Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-25

SEEKING a CANDIDATE.

Pnllauelpnla IEe>S-
With Mr.. Blaine out of the field the
Republicans of the country must address
themselves more seriously and earnestly
to the choice of their presidential candl-
date. Among the representative men OF
the party, there are uIany eminent and
honored leaders who are worthy OF bear
ing its standard The brilliant and sue
cessful career of Republicanism has Gre
ated trained men with large experience
in public affairs and ample ability for
the presidency. But rich as the party IS
in good material, the determination of
the wise choice is no easy matter. 1t Is
vital to have a man who will make not
only a good president but good candi-
date, and the one does not always carry
he>other.
In reviewing the requirements of the
situation the vision must stretch from
one side of the continent to the other.
The man who may be the best candidate
for one section may be the poorest for
another. He may be strong in New York
and fatally weak on the Pacific coast.
He NAV run well in west and sacrifice
the chances of success in the doubtful
states of the east. He may be uneXcep-
tional in the solid Republican states of
the north, and destroy any prospect of
winning the two or three states of the
south which might be hopefully contest
ed with some other nominee. There are
16S electoral votes which may be counted
as surely Republican with any fair and
probable candidate. But it requires POI
to elect. and who can best span the mar
Gin of 33 between the certain and the
necessary is the problem before the, Re-
publican party.
The states from which these thirty
three votes must be won are New York,
New Jersey. Connecticut, Indiana and
the three states of the Pacific coast
California, Oregon and Nevada. With
Mr.. Blaine the last three states We're
sure; they probably would ..be with
most of the other candidates who have
been named There is ground also for
including Virginia. West Virginia, North
Carolina and possibly Tennessee among
the states which may fairly be classed
as doubtful. All of these doubtful
states together cast 12l votes. and if the
Republican party should carry them
all it would gain one OF the most
sweeping victories it ever achieved. 1t is
only required to win little more than
One-QllaGCeT OF tI1e uOuDllul Note W tltCt
the president. There are several differ
ent combinations by which this could be
done. To carry New York alone with
its thirty-six votes would be enough, and
leave three votes to spare. To carry the
Pacific coast and Indiana, with either
New jersey or Connecticut would do 1t
without New York or any southern state.
To carry the Pacific coast and Indiana
and West Virginia would do it without
either New York. New Jersey. or Con-
necticut. IF Virginia and North Caro-
lima or Tennessee We're secured with the
Pacific states. then victory would be OBJ
tanned without one of the doubtful
northern states.
In selecting the candidate these decis-
i've points must be remembered. 1t is
not wise. however. and to stake the chan
ces on any one of them and disregard
the Others In seeking candidate
strong for New York, we must not over
look Indiana or the Pacific coast. In
hunting man who will run well there
we must consider whether it Is not good
policy also to make fight for Virginia
and West Virginia. If we can find a
Republican who more than any other
combines elements of strength for this
whole field, he is the man who should be
chosen,