Wichita eagle., 1888-03-20
Daily eagle
ABOUT THE PRESIDENCY.

The Uncertainty of COnventions-The Conn
2stitive Test of the Ballots Hard on
"Leaders" and /" Prominent" Candi-
dates.
The time Of the meeting of the Republic
an National convention is less than four
months distant, and no man is SO wisely
prophetic, says the Chicago Inter Ocean, as
TO be able to predict. with any thing like
certainty, who the Presidential nominee
Will be, or even to venture strong guess.
Several conspicuous names are proposed,
but so divided is popular opinion, and SO
barren is the situation Of any positive in
dlcations, that it is barely possible that
the successful candidate for the nomination
has not yet been publicly mentioned. That
Is to say, there is possibility that the con-
vention will come together so undecided as
TO who the coming man " ought to be, and
so wanting in unity of purpose in this re-
gard. that those leaders who are now most
frequently or most prominently proposed
Tor its Supreme honor will, when it shall
come to the competitive test Of bailoting,
soon sink out Of sight to give place to other
names, with the chances favoring one or
two ultimate results, namely, the success
full springing Of the name Of the unwilling
"Plumed Knight" as dark horse" or,
mated Abraham Lincoln in 1850 and
Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876 the choice Of
comparatively obscure man who would not
suffer either from the rivalry of factions or
the antagonisms bred of too pronounced
individual record in public life. The final
outcome Of political nominating conventions
is sometimes quite as uncertain as is the
verdict of jury in desperately contested
case on trial.
The delegations of several Of our Western
States will il is now probable, have II favor
lite sons" OF their own for the Presidential
nomination, and Will make an earnest effort
in their behalf, each clinglng to its own man
so long as there shall be any hope for hin.
Iowa will have Allison; Wisconsin will have
Governor REsk; Illinois will have either its
Lincoln, its Cullom or its Oglesby; Indiana
will have either its Harrison or its Gresham;
Michigan talks Of its Governor Alger, and
Ohio will BOOM its Sherman with all pos
sible energy, with its Foraker in reserve as
a last resort. These are the Western proba-
bilities. The East viii also have its light
ning-rods up. There will be the hackers Of
Chauncey NJ. Depew and perhaps others
from New York, and General Hawley, from
Connecticut; and Pennsylvania, New Jer-
sey, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hamp-
shire and Maine are fortunate in having
several illustrious and honorable Repub-
lican leaders, some of whom may, when the
time comes, invite the Presidential light
ming Possibly the Pacific slope may also
present its claims for recognition, and may
be even some Of the Southern States
there's no telling. AT such time-in a
National body that meets under such cir
cumstanceS of uncertain and divided coun-
sci and purpose-all'Ost any thing Is likely
TO happen, and every philosopher knows
that often lit is the unexpected that hap
pens"
1t is possible of course, that before the
meeting of the convention the popular Re-
publican sentiment of the country may con-
centrate upon one of the leaders now prom |
inently named as the men of its choice. |
This Is possible, but not probable. And, on !
the other hand the evolving events of these /
rapid times may suddenly de- |
velop new man for the emergency upon |
whom the whole country could unlte-a new .
man. who, because of some great and .
worthy service he may render, may flash .
into conspicuity as a comet flashes into the |
sky. We can't tell what may happen, but
every earnest Republican will hope that the
best thing that could happen will happen,
and that the best man who could possibly
be selected for our standard-bea will be
alacte6