The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-19

thirds Of the delegates from the SOUTH They
seem 70 think that when the time comes
the southern delegate can be placed at pleas
ure, and that if they are really needed else
where they can be easily gotten. They say
that they are making no effort to break the
southern column OF Mr. Shennan's support as
yet, because under the circumstances they look
upon it rs the part Of prudence and wisdom to
postpone action until the last minute. OF
course all this Is very unjust and severe on
the southern republican, but nevertheless it
is true. 1t remains to be
seen whether or not events beari
out the inforental charges OF the colored
brother.
GRESHAM AGAINST THE FIELD.
No better evidence of the strength of the
Gresham movement can be furnished than the
promptness with which the friends of the other
caDdidates- are falling in line against him.
Gresham must be BEATEN" is the rallyng
cry.
1t seems to be the general impression that
Sherman will lead on the opening ballot,
and that Gresham is the one
most to be feared, and that
unless n very powerful influence is brought to
bear TO check the Gresham movement, it will
succeed in running rouglshod over the hopes
of all the other candidates.
mere are Oh course, gOOu republicans.
Likewise, there are bad republicans.
The fght against Gresham is contest be-
tween the good republicans for Gresham, on
the ono hand, and the bad republicans for
anybody but Gresham on the other.
The greatest trouble with which Judge
Gresham has to contend is that he has the
record of being
AN HONEST AND UPRIGHT MAN,
l.
the republican nominee for the presidency.
Gresham was a brave soldier, is an able law
yer, clean statesman, and has a splendid
record throughout his whole public life. He
is a non-factional republican, and consequent
ly has never antagonizcd any particular
element of the party. He has positively re-
fused to enter into contest for the nonlna-
ton, claiming that judge of United
States court it would not be- proper for him to
have anything to do with politics. Feargin
that his presence in the city might be mis-
construed, he has wound up his court, which
has been in session here for some
months, and has left the city to be absent
until after the convention adiourns.
He has the unanimous support Of tile
Illinois delegation and is particularly strong
IL. other states in the west, and it is probable
that he will receive about one hundred and
fifty votes on the first ballot, and it may be
that the better element OF the party will tri-
umph in his nomination.
1t remains TO be seen whether or not the re-
publcans know good thing when they see ii.
If Gresham is nominated the democracy
viii have a harder fight than against any other
candidate whom the republicans could nomi-
nate.
If Sherman is nominated, the democracy
will win hands down.
Rem HARRISON OF INDIANA.
Indiana universally plays an important part
in every national convention, republican or
democratic, and generally plays in hard luck.
But as often as the Hoosiers are downed they
bob up sereney again and make more fuss
than ever. The states influence in national
conventions is nearly always handicapped by its
"favoIite sons"
This time it is Ben Harrison, who seems TO
have stepped into the shoes of the
late Oliver p. Morton Tho republicans of
Indiana chung to Morton till he died, and
now they are doing the same thing with Har-
rison.
The Indianians in this convention are doing
just like those in the St. Louis convention.
There it was: Give us Gray, or we perish!'
Here it Is the same thing about Harrison; aud
lIarrison's fate viii be the same as Grays.
Harrison is a sort Of Lone Fisherman and has
made most of the other candidates mad by his
obstanacy. Gresham's support realizes the fact
that if Harrison was not in the way, there
would be but little trouble in putting their
fayorite through. The principal thing in the
way of the Gresham boom, is the fact that he
is not backed by his own state, which, with
persistent faith, has thrown its arms around
the Harrison standard and wildly kicks at
nnVlonV " no tries to null IL off
WHAT ABOUT THE TARIFF?
What will the republicans do about the
tariff?
Whether or not they will face the democrat
ic music and make a square tariff issue, or
adopt more conservative course, by strad-
ding?
In 1876 the platform simply said
The revenue necessary for current expenditures
ana the obligations of the public debt must lie
largely derived from duties upon imp1rtutous
which 50 far possible should be adjusted to pro
mote the Interests Of American labor and advance
the prosperity OF the whole country.
In 1850 the platform Jumped in one rosolu-
tion-the htth-along with q lot Of platitudcs
about public lands, polygamy, subsidies, and
pensions. the following perfunctory statement:
We realirmshe belief arowed in 1876 that the
duties levied for the purposes of revenue should SO
discriminate as to favor American labor
That was all they had TO say on tho matter.
In 1884 tho convention gave up four resolutions
to this question. The first was an elaboration
OF the plank Of 1876; the second was an Car
rasnment" OF the democrats; the fourth was
demand for the "readjustmont' of the rates
on wool, and the third was as follows:
"lhe republican party pledges itself TO correct the
inequalities of the tariff and 10 reduce the surpus
not 10y The vicious and indiscrminatiug process of
horizontal reduction, hut 10y such methods as will
piieve the taxpayer without injurng the aboror or
the great productive interests OF tue country"
THE ISSUE FORCED.
Thus Il will bo seen that there has never
been any very material difference between the
positions of the two parties ON the tariff cues
tion, and the chief object Of both seems 10
have been at double construction.
But the democracy has taken SQUARE
stand, with the presidents message as its
platform, and the general impression here is
that this viii place direct issue on the cues
ton. IL Hon. William Mckinley, of Ohio.
becomes chairman Of the committee on reso-
lptons, and it is probable that ne will, it will
mean that the party will declare uueauiyoonllv