News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-01-03
the PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

The call of the National Republl-
can Convention at Chicago on the
Sd of June marks the opening of the
Presidential campaign of 1884. The
meeting of the committee was lmme-
diately followed by speculations about
candidates, and rumors of every kind
regarding the combinations and plans
of conspicuous Republican politicians.
In all that is said, however, it is no
ticeable that there is great warm ess
of formally declaring the candidate OF
any particular person, if there were
a feeling that to take that course
would greatly injure his chances of
success. Meanwhile there are very
few persons mentioned as probable
candidates. The list comprises only
the names of President Arthur, Mr..
Blaine, Mr.. Edmunds, Mr.. Logan,
Mr.. Lincoln, Mr.. Harrison, and Mr..
Gresham. The Herald has announced
in letter from Washington-but the
story rests only upon its assertion
that Mr.. Blaine and General Grant
and Mr.. Conkling have declared them
selves friendly to the nomination OF
General Logan, and also that the Lo-
gan platform is high tariff, with dis
tribution of the proceeds of the whis-
key tax among the States to promote
education.
This may be classed among the hui
mors OF an early political season.
But it is not too early to remark that
the political situation is such that the
result of the contest is not as yet to
be forecast, and that all which can be
plainly seen is that the party must be
wise if it would succeed. There is no
doubt that the Republican prospect
of carrying the election is most prom
Using, but that much depends upon
the selection OF a candidate is equally
unquestionable. We probably shall
not see the plan Of 1880 repeated
the attempt to pack the National
Convention in advance by trickery in
the State Conventions. The Conven-
ton will Ee unusually independent
and truly representative, and while
the friends of different candidates
will try to aid them in the preliminary
movements, they know that the reac-
ton against machines and bosses
which followed the antics of 1880 and
the spring of 1881 is not yet spent,
and that their efforts must not be of
that kind if they are to be useful.
The situation would seem to show
things to be imperative
Among these is the necessity of a
nomination which shall not renew diff
ferences that are now quiescent if not
healed. Another is, that when there
is a redundant revenue the party shall
not declare for high taxation. An
other is, that it shall maintain the I'M
equivocal position which it has taken
in New York and elsewhere upon adj
ministratiye and civil service reform.
Another is that the proceedings at
the Convention and before it, shall
show distinctly that the nomination is
the fee action of the party, and that
its character shows the party fidelity
to its own professions. These con-
ditions seem to us to be essential to
a vigorous campaign and successful
result, and they suggest the import
lance of careful selection of the
candidate.
In the absence Of paramount
special purpose to be gained-a STU
alton to which this generation has
become accustomed, such as the ex-
tension of slavery, or the prosecution
of the war, or reconstruction and its
consequent policy-a situation which
makes the individuality of the candi-
date Of less importance-the candl-
date will next year be regarded as the
guarantee of the good faith of the
party. For instance, the sincerity
of a party declaration of reform,
whether in the revenue system or the
civil service, will be tested by the re-
form sympathies and the record of the
candidate. 1t is a situation which
demands that, whoever may be select
ed, he shall be by his character and
services a distinct source of strength
A. .Lo ,,orfv IN tho oamnaiun III