Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-07-03
Disadvantages of Big Maiorities.

Here Is one circumstance to be noted
about the political talk OF party mana
gers-those states where the opposing
vote is so closely balanced as TO invest
the election with the greatest uncer-
tainty are the ones which monopolize
the attention of party leaders. The
effect which the nomination of this or
that candidate will have on New York
and Indians, Connecticut and New
Jersey, is considerably discussed and
every effort made to select candidate
who shall be entirely pleasing to the
sovereigns of those states. The result
is, practically, to submit the choice of
candidate to the delegates of those
states. Indeed, the proposition more
than once has been seriously advanced
that at Chicago the delegates of the
doubtful states" should agree upon
some acceptable Democrat. and the
representatives from the other states
should ratify their choice by making
him the candidate of the party. The
suggestion has not, 1t is true, had any
sensible support, as it involves the
principle of a majority submitting to
minority, but that 1t ever was made at
all shows the respect paid to the people
of doubt vi state.
Ben Butler AS Democratic presiden-
tial nominee is possibility which Is
growing in discussion throughout the
North. His strength among certain
class of voters is not despicable, and
that strengthia>ss4ses'ally- weighty in
those particular states upon the carry
Ing ofwhich Democratic success de-
ponds. Buffers candidacy has been
looked upon here In the South as a
burlesque, but they do not so regard il
in the North. His war record is not
as obnoxious to the Democrats of
Massachusetts. Connecticut or New
York as to the Democrats of Louisiana
and Texas. The very things that in-
famed public feeling in the South
against Butler gave him fame and
strength in the North. This different
state of feeling in the two sections is
the secret of what Is so unaccountable
to the Southern people--that sensible
Democrats talk of his prospects as
something more serious than a Joke.
IL Is indispntable that Butler would
get rs many regular Democratic votes
IN New York, New Jersey and Con-
necticut AS any other candidate of that
party, while his peculiar strength
among the labor organizations would
give him many votes that no other
man could get. The knowledge of
this fact causes him to be considered
among Northern politicians as one of
the Possibilities of the coming conyen-
vfolnssa
such nomination would meet
nothing but the fiercest hostility in
the South. The Northern managers
know this, but they do not regard IL as
a matter worthy to be considered in
estimating the chances of his election
Such overwhelming majorities in thu
southern states have given politicians
confidence that the South is safe for
tue Democratic nominee, whoever or
whatever he may be. A detection To |
some extent may DO counted on, they
argue, but the Democratic maiorities
are so large that thousands of votes
may be withheld and yet not endan-
ger the success of the ticket. In Texas
the Democrats could afford to lose 10
Vp votes and yet carry the state by n
safe margin. In Georgia and Missouri
they could throw away 10000 or so 900
aud bold those states.
This is the real cause of tie disrs
gard paid to the South in making un
presidential ticket. Our big major.
Ties have caused politicians to thlnk
that the l5s electoral votes Of Tho
solid South" are safely to be counted
On for any Democratic candidate. Per.