The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-21


they had OF his extraordinary ability as q
politician, and they had further proof OF
this ability through the speeches which ne
made on his journey to Washington City
after his election.
In the conversation with Senator Bar
mum he said that If every candidate had
enjoyed the experience and possessed the
danger would ever Turk in the candidate
himself. In Senator Barnum's opinion no
candidate for the presidency has ever SO
wisely counseied with the campaign man.
ayers as Tilden did, and the senator added
that in all the splendid struggle OF 1876
not hint was given by 1ilden which was
not OF advantage TO the campaign, not q
suggestion made by him which did not
strengthen the lines, and yet everything
that he did and said was well within the
bounds OF propriety, 50 that the candidate
could not be accused of improper interior
ence with those who had his canvass in
charge.
Tilden, however, was the only presiden-
tial candidate since Martin Van Buren,
who had himself been political manager
during campaigns.
Senator Barnum said that no one knew
how closely the national committees in
1880 watched their respective candidates,
but for different reasons. The Republican
managers knew well how Impulsive and
fond he was of taxing mp the pen or Of
speaking On the other hand the Demo-
cratic managers were apprehensive on
Hancock's account because of his utter
unfamiiiarity with political matters. Sem
ator Barnum. while he had the greatest
admiration for General Hancock as a
soldier, feared that the very repute this
superb general had attained as a soldier
might lead to some accident which would
endanger the canvass.
In a musing sort of way Senator Bar
nun spoke on the occasion referred to Of
that strange campaign. He said: st was
oil going our way. The Republicans had
lost the state of Maine and they were de-
moraiZed. The reports that | received
indicated substantial victory. Everything
was going we'll on our side. The only
thing that l was apprebensive about was
Hancock himself. The campaign COM
mittee had taken every precaution to pre-
vent any mistakes on his part. He had
bur to attend to his duties Just as though
he had not been nominated. Although ne
promised to do this, yet / WAS nervous.
Sometimes l thought somebody ought to
be with him all the time. One morning I
picked up the paper and read his tariff let
ter, and | said, The Alabama letter over
again For feared that the candidate
had done something which would defeat
himself and the party. just as Clay did,
But if Hancock made the mistake in
that campaign, many shrewd politicians
are of opinion that Garfield came danger
ousiy near making one when he took
trip to New York city and had that confer
ence with Republicans in the Fifth Avenue
hotel, which is now political tradition.
The ablest managers on the Republican
side were opposed to it. Jewell thought it
. dangerous thing to do. He was afraid
something would be said or done which
would, as he expressed it, blow out the
party lights. Conkling denounced it as
puerile performance, and he was so afraid
that he would be involved in the disaster
which followed it that he went into retire
ment. concealment really and they did not
know where he was. He went to his broth
ers house, Colonel Frederick A. Conk-
ling, and stayed there, without setting
foot out of doors, until that conference
was over. The visit did not prove dis
aster. although it is the opinion of poll
ticians that it might have caused such re-
suit had it not been for Hancock's tariff
letter. The politicians who managed the
canvass at that time, knowing we'll Gar
fields impuisive nature, were apprehen-
sive from the beginning that he might do
or say something which would doom the
campaign.
clans, IN speaking Of tho campaign OF 1884,
declared that it had been lost to the Re.
publicans by single campaign mistake,
the responsibility for which partly rested
with tho candidate and partly with the
committee. The politician who said this
was himself member Of the executive
committee. Said he: "We ought to have
borne in mind the fact that there is always
danger that tho candidate may do or say
something which will imperil the can
vass. Therefore when it was proposed
that delegation Of clergymen should call
upon Mr.. Blaine. we should or Mr.. Blaine
should have insisted that the remarks
proposed to be made should be first read
by us or him In private. Had that been
done an alliterative insanity would not
have beaten us. Moreover, we should
have put our foot upon the proposition to
tender Mr.. Blaine dinner in New York,
and IL has always been an amazement to
me that Mr.. Blaine did not peremptorily
stop that absurdity. The canvass was W on
for Us up to that time, and If l ever have
anything to say about national campaign
again l shall insist that the candidate go
into hiding as far as il is possible, and L
don't know but the best thing to do would
be to send him TO Europe, for the greatest
danger OF canvass lies in such accidents
as the candidate may unwittingiy bring
about"
Custom and prudence, MS a general thing.
keep the candidates Off the stump. In
sixty years only three candidates have
gone before the people and pleaded for
their party upon the platform, and in each
OF these cases the circumstances were so
peculiar that the act was justified. Doug
lass went upon the stump in 1860. His
personal popularity was extraordinary in
the North, and he was the candidate of
one wing of the Democratic party. To
win II was necessary for him To carry a
great majority of the Northern states. and
to do this his popularity was greatly relied
upon. Therefore he spoke from the Mis-
slssippi river to the sea, great throngs
gathering to hear him, and his speeches
made profound impression, SO that while
the electoral vote he received was small
the popular vote he obtained was large in
comparison with that cast Tor his Demo-
cratic rival.
Greeley went upon the stump in 1872,
making u campaign tour, which though
hopeless, was extraordinary. The quality
OF his speeches caused astonishmcnt and
brongh; him higher repute for intellec-
tual ability than he had before enioyed.
but did not bring him many votes. IL was
a question with the managers whether
THIS campaigning tour would be wise, and
1T was only decided TO undertake il because
OF the extraordinary politics which led TO
the coalition Of the Democracy with the
liberal Republicans and his candidacy of
such coalition party.
In 1881 Blaine went upon the stump. not
30 Duch as the candidate as because he
was then then regarded "a the ablest ex-
FOUNDER III the doctrine OF protection nj
least before the great masses of men
In the Republican party. MIR. Blaine
had some doubts about the wisdom
of undertaking this camnaiening trim.
lie feared that some mistake or ac-
cident might occur from IL. Il fear which
was justified just as the tour terminated
in New YORK city. However had b. 60,