The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-08
Both Sides Confident.

The situation at Minneapolis does not ap-
pear to have changed materially. The
Harrison leaders talk as confidently of suc-
cess as they did on Sunday and Monday,
and the Blaine leaders are just as confident
apparently as they have been at any time
that Mr. Blaine will be nominated on the
first ballot. The election of Mr.. J. Sloat
Fassett to the position of temporary chair
man is not satisfactory indication that
Mr.. Blaine has majority of the delegates.
No fight was made for the temporary chair
manship, the Harrison men being will
ing apparently that Mr.. Fassett should
have the place. There is no
doubt, however, that a majority of the ma
tional committee are opposed to Gen. Har-
rison. The action OF the committee in the
matter Of the contesting delegations showed
that very clearly. In fact, thus far in the
fghS about all the advantages have been
gained by the opponents Of Gen. Harrison.
1t is not clear yet that all the opposition
to Gen. Harrison is favorable to Mr.. Blaine.
There appears to be a strong feeling spring.
ing up that it would be mistake to
nominate Mr.. Blaine, though this feeling
may not find expression, because Of the
difficulty Of uniting the opposition upon
any other candidate. A good many dele
gates that can be depended upon to vote for
Mr.. Blaine would vote for Gen. Harrison if
Mr.. Blaine were taken out OF the contest.
If the contest is squarely between Gen.
Harrison and Mr.. Blaine the probability is
that Mr.. Blaine will be the nominee. The
changes that have taken place in some of
the delegations that were counted upon
as being almost wholly for Gen.
Harrison indicate this. In some
instances delegates who are instructed for
Gen. Harrison have signified their inten-
ton to disregard their instructions on the
ground that when they were instructed it
was understood that Mr.. Blaine would not
be candidate.
Mr.. Blaine would be an easier man to beat
than Gen. Harrison, and the democrats,
therefore, would regard his nomination
with satisfaction. About his popularity
there is no doubt, but he has an
army Of enemies. He is very popu-
lar with those who admire him but
there is big element in his
party that would take pleasure in "knifing"
him. And the fact that up to the gathering
of the delegates at Minneapolis he led his
party to believe that he would not be a can
didate would be used against him with tell
ing effect.
And there is another thing that would
burden his campaign. 1t is that he would
owe his nomination to republican leaders
who became hostile to Gen. Harrison be-
cause the latter would not grant them
the favors they asked. Indeed, it is pretty
well understood that Mr.. Blaine finally
concluded to become candidate because
the President refused to promote his son
and son-in-law and failed to give him credit
for state department work to which he
thought himself entitled.
And if Gen. Harrison is nominated he
will not have the hearty support of the
Blaine following. The bitterness engen-
dered by the contest at Minneapolis will crop
out in the campaign and make 1t difficult 20
arouse great deal of enthusiasm. 1t looks.
therefore, as the nomination Of either Gen.
Harrison or Mr.. Blaine would give the
democrats a great advantage In the presi.
Dental contest.