Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-13
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Daily Eagle
PRESIDENTIAL OUTLOOK.

PRESIDENTIAL OUTLOOK,
a Comparison OF the Strength and Stand
ing of the Candidates Now in the Field.
Senator Cuhom, of Illinois, withdraws
from the Presidential canvass. announcing
in published letter that he is not candi-
date. While the field is thus gradually mar
rowing, 1t can not be said that the Repub-
hcan party Is lacking in worthy and popular
candidates. There still remain half dozen
or moro who are favored by considerable
bodies OF Republicans Senator Sherman,
IN addition to the delegation from Ohio, viii
nave large support from the South and
elsewhere, and merits the most kindly con-
slderatlon for his eminent services. Appar-
emily his strength at the outset may prove
greater than that Of any other single candi-
date, though some Of his enthusiastic
friends make mistake in policy, in seeking
TO produce the impression that the Senator
already has assured a vote nearly sufficient
to nominate him Such representations are
apt to unite il action the supporters Of other
candidates VINO are together majority.
Next to Mr.. Sherman in visible strength,
perhaps, is Mr. Depew, the genial witty
and able orator whose conspicuous success
docs not hide the fact that he is also a
statesman in his grasp Of National ques-
tons. lie seems likely to have some sup
port besides that from this State Senator
Harrison goes to the convention with the
vote of Indiana. and some outside support
at the West and ia the South. Senator AL
Ison will have the vote of Iowa, and con-
siderable support from other Western
States. Governor Alger, of Michigan, is
by no means TO be ignored, with the delega-
fion from his State heartily in his favor,
and while Judge Gresham does not start
with the delegation from Indiana, he will
have numerous supporters.
Besides these, several other candidates,
says the New York Tribane, viii have some
earnest supporters who sincerely believe
them better fitted TO develop popularity in
q Presidential contest than either of the
leaders already named. Their friends, be-
cause they only look for success in case
the convention fails to agree upon either
of the candidates originally more promi-
.nent, are likely to cling TO their first choice
persistently- Some Of them, Mr.. Phelps,
of New Jersey, for instance, may be hears-
ilyss supported by the entire delegations
from their States, not as an empty COM
plinent, but in the conviction that the
electoral votes which are most doubtful
could be moro surely secured by their
nomination than by the selection of can
didate from a strong Republican State.
Thus II is clear that the field Of choice,
though considerably narrowed within the
past three months, is still broad enough to
make the selection matter of some diff
Guilty. 1t viii not be forgotten that, if SEN
ator Sherman should not be preferred by
the majority of the convention, Governor
Foraker, of Ohio, viii have many ardent
supporters, and that Mr.. Lincoln may start
with most of the votes from Illinois, and
will certainly have some from other States, /
II his nau1e is presented.
1t is not possible now, perhaps it may not /
be possible until the convention has been
some time In session, TO judge how many OF .
the delegates who favor the candidates al /
ready mentioned would rather see Mr. /
Blaine nominated than anybody else. His .
decination has had a most desirable effect;
it has impelled ali Republicans to consider
and dispassionatcly tho merits of
all other possible candidates and to realize
how many there are whose selection may
be-advocated with strong reasoning. It ap-
pears every day, in notices of meetings or
OF individual opinion, that some
IGtpODAlCdHS ISNt DcCn lea Dy Inelf survey
10 stronger belief that Nj. Blaine ought
TO be the candidate Of the party. But no
estimate Of the extent of that belief can
be made until the convention has brought
delegates together for personal conference.
There is seen scarcely trace of the heat
ed personal devotion of feeling which some
times renders it hard, IN Presidential can
vass, for men to unite In the hearty sup
port of the candidate. While elements of
strength and weakness have been freely
discussed, II has been in so reasonable and
kindly spirit, with rare exceptions, that the
deliberate judgement of Republicans rather
than their passionate hl1ings Or antipathies
has been elected. After such discussion,
and under such circumstances, the National
has peculiarly favorable oppor-
Iunity to make selection which will not
1Ily express the well-considored prefer
srces Of q great party, but meet the de-
mands Of the emergency. Each day makes
tclea7er that President Cleveland will be
nominated by tho Democrats, and that his
party VIII be forced into support of his free
trade policy. The Republican convention
ian no. overlook the necessity of choosing
candidate who eau appeal strongly 20 those
Democratic clements which recognize the
necessity OF protecting home industry