The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-03-17
WITHOUT LEADERS.
How His Party II Affected by the Plume
knights Retirement.

knights Retirement.
We have already expressed the opin-
ion that Mr.. Blainc's letter is to be
taken with several grains OF salt. II
Is feat Of political marksmanship
which seems intended, like the famous
shot Of the farmers boy, to "hit IL IT, s
a deer and miss IL It's calf" Should
any thing turn up between now and
the middle Of june to convince the
famous letter-writer that he has good
fighting chance to be elected, he will
doubtless contrive to make his letter
miss the mark.
But should the political situation re-
main unchanged, it is easy to believe
that Mr.. Blaine is sincere. The
strength of President Cleveland before
the country is so great, tho popularity
of his policy so undeniable, that the
Plumcd Knight may well and wisely
decline to enter the lists against him.
Mr.. Blame has something to lose and
nothing to gain by encountcring a
second defeat We see no reason to
change our opinion, expressed immedi-
atoly after the November election, that
Blaine can have the nomination il he
chooses, but that it is by no means
certain that he will desire it.
1t becomes. therefore, very inter-
esting question who will be the Repub-
lican candidate in case Mr.. Blaine
keeps out of the fight. And it is a
striking fact that among all the poll
ticians who have been mentioned for
this distinction, not one arouses any
warm enthusiasm.
John Sherman is now in the lead,
because he has been expertly pulling
the wires, but his following comprises
but small fraction of his party. His
long and intimate connection with
banks and bankers, spectators and
corporation magnates, has secured him
a certain following among the "busi-
ness interests" But nowhere does
his candidacy arouse any thing like
popular enthusiasm. Much is said of
his record as fnancier, but this,
while it includes some fortunate Incl
dents, is so full of contradictions, in
consistencies and blunders that under
the fierce light of a Presidential CAM
paign it would prove great disad-
vantage to him rather than help.
Assuming that Blaine is out of the
field, New England can not be said to
possess any formidable candidate.
Hawley, of Connecticut, and Ed
munds of Vermont, have until lately
l rnI Sc Il ~
but quite recently our own Hoar, of
| Massachusetts, has had puff or two.
The latter need hardly be considered.
1t is enough to say of Senator Ed
munds that he is scarcely as strong
now as he was when he was rejected
by the conventions0of 1880 and 1884.
Senator Hawley may turn out to be a
strong candidate, but he comes from
a small State, and even if he could
save the Republicans it would not
avail unless he could carry other States
which his party failed to carry in 1884.
New York presents Depew and Ev-
arts, with Hiscock in the background.
Depew would be a very strong candi-
date in some circles, but his intimate
relations with the Vanderbilt monopo-
lies would tell heavily against him with
the people. Senator Evarts, though a
great lawyer, has proved too insignifi-
cant quantity in his brief career as a
statesman to have gained any strength
whatever with the masses.
Pennsylvania, in suggesting George
W. Childs, has probably named a
stronger man than any yet mentioned.
Universally respected, his popularity
among the laboring men would proba-
bly, draw to him many Democratic
votes, especially in his own State. He
labors under the disadvantage, how
ever, of coming from State certainly
and overwhelmingly Republican; and.
besides. Mr.. Childs is said to be
strongly disinclined to public life.
Allison, of Iowa, is believed by many
to be Mr.. Blaine's legatee. He is little
known and has no personal strength
in the East, while his prohibition views
would hurt him badly among the Ger
mans of the West.
Robert Lincoln seems to regard the
Presidency with some disdain, and
while his name would arouse some
sentimental enthusiasm, there is just
ly very strong objection to the
principle of hereditary succession in
American politics. and it could scarce
ly be pretended by Republicans that
he would ever have been thought of
had he not been the son OF Abraham
Lincoln.
The gallant soldier, Phil Sheridan,
would arouse all the military enthusi-
asm there is left in the Republican party,
and draw not u few Democratic votes.
But it would be hard to find candi-
late more untitled for the civil
cares of the Presidency. or one to
whom they would be less congenial.
Moreover the Republican party is too
well saturated with Know-Nothing-
ism to be held solid for him If he were
nominated. Burchard is not a lonely
type of Republican by any means
The best place for the brave and gal.
lant Sheridan is the place he fills SO
well at the head of the army.
The retirement of Mr.. Blaine. if it
be fact leaves tho Republican party.
so far rs can now be seen, absolutely
without a astrong leader. Boston Globe