Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-10
THE REPUBLICAN SITUATION.
1t Is Herewith Ably and Thoroughly
 Reviewed.

1t Is Herewith Ably and Thoroughly
 Reviewed.
 During the last week of April the Re-' pubicans held state conventions in Penn sylvania Massachusetts and Maine-three states that have moro than once dictated the policies and candidates of the party. But, although it is less than two months until the Chicago convention, these three conventions have left the question of candidate for the presidency as unsettled as it was before they met. Party senti- ment, instead of tending in favor of any candidate, appears to be moro divided than ever. MT. Blaine occupies the same dubious position as a candidate, and not one of his rivals has made step in ad- vance, not excepting Senator Sherman, whose boasted strength is mainly on very unsubstantial paper.
 While Pennsylvania has all along been regarded as the trustiest of Blaine's states, the Harrisburg convention decided to send to Chicago at least three anti Blaine delegates at large out of a total of four. Senator Quay, who leads the dele gation, has frankly declared that Blaine's Florence letter of declination has put him defnitively out of the list of presidential candidates. MT. Reed, of Pittsburg, the only outspoken supporter of Blaine among the candidates for delegates at large, was defeated by the friends of Blaine them selves in the petty rivaSy of faction.
 In Massachusetts the Republican con- vention unquestionably manifested great deal of genuine enthusiasm for the Maine statesman; but the machine managers took care that none of his thick and thin adherents should be sent to Chicago. As in loyalty bound, the Maine Republicans have elected g delegation devoted to the political interests of their favorite. In the proceedings of their convention, how ever, was wanting the old time fervor with which Blaine's name was once greeted, and in it's Stead painful impress sion seemed to prevail that he was not destined to lead the party in the approach ing campaign.
 The platforms of these three conven- tions afford slight encouragement to those who continue to hope for political prog ress and development ins the Republican organization. x*x E"
 With slight variation of time the Re- publican conventions of the year all in- tone the new song of the Bloody Shirt that negro suffrage in the southern states is systematically suppressed, and that, therefore, every success of the Democratic party in national elections is political fraud. For this no other argument is deemed necessary than the steadily grow ing majorities of the Democracy in the states of the south. No other proof is produced than the census statistics of colored population, upon which is based the assumption that every southern negro is political servitor of the Republican party, and must vote it's ticket unless prevented from so doing by violence or fraud. A theory of politics founded upon so unwarrantable and absurd an assump- tion cannot possibly be treated seriously by the American people; much less can they be led by it into a sectional warfare upon the rights of any portion of this Union of states.
 When political platforms, emanating spontaneously from the people in widely separated sections of the country, agree in their sentiments and demands, they afford an imposing proof of party's har- mony and strength. Unfortunately for these deliverances, they are too manifestly the work of machine politics in which the people have had the smallest possible share. As the carpentry of the machine politicians they are intended only for the thoroughgoing party followers, and can have no attraction for that independent element of citizens which holds the bal ance of political power in the pivotal states of the Union and decides the result of national elections. So far from afford ing proof of party solidarity, these party platform contrivances lamentably betray dearth of political ideas and prin- ciples. Instead of arousing the generous enthusiasm and earnest support of the masses of the American people, they pro- duce the chilling indifference that is fatal to success.-Philadelph Record.