The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-06-07

possible to predict with any degree of
certainty the result of the convention.
The claims of Mr.. Blaine's supporters
point to his nomination on the first bal
lot, and the claims of MI. Harrison's
friends if accepted as well founded leave
no doubt of his nomination. Doubtless
both sides profess all the confidence they
feel and probably more. The truth is that
there is a great number of unpledged
delegates, whose preferences are not
definitely known. Perhaps many of
them do not yet know them themselves.
These delegates have the result of the
convention in their hands, and as many
of them will not make known their
choice before the balloting all specula-
tions concerning the result must have
about them elements of uncertainty.
There are, however, certain definite
features in the situation 1t can be ac-
cepted as fact that there is to be no
stampede to one candidate or the other.
If it was anticipated that the permission
to allow the use of his name which was
implied by Mr.. Blaine's resignation from
the cabinet, would demoralize the Presi-
dents supporters, and practically put
him out of the race, it can safely be said
that that anticipation has not been re-
allied. The managers of his campaign
have not apparently been ratified
and there are no indications that any
of the delegates who went to Minneap-
oils with the definitely formed intention
of supporting him have been shaken in
their allegiance. There is nothing in the
dispatches to indicate stampede on the
part of his following.
On the other hand there is no doubt
| that MIR. Blaine's assent to the use of his
name, and the perfect certainty that he
| will accept a nomination has greatly
strengthened the delegates who went to
the convention with the avowed inten-
ton of making Mr.. Blaine the candidate.
Until he had indicated his intention to
accept they were handicapped by the
uncertainty regarding his wishes and his
intentions. Relieved of this uncertainty
they now can confine themselves to the
work of showing the unpleeged delegates
| that Mr.. Blaine is the most available
candidate, that he is stronger with the
masses than Mr.. Harrison. in short, that
he can poll the most votes. This ought
not to be difficult to do for up to within
short time at least it had been general
| ly conceded that Mr.. Blaine would make
the strongest candidate that could be
nominated and when done it ought to be
| decisive. For it is the conventions duty
to nominate the man most likely to lead
the party to victory in the coming cam
paign,
All the signs however point to a very
earnest struggle between the sup
porters of the principal candidates.
We wish we could say that the
struggle was to be only earnest.
Unfortunately there are signs that
it may become bitter, and may not
end with the convention. 1t is anxiety
on this account that is leading some of
the prominent men of the party to look
about for ''dark horses in the hope of
finding an available candidate whose
nomination will leave behind no bitter
ness to handicap the Republicans in the
coming campaign. The outlook is how
ever that by the the time the convention
meets the delegates will have become so
| strongly attached to one or the other of
the principal candidates that it will be
impossible to detach any considerable
number of them.