Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-29
WEDNESDAY.......SEPT'R 20, 1886,
The Republicans and the Blai

Mr. SHERMAN Is, next 10 MT.
BLAINE, the most prominent Republi'
can leader in this country. The nomi-
nation Of the Republican National Con-
yention of 1888 for President Of the
United States will fall upon either
SHERMAN or BLAINE II the indica-
tons OF to-day may be relied upon.
Mr.. BLAINE's defeat in 1884 will ope-
rate against him. 1t is very hard for
q defeated candidate for President to
secure q second nomination from q
party which really expects success.
Taking all things into consideration,
we may say that SHERMAN's chances
for the Republican nomination for Pre-
sident in 1883 are IS good as Mr..
BLAINE's.
Mr.. SHERMAN is in peculiar sense
in close alliance with the Republicans
Of this State. In 1885 he was invited
by them to Virginia, and did come
hither and make speeches in Peters,
burg, Richmond, and elsewhere in
favor Of the Republican candidate for
Governor. Fortunately for the coun-
try, his efforts failed Of success. III
in 1886 WISE had been elected
Governor of Virginia, and HILL
defeated for Governor Of New York,
that being the same year that
FORAKER was elected Governor OF
Ohio, this country would to-day have
presented the spectacle which Mr.. WEB
sTER prayed that his eyes might never
behold. The bloody-shirt was furled
when CLEVELAND was elected Presi-
dent. During the year Of his inaugurs-
ton SHERMAN and FORAKER and
others tried to make it yield good party
returns, but failed ingloriously. The
people Of the North are no longer afraid
to trust the people Of the South. With
CLEVELAND in the presidential chair,
FITzHUGH LEE in the gubernatorial
chair Of Virginia, and RUNEY LEE
Just about to enter the national House
OF Representatives, 4" the union Of
States none can sever" has in truth
been brought about.
But let US return to Mr.. SHERMAN.
This distinguished Republican leader
was perhaps the most influential oppo-
nent of the BLAIR bill in the Senate.
On the 10th of March, 1884, when that
bill was under discussion in that body,
Mr.. SHERMAN said:
Although this thing (tho educa-
tional bill has been talked Of in senti-
mental kind Of way in this country for
some years, yet do not think that the
public opinion Of the United States is
now prepared for any such measure as
this. And if it should pass the
Senate--especislly if it should pass
Congress--it would at once excite great
agitation, great complaint, great dis.
content, and do not believe the system
would stand long before a general pub
lie voice would demand its repeal on
the ground Of injustice and inequality"
There spoke MAHoNE's friend and
ally, JOHN SHERMAN. The BLAIR
bill generously appOrtions the national
school-fund among the States in pro-
portion to illiteracy, thus granting the
largest proportional share to those
States which have the most persons
who cannot read and write. This fea-
ture Of the bill is the one upon which
JOHN SHERMAN based his charge o.
"iyustice and inequality" He could
not, or would not, for one moment dis
card his prejudicss, but appealed to th'
northern Senators on sectional and mer
cenary grounds. lie, MAHoNE''
chosen friend and ally, invited to Wir
ginia to speak for the Republican cause
opposed the passage Of the BLAIR bill
in the United States Senate on tn
ground that it would operate unjustl.
and unsqually upon the northern States
More The most prominent Republi
can aspirant to the Office Of yice-Presi
dent OF the United States is Mr.. HAw
LEY, Of Connecticut, who is also a
incorporating enemy Of the BLAIl
bill II SHERMAN is nominated 70
|. President, HAwLEY will probably b
nominated for Vice President.
In view Of the facts Of the case, viii
shall be said of the Republican speaker
and papers in Virginia which claim fC
themselves and their party . peculia
and oyormastering attachment to th
BLAIR bill?
------------=---