Omaha daily bee., 1888-06-01

lnLeIeSL III lOOhlnB wei Jhe Hclu anu
estimating the chances OF other men
more or less likely to secure the nomi-
nation. Until Mr.. Blaine's last letter
there vas no very great amount Of sat
isfaction in doing this, owing to the
overshadowing probability that he
could have secured the nomination il
he desired it. With this entirely and
decisively brushed away, it Is worth
while to see how the other possible can
didates stand and consider their pros
poets.
The list of these candidate is not
so large as IL was q month
or two ago. Several gentlemen who
enjoyed some prominence then have
been dropped, having failed to develop
anything more than a local interest and
following. They may be heard of in
the convention, but it will be a merely
complimentary mention. OF those who
remain in the list some have not shown
any growth, if they have not had the
misfortune to lose ground. AS the stu
alton is now presented, Senator Sher-
man will probably lead in the number
Vi supporters III bllC HiblOlitl NCh-
ton, but there is a very general opinion
that he cannot hold the support after
the first few ballots. Under existing
conditions Ohio ought to be expected
to do some very vigorous work
for its distinguished citizen, and if the
democrats should nominate Thurman for
the vice presidency it would seem that
that must help the chances of Sherman.
But the fact is apparent that he has not
been gaining, and that the popular in
terest for the Ohio man is less to-day
than it was two months ago. 1t does
not seem probable that it will expert
nee any considerable revival between
now and the meeting of the convention,
the danger which the friends of Mr..
Sherman have to fear being rather that
1t will diminish, by reason of the grow
ing interest in other candidates. Mr..
Allison has made even less progress
than Mr.. Sherman. His friends profess
to believe that he will secure a great
deal Of the Blaine support as the natu-
raj legatee of that leader, but this is
very far from assured. There are one or
UNO OJlCES WIZ COulu urge QulUe DIS 2OOu
q claim in this respect as the Iowa
statesman, and it is intimated that the
last aspirant to enter the list of possible
candidates-ex-Governor Alger of Mich
igan-is the man most likely to receive
the largest share of the support of the
Blaine element. Alger will be enthusi-
astically supported by his own state, he
&, ,yax,, ,uA11 N,,a ~ -. Ill., ID--.G-
coast, and with the promise now held
out of some eastern support he may
make a much better showing in the con-
v~ention thar was thought possible when
his name was first mentioned. He has
a good military and political record, IS
personally very popular, and is a man Of
wealth, so that his ~pretensions as a
possible candidate are by no means to
be deprecated. General Harrison holds
the Indiana delegation firmly in his
grasp, but so far as appears that is all
he has to go on. He has made no prog
ress since his state endorsed him. and
figures very little in the popular atten-
ton. The man who will undoubtedly
rank second in the voting of the national
| SoliN Y CIV iiS ouboOU 10 Al
Gresham, and it would not be surpris-
ing if the situation so changed by the
| time of the meeting of the convention
as to place him in the lead. His growth
in popular interest and favor since he
was made the candidate of Illinois
has been very rapid and very
solid. The discussion of his claims and
his availability has been all to his advan-
tage with the people, whatever the effect
may have been upon the politicians. To
all appearances he is by far the strong
est man with the republicans of the
west and northwest, who will exert a
powerful influence in the convention,
while he IS referred to in very friendly
terms in New York and New England.
Illinois will spare no effort to secure his
nomination, and it is not doubted that
as soon as Indiana shall become con-
WINGED that there is no chance for her
favorite son, the delegation will give its
unanimous support to her other son,
and pledge HIM an equally earnest and
enthusiastic republican support in that
state. So far as the republican press OF
the country reflects the sentiment OF
the party, there is no serious
objection anywhere to Gresham.
and measuring his chances with
those of the other possible candidates
we have referred to, they certainly APP,
pear at present to be the most promis.
ing.
We take it that one of the five distin.
guished republicans we have named
will be chosen as the standard bearer OF
the party this year, ana as the situation
now appears the probabilities mos
strongly favor G Gresham and Alger. We
do not expect any surprises at the Chi,
cago convention. The controlling minds
of that body will, w think, be fully inn
pressed with the responsibility that
rests upon it to act with the utmost care
and deliberation, and not to yield TO the
influence of impulse or passion. This
at all events, is what the great body Of
the party expects of it, and at no time
in the history of the party has there
been greater reason or necessity than