Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1884-06-20
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

the so.called independents. represent
|ing-a little handful of super.hne re-
formers, confined principally III the
east, viii cut any figure SO far as at
tecting the result in the present cam
paign. There never was time when
they had less cause for their action
than the present. The nomination OF
Blaine and Logan, is conceded on all
hands, to have been accomplished
through none OF the objectionable
methods of machine politics, but on
the other hand was a complete triumph
of the popular will over those methods
and influences. The large body of
delegates were elected direct from the
people, and represented the congress
sional districts oithe country. Their
selection was made no. at large and
through the connivance of profession.
al convention workers, but in small!
bodies, representing limited areas, and
IN the very rresence of the people
themselves. Mr.. Blaine's most PROM
inent opponent, and the only one who
Gu, any considerable figure in the con-
ventlon at all-president Arthdr-was
the only man in the convention who
might avail himself Of the help Of Fed
eral patronage to secure votes, and he
failed to even retard the selection OF
the ticket. Whatever influence of this
nature, which has been pronounced so
objectionable, therefore, was against
Mr.. Blaine, rather than for him. There
has not been a nomination OF candi-
date for tile past twenty years that has
been as clear of the charge of undue
influence as that of Blaine. 1t was a
complete and sweeping concession to
the will OF the tank and file, thing
which these same "kickers" have here
tofore claimed to be working and pray
ing foi. Now that it is accomplished,
not only in the method of conducting
its primaries, but also counter to and
In spite OF what they claimed to be a
menace to popular institutions-,he
pressure of Federal patronage, their
action convicts them not only of IN
consistency, but of hypocricy.
he spectacle of mere faction
which represented barely one tenth Of
the votes of great National Conven-
tion. demanding that the other nine
tenths should sink their preferences
and permit it to have its way, affords
an exhibition of sublime cheek never
before witnessed in these United
States of America. Bolts and splits,
based on mere personal or private
prejudices or preferences cannot in
the very nature Of the case amount to
anything or affect the result. 1t is
only when some great principle under
lies, or some great wrong unredress-
ed appeals TO the hearts o.
the people that such movements
prove successful. When such time
comes there are no political bands
strong enough to longer preserve party
unity, and Encouragement of the lines
take place in spite ofpolitician or news
paper, of convention or caucus.
AS yet we have seen no evidence oil
popular distrust, ard we challenge an,
man to point out. beyond the half hun
died uneasy spirits who are alway:
"off" at the beginning of a campaign
any evidence that the masses, the ranl
and file, the men who vote, are
dissatisfied with the ticket. The en-
thusiasm that upset the politicians a
Chicago and compelled the ncmina
ton of Blaine and Logan came W
from the people, and will sweep the
country next November in spite o
this little remnant" who imagine tina
free government is a failure because
they can't run everything according Il
some philosophic whim of their own