Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-09-10

Although the presidential election is still
more than two years away, there Is already
much activity among the adherents of the
several aspirants to the chief magistracy and
In some instances the aspirants themselves are
actively at work, and by the most direct
methods In the democratic party the only
men now seriously spoken OF for the place are
Cleveland and Hill; but the last named gentle
man appears To be brought forward rather to
Kill on the present incumbent than because he
has any real strength of his own or prospects
of winning the prize, though his friends stoutIy
claim that he could certainly carry the state of
New York and with it the rest Of the country.
With the republicans material that is sup
posed TO be available Is much plentier, and
sennment consequently more divided. As yet
there appears TO be but little opportunity to
Judge OF the relative strength of those most fire.
quently mentioned for the first place, hut there
can hardly be a doubt that Logan's chances
have waned considerably in the last two
months, while Blaine looms up more consplcu-
ously than was thought possible eighteen
months ago. Indeed prophecies are plenty to-
DAY that the heads of the tickets in 1854 will
again be pitted against each other in 1888
Ibis Is, however, by no means certain. Mr.
Cleveland may make grave mistakes In two
years time, and one or two men in the repub-
ucan camp who We're prominent in 1884 seem
TO be stronger with the party now than they
talked of may now be regarded as probable
dark horses, with pretty iair prospect ahead.
As stated above, there has been so far no chance
to accurately learn public opinion on the sub
tect- The nearest an opportunity Yet afforded
was that presented by the republican state con-
vention In Indiana last week. The members of
that body were carefully interviewed on the
subject of their presidential preference by rep
resentatives of the st. Louis Globe Democrat,
en- In b,apn m lei in 4 no
cutiOn of their inquiries and unbiased in stat
Ing the result and the replies, which are pub
Qshed in that paper in full, show the widest
variety of opinion Briefly, the Indiana senti-
ment as expressed there may be summarized as
follows, to use the language of one Oh the cor
respondents:
1.-The preferences avoyyed show what Indiana
men think OF Harrison and Porter as "A matter
OF state pride; but local affect ion seems utterly
swallowed up in the feeling tor Logan. Blaine
and sherman The most unqualified admira-
ton Is expressed for Sherman, while Blaine is
1doliZed in one direction and doubtfuily re-
garded In another. Logan figures prominently
for first and second choice with vary pg OPT MONS
as " his course regarding the Payne investiga-
ton. But one delegate favored Gresham
The friendly feeling here Indicated TOR Sher-
man is significant, because it is in the direct
line of expression now quite common in other
parts of the country. There can be no doubt
that Mr.. Sherman is very strong, not only with
the rank and file of his own party, but with the
conservative elements OF the democracy in GER
tain quarters: and if Ohio should go into the
national convention solid and enthusiastic for
him his chances for nomination would be very
good The possibilities of Mr.. Allison as a re-
publican candidate have been discussed con-
sideratly liz some quarters lately; but, curiously
enough, he does not seem to have impressed
himself much on the Indiana mind and What
Is true OF that state is perhaps true of others.