The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-05-18
LOOKING OVER THE FIELD.

The Republican National convention will
begin in Chicago June 10Th. Who knows
when and how it will end? Was there ever
such a condition confronting a party? The
democrats can only possibly do one thing,
nominate Cleveland and a dop! his message
as its platform. Every Democrat in the
United States knows this conclusion is FORE
gone. They are in q wise so tight they can
not even kick when they Want to, and should
AS, for instance, the Central Committee Of
Montana. But withthe Republicans, with q
half dozen splendid candidates in the field.
any one of whom should win handsomely,
Z large element if not the bulk of the party
seems waiting for q word from over the sea
that ay disturb all combinations aud that
must have mighty influence in the nomina-
ton. And yet that word is unspoken. Mr..
Blaine is q master Of words. In the most
brilliant campaign ever made for the presi-
dency he never made . mistake In one, al
though hi friend Burchard did. And
yet when he wrote from Florence declining
the nomination he committed an error. He
said his name would not be presented to
the convention rs q candidate. That he was
Powelless to prevent. He could have ~
readily said he would not be Z cand date, or
accept the nomination under any circum-
stances, and these things he could have con-
trolled. Even his second letter, as his friends
construe IL, did not entirely aud ~unequivo.
cably take him out of the possible candi-
dates. But bis expressions were regard
ed as . sincere intent to entirely withdraw
from candidacy, aud, on the strength Of that,
sentiment tended to and crystalized around
other eminent men and state delegations
who have been instructed for them. If Mr..
Blaine should now be "drafted'' as q candi-
date, and be nominated, and his closest
friends-Depew, Reid, Jones and others
are bringing every pressure TO bear to &C.
complish that result, there cannot be that
cordial feeling that would have existed had
he not written hts %declination. We believe
Mr.. Blaine should have been, as an act of
justice and gratitude, the nominee sgain this
year. BE was mistaken in believing his de-
feat of four years ago handicapped him. He
won his election fairly and was beaten out
Of 1t by the mistakes of two or three unwise
friends and Republicans would have laid
aside other preferences, and even personal
objections, to bring him grandly to his own
Nnow he shall be nominated, notwithstand-
ing all, we cannot but believe his Florence
letter was . serious mistake.
Should Mr.. Blaine say the word that will
give pause to the efforts of bis friends, there
is . field Of strong candidates to choose from
and it is beyond the wisdom of wise men to
with anv certainty, forecast the result.
Depew is = splendid man but his identity
with the New York Central will be urged
against him. Sherman is = grand old Re-
publican but his convention strength lies
greatly in Southern states that cannot give
him electoral votes. Allison is worthtly
strong in the northwest and regarded with
favor in the east. His chances are good.
Alger has . virile sentiment in his favor. His
friends are working hard for delegates, but
he is not 80 we'll known as his competitors.
Harrison has Indiana solid but his support
seems localized there. Gresham lost IIdi-
ana IS anybody would against Harrison, but
Illinois took him up and Chicago will hold
him there. He has every quality to COM /
mend him, and . ticket with Gresham and
Depew on it would be very strong.
But the word from Blaine is the element
lacking before it is known..who may play the
star part in the coming engagement; then
The wishes Of New York come in for much
consideration, and then in the wisdom of
the convention we may confidently rely.