New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-20
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.

THE CHICAGO CONt ENIION.
Two misrepresentations need emphatic re-
buke. One is that there exists some sort oil
conspiracy to force deadlock in the Chicago
Convention, so that, after many fruitless bal
lettings, the name of Mr.. Blaine may be intro
duced, welcomed with shout, and unanimously
accented. II is no more than Just to the active
and influential friends of Mr.. Blaine to say that
they are not fools. Even those who hate them
most heartily will make that admission. Not
being fools. they are aware that any deadlock
artifcially produced by the management of any
set of men would inevitably betray its intent
would anger the sincere friends of worthy can
didates, and would prevent the agreement which
the supposed management must be intended 10
attain. Sensible men do not play tricky
and suicidal game where straightforward hon
esty would serve infinitely better. There are
some delegates who, if they are correctly re-
ported. believe that the nomination of MI
Blaine, notwithstanding all that has passed.
would be the wisest that could be made ana
ought to be insisted upon. If they so state and
so vote, from first to last whether they are
few or many in number, no friends of any other
candidate will have the slightest reason to
complain of them. Indeed, they must be eX-
pected to act according to their honest convlc-
tons of duty to the party and to the country,
lust as those do who support other candidates.
There is nothing to indicate that the number
of such delegates is large. On the contrary
by far the greater number of delegates appear
to have engaged with sincerity and earnestness
in the effort to find another candidate whose
nomination will satisfy the needs OF the occa-
IL. &c +bo ri The OhVlOOS
fact that they do not yet agree, so far that the
nomination of any candidate can be conn
IDENTIFY predicted, is but testimony to the real
strength and merit of several worthy and pop
ular men. II does not follow that, after frank
comparison of views at the convention, an
agreement may not be speedily reached In
deed. Judging from the earnest and candid
shirt generally manifested by delegates, it APP
pears highly probable that they will agree, after
such conference, if there is in fact candidate
whose strength at the vital points in the con-
test renders his nomination wise.
"But what if there is no such candidate?
What will happen if it is found after frank
conference, that each and every man proposed,
however strong in some quarters would be so
far weak in others that his nomination could
not be considered wise ?" That is a contin-
gency so unlikely and remote, especially in view
of the declared Judgment of great number of
delegates, that it need not be considered. There
will be time enough to deal with such state
Of facts. if it is ever made apparent to the del
egates in convention by their conferences. AT
present, the delegates enter upon their duties
with genuine determination to find the strong
candidate whose nomination would mean as
sured success.
Another persistent and intentional misrep-
resentatiOn must, however be corrected.
There is no truth in the assertion now occa-
sonally heard, that Mr.. Blaine withdrew and
his withdrawal is accepted by his party be-
cause it is felt that he could not be elected.
On the contrary the belief frankly expressed in
Mr.. Blaine's two letters has also been openly
avowed by clear majority of the delegates
chosen to the convention, namely, that the
Republican cause will triumph this year with
any candidate who can command its full
strength. 1t was the conviction of a majority
of the delegates that Mr.. Blaine would be the
strongest candidate who could be nominated,
and it is noteworthy fact that, as soon as his
second letter appeared, precisely the same be-
lief was acknowledged by Democrats all over
the country. They knew, and then admitted,
as soon as they were satisfied that Mr.. Blaine
was not to be nominated, that he would draw
to the Republican cause a larger support in the
doubtful States than any one else.
The problem for the convention is to find
the candidate who will command most nearly
the strength which Mr. Blaine would have COM
handed and more if that is possible. But it
is not possible to command greater strength
by any paltering with the convictions Of the
party, by counting the favor of any who are
hostile to its vital principles or by aattering
the vanity of Mugwumps who have thrown off
the mask and mean to support Cleveland and
free trade in any case. The strong candidate
will be candidate dstinctively and unmis-
takably Republican.