The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-05-03
Changed Conditions.

Whether Mr.. Blaine shall be unanimous
ly declared the candidate for the Presi
dency by the Republican Convention
which meets at Chicago on the 18th OF
June, or not, is question which cannot
be determined until after the Convention
meets. There, is, however, change in
the conditions which lost him New York
! reversal of that verdict in 1888. In the
first place, the Mugwumps, who were too
good for their party in 1884, and ostensl-
bly, opposed Mr.. Blaine because he was no
better than his PARTY, have taken their
proper position. They were then free
trrders, and really opposed Mr.. Blaine be-
cause he was for protection. They are
free traders now and will support Mr..
Cleveland or any other free trade candl-
date rather than any Republican candi>
date. Many Republicans who believed
Curtis, Schurz & Co.. were honest in their
alleged reasons for opposing Blaine, see
now where they were miSlead and de-
celved. and viii return, or have returned,
No claim to Republican confidence, ard
cad no Republican force. They have I'M
covered themselves and stand outas undis
guised free traders.
The influence of no two men in New
York was more effective against Mr..
Blaine than that of Henry Ward Beecher
and Roscoe Conkling. In the election of
1884 Mr.. Beecher took the stump for
Cleveland, and Conkling's county, Oneida,
which gave Garfield 1900 majority, re-
versed its political relation and'gave Cleye-
land small majority-more than enough
to have turned the scale in the entire State
and elected Blaine. While, from what we
have seen in the papers, since the death of |
Mr.. Conkling, it is almost certain that he
would have taken no active part against |
the Republican nominee in 1883, whether |
Mr.. Blaine or some other Republican, as
he was out of politics, his death removes |
the presence Of a former enemy.
In addition to these facts the Irish
American vote that was partially given to
Blaine in 1884, would, in 1888, he almost
solid for him.
Then again Mr.. Cleveland was pro-
claimed by Samuel J. Randall to be a
friend of protection to American labor
and industries. This drew to him the votes
of many who were and are opposed to free
trade.
Now he stands squarely on the free I
trade doctrine. His message will be his
platform, and the adoption of the policy it
outlines, would bring ruin upon the whole
system upon which our industrial fabric is
based.
There could be no event or issue to
counteract this adverse influence upon
Cleveland and the favorable effect |
upon Blaine, almost assuring the electoral |
vote of New York for the latter. New
Jersey and Connecticut, politically outly-
ing provinces of New Y ork. will be con-
trelled by similar influences, and assure the
election of Mr.. Blaine, should he be the
Republican nominee.
The tendency Of the popular belief now
is that Mr.. Blaine will be the unanimous
nominee of the Chicago Convention, de-
SplJe Ills FlUIeuCc letter, anu illus huuoIeu
he is too true Republican and too intense
an American to decline call given under
such circumstances to bear the banner of
his party, which represents all that is be-
neicent and wise in administrative policy
for the promotion of the peace, prosper
ity, progress and grandeur of the Re-
public.