The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-16
AN INDIANA CANDIDATE.

The Indianapolis Journal is assured within,
its profound intellect that Mr.. Blaine's letter
will bring Ben Harrison to the front Re-
publican candidate. But why not Gresham?
And what shall be done with Gray9-Cin-
cinnati Enquirer.
The Enquirer is entitled to a respectful
answer, notwithstanding its slur. The Jour-
nal believes the withdrawal of Mr.. Blaine
brings General Harrison into greater promi-
hence as a possible presidential candidate,
because there are and have been in
Indiana many thousands of warm and en-
thusiastic admirers of Mr.. Blaine who will
now feel much freer than before to be earnest
advocates of General Harrison's nomination;
because General Harrison is favorite with
very large numbers of people in other States,
who have long regarded him presidential
quantity, and who will now be able..to consider
his abilities and availabilities with much
more earnestness than before; because,
with Mr.. Blaine removed from the
list of probable candidates, the
party in every State will be compelled to
calm and deliberate comparison of the several
distinguished men who naturally come to the
front for review, and in that number, next to
John Sherman, who is confessedly in the
lead, General Harrison is by no means
second in any point. either of ability, expert
ence, character,or availability; because Indiana
as necessary State, even more necessary than
New York - certainly equally so will be
looked to in the existing contingency as most
likely 70 furnish the candidate that candidate
to be one whose nomination will make reason
ably certain the fifteen electoral votes at her
command, and without which, even with
New York, Republican be elected.
These are among the considerations which
suggest to the Journal that the withdrawal of
Mr.. Blaine brings General Harrison to the
front.
But the Enquirer's question was asked wit
the purpose of suggesting the oft-repeated
Stiffness that General Harrison and Judge
Republican party in this State, and that Gen.
eral Harrison cannot secure the united and
harmonious support of Indiana Republicans.
We need not say to any good, honorable, loyal
Republican that this suggestion is never made
by friend. or for other purpose than to
cause a possible distraction in party ranks.
There are many Republicans in Indiana
who are warm admirers of Judge Gresham,
and who would like to see him the presiden-
tial candidates; but the Journal has already
given the supreme and controlling reasons
why General Harrison is and must be the
choice of the party, if any is to be made. 1t
is not opposition to Judge Gresham, or to any
one else, but it is the necessity and logic of
the situation. General Harrison has been at
the front doing battle for the Republican
party. He has been leader in our political
contests for quarter of . century, while
Judge Gresham, for reasons that are perfectly
apparent and well known, has been withdrawn
from any active participation in them. 1t is
safely within the truth to say that General
Harrison is the choice of fully 90 95 per
cent. of the Republicans of Indiana the
candidate; and if the State is to maintain
its self-respect, and have any influence
or power in the Chicago convention, it mast
go there with heart and soul committed to the
man of its choice, attracting to him the
attention and the thought of thu country and
of the convention by the loyalty and the
pertinacity with which its representatives
present and stick to him. Any other course
would make the State IAughiDg-stock; any