The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-25
EaneuyerinC.


scarcely more than one year of the pres
ent administration has expired, mystic
rious movements are being made and
very significant signs are seen in many
sections of the country-all pointing
Enthusiastically to the fact that the bat
tie to- be fought will be a decisive one,
involving perhaps the humiliation of
the defeated party. In New York Mr..
Conkling has been silently working
among his friends with sufficient sue
cess to create quite d stir in the stall
wart element Of the Republican party,
and combinations are spoken of as
likely to occur, which will doubtless
throw confusion into the ranks of other
Presidential aspirants before the nomi-
nation is made. Mr.. Conkling is willy
and shrewd, just thema to create trou-
BILE where trouble will count most for
his own benefit, and of this the leaders
in his party have had experience
enough to make them eaertioussn every
movement. :
At the Capital Senator Edmunds has
made bold dash in his attack upon
the President to establish himself as
the leader of his party, and thus to Sc
cure g position which will make his
nomination reasonably certain in 1888.
The evident indifference, however, on
the part of many Republicans and the
telling blows he has received at the
hands of Democrats seem to have so
clouded his prospect that nothing less
than an overwhelming victory can
make him an available candidate before
the convention.
General Sherman, though an aspirant
and a promising one in his own eyes,
is quietly canvassing the chances and
calculating the advantage his famous
"March to the Sea" gives him over his
opponents, but feels considerably en-
barrassed in his work. The burning
of Columbia, his depreciation of Gen.
Grants military genius and other un-
guarded expression are stumbling
stones in his way not easily removed,
and his daily experience with these
matters makes him realize the often
asserted truth that the tongue is in
deed a small member but often gives
deal of trouble to those who use it
without bride.
Nor has Senator Logan been idle or
an Indifferent spectator of the scenes
being enacted around him. His friends
with an answering devotion to his
cause, have taken in the situation and,
knowing his skill in using to advan-
tage the bloody shirt argument, count
on him as an important factor in the
coming contest.
Probably the most active worker and
certainly the most adroit wirer puller
in the field is MIR. Blaine. The growing
popularity of Mr.. Conkling in New
York and other states has aroused his
political adherents in that section and
perhaps the old antagonism will be re-
vived to lessen, at least, MIR. Conkling
chances for the nomination. The ill
advised attack of Senator Edmunds on
the President opens up an opportunity
for Mr.. Blaine to secure an inglorious
defeat to Mr.. Edmunds, to bring his
Indifferent course in the last campaign
again prominently before the party
and by these means kill him off early in
the campaign. We do not suppose the
friends of the Plumed Knight will give
themselves much trouble about Gener-
ais Sherman and Logan more than to
give them rope enough to hang them
selves, this their past indiscretion indi-
Gates as the best policy.
While this maneuvering is being
conducted on the Republican side of
the field, we hope the Democrats are
on the alert and will occupy every van
playground that presents itself. The
success of the party and its perpetual
tion in power depend upon Mr.. Cleve-
lands administration being a success,
therefore it is Of the first Importance
for the party leaders to give him their
warmest and hest suppOrt. Look at it
as we may, Mr.. Cleyeland's fight is the
party's fight and his success will be the
party's success. Victory in 1883 to
whatever side it turns will give the
successful party an almost indefinite
lease Of power.
Interest Dwindling.
When the attack on the President
was first made we expected to have
several weeks of spicy reading embrac-
inp rhatorica1 flourtShas dramatic