
enough to give him the nomination on the
first ballot. The claim, Of course, is not
we'll founded. Nobody knows exactly
how many Of the $50 delegates, who viii
compose the convention, Will be for Blaine.
It must be admitted. however, that
Blaine has made an exceedingly brilliant
canvass for delegates, and that his sue
cess has surprised his opponents. While
pretending not to be a candidate, he has
succeeded in doing great deal Of very
fine and effective work. a month
ago no one, except an enthusiastic
Blaine man, would have admitted
the possibility Of Blaine's getting
nearly two-thirds Of the delegates
from the three great States of New York,
Pennsylvania and Ohio. His strength in
these three States is more than twice
what it was in 1880. Notwithstanding his
triumph in these States, however, his
supporters cannot name enough delegates
in other States, who can be depended
upon, to give him the majority which they
claim for him. In their list they put down
50 from the South. The only condition on
which he can get so many Southern
delegates is that his nomination is assured
when the convention assemblies. There
is no doubt that Blaine is popular with
the Republicans in the South, but Southern
delegates are not Influenced by any feel
ing Of sentiment. They propose to stand
by the man who not only has the best
chance Of being nominated, but also who
has the most promising prospect Of being
elected. The offices are what they are
after, and they are prepared to make every
possible sacrifice to get them. 1t is GER
tain that the leading candidates Will be
Blaine and Arthur. The present indica-
tons are that there will not be a great
deal Of difference in their strength. The
friends Of neither, however, are likely to
90 to the other, and it is not
probable that Blaine can increase his
vote after the first ballot. Whether
Arthur can increase his is a matter Of
speculation. 1t looks as if Blaine would
have a repetition Of his experiences in
1876 and 1850. He will not be able to gain
recruits, but his forces will stand by him
until he transfers them 10 some other can
didate. The cool, careful members of the
convention, who will hold the balance Of
power. will not be for either Arthur or
Blaine. If they can be satisfied that Ar
thur can carry New York, enough Of them
may finally give him their support to
nominate him, but they will never 90 to
Blaine. A campaign with Blaine
rs their standard bearer must be
a defensive campaign, and the
chance for victory is too slim to make
that sort Of fight. The delegates who
hold the balance Of power will demand an
irreproachable candidate with a clean
record. They would rather have a third
rate man like Lincoln. whOse public and
private life is unspOtted, to a first class
man like Blaine, with a damaged
reputation. Blaine's friends may con-
tinue 10 claim a majority Of the
delegates for him, but as the
convention Of 1880 rejected Grant
and Blaine and honored Garfield, so the
convention of 1884 may pass by Blaine
and Arthur and make Edmunds, Lincoln,
Gresham or some less known man the
standard-bearer Of the party.