The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-08-06
THE SITUATION.

The Presidential campaign may bt
said to be fairly commenced. The
grand parade and fireworks period
have not yet been reached, but they
are of secondary importance. The
lines of the two great parties are be-
ing formed, the fighting issues have
been made and the active work Of
the contest will soon begin. 1t is a
good time to look over the situation.
1t can be more easily determined
now than after a while when the
smoke of battle will envelop both
parties. The Democrats will 60 into
the contest with the odds greatly
in their favor. They have forced the
fighting ground, and the Republic
cans r compelled to make a defen-
sive campaign. The talk about their
making an aggressive one is only talk.
They have too many weak points to
defend to he aggressive. More than
this the Democrats have the sympa-
thy of the great mass of the people
both North and South.
Again, the Republicans are handi'
capped by the record of their stand
ard bearer. There is no use denying
this proposition. The business men
OF the country have little confidence
in Blaine's craftsmanship. They
want no war with foreign powers,
nor any complications with them.
Either would disturb the business of
the country and deprecicate the value
of Government securities. This is
not desired by them. And then,
the tariff plank of the Repub-
lican platform is not definite. 1t
may mean much or little, and the
workingmen of the country who have
80 long been taxed to build up enor- J
nous corporations and monopolies
see no hope for the betterment of
heir condition under Republican
.ule. This fact will drive the great
mass of them into the Democratic
The disatfection in the Republican
,arty in New York, Connecticut,
Massachusetts,, Wisconsin and Iowa
3 forcing its best men into the
anks Of the Democracy. Their
dice will be raised against Blaine.
his fact taken in connection with
he other fact that twenty-five Of the
hirty-eight Governors in the Union
re Democrats gives the latter party
be prestige of a great work we'll be-
and cannot fail to exercise a
cling influence in the present strug-
Ie.
The Republicans will doubtless
axe a spirited campaign. They
ways do, but it will lack the ear c
and vigor of former ones. '
,nes, Elkins & CO. will make an &C. 1
We fight in New York, but they do b
regard it as the pivotal point and c
i'll scatter their energies in Florida, n
West Virginia, New Jer. v
y and North Carolina. These
ates they are pleased to term doubt
The Democrats can well afford
let their opponents make them the
ground Of the camraign. =,
ley are safe enough for the Demo- "
acy. Chairman Barnum conf Il
ntly claims New York, New Jer. L
Y and Indiana. He sets them down "
Democratic beyond dispute. He =.
poets to carry Wisconsin on &C "
unit of the great disaffection among IL
German Republicans in that IL
tie. Speaker Carlisle classes Iowa Ii
among the doubtful States and ~
Ids that the Democrats have more
IN a fighting chance to carry it. ~
most the entire foreign vote of 10
At State are disguised with the ~
ohibition laws forced upon them u
q Republican legislature and will 81
Ike themselves felt next NOvem- 81
r. Taken altogether the situation 4,
most encouraging for the Demo> -.
tic party and nothing but a series ~
inexcusable blunders upon their +
TT can cheat them of the victory 81
thin their grasp. of