Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-09
Tns sITuArIoN.


The SITUATION.
Ne ssgniaeast chasss-Ths HIaios Policy
of Delay Disassssakis.
ny Telegraph ~ ths Dsspasch.l
MuxxEAPoLrs. MIMI. June 8. --Of the
two distinguished Americans who have
been moro assiduoualy urged by their
friends tho past week FOR the presiden-
tial nomination neither one tonight
seems 70 have assurance OF sufficient
votes to effect = nomination. The
seeker after accurate information 10 to
the relative standing Of theso two can
didates Is compelled 10 discard - OK
tnvagant and quite misleading the
figures issued from the headquarters OF
each, and careful analysis of the ex--
pressed preferences OF all the delega-
tions, together with . classification OF
the uncommitted delegates, shows that
the two leading candidates are each from
twenty-five TO fifty votes short OF the
nomination. The balance OF power. II
ballot had been taken to-day, would have
been found to have rested with General
Russell A. Alger. Of Michigan, who
would certainly have received from ten
to sixty votes, and then prevented either
OF the leading candidates from receiving
the requisite number for nomination.
MARKED suBsIpKNcE OF ENTHUSIASM.
This is the tenth national convention
held in the history of the Republican
party, and is the end OF the fourth de-
cade OF the party which has played such
an important part in the history OF the
American republic. but it can be safely
asserted that the past quarter OF CEN
tury has never witnessed convention
where there was such rspid subsidence
of enthusiasm as is noticeable here on
the eve of the critical day which should
decide the contest, All the arcor and
enthusiasm and irresistible conviction OF
success which the rank and file of both
forces have constantly displayed to-day
are significantly absent tonight
THE DELAY IRKsoME.
In the first place the average Rep1b-
lican has been deeply disappointed ut
the very leisurely manner ID which the
leading spirits of the convention have
postponed the essential business for
which the delegates were called together,
and the feeling that if this programme
of delay succeeds ballot may not even
be taken tomorrow has caused every
faction suddenly to realize that
the citadel of the opposition is not to be
carried by assault after all. All this has
had the effect OF dampening the enthu-
siasm which pervaded the soul OF every
loyal Republican day or two ago, and
now the people who but twenty-four
hours since were hilariously parading the
streets are walking deiectedly to and fro
and wondering how the thing is going to
end after all.
A MERE PUPPET,
There is evidence of consciousness
on the part of the average layman that
he is something of puppet in this bat
tie for political mastery, and that 1t Is
the leaders in conference in the upstairs
rooms who have been directing his en-
thusiasm and who are likely to profit by
the results. OF course, their reflections
are not very gratifying to the sovereign
American elector, and he IS disposed 10
resent this assumption by another man
of the control OF his political nonentity,
30 that tonight it is not uncom-
mon to see walking around arm-in-arm
through the streets or quietly conversing
on the curbstones q couple oil priyates
who but day or two ago were srrayed
IN opposition factions and tiercely COM
batting the factional affiliations and presi-
Dental preferences of each other. AS
they get together tonight and compare
notes each one finds out that the other
does not know much about the mystic
rious motives and unfathomable purposes
of the gentlemen who are the ruling
spirits OF his particular crowd.
WATCHING AND WAITING NOW.
And SO the loyal toot Of the horn, and
the triumphant blast of the bugle, and
the inspiring music Of the bands that
buoved the enthusiasm OF all have
almost departed from this contest 1t is
a quiet game of watch and wait, and
which is to gain the greatest benefit
from the waiting and watching, or
whether an unknown candidate whose
star has not yet risen above the political
horizon is soon to burst forth in an
effulgent blaze Of glory, no one can
possibly tell.
THE BLAINE TRIUMPH THUS FAR.
The diplomatic triumph OF the Blaine
element in securing the control of the
organization of the convention and OF
the committees which are to play such
an important part in its labors is the
sensation of the day. No one-not even
the leaders of the Harrison forces-ap-
pears TO know exrctly when the con-
spiracv had Its birth or how it was car
ried into execution but it has forced
itself on every man as surprise that
there is deep motive in this, and that
the plans OF the Blaine leaders have
been cautiously laid.
In the failure of the Harrison mango
ers to carry ther fight against fasset,
from the National Committee to the
floor of the convention, the Blaine
leaders, by the very default OF theil
enemies we're enabled to secure the
first decisive victory. The most is made
of this advantage by the constantly
reiterated declaration OF the Blaine
managers that as they have control oi
the convention they will be able to con
troll the nomination.
FASTENING SLOWLY.
The Committee on Credentials, which
ia a Blaine committee, is preceding
slowly, aud is evidently intending not Y
make any report until an opportunity il
afforded to Judge of the Importance
which their recommendations may have
| in determining the result OF the conven
ton. OF the contests SO far disposed o
by this committee the Blaine delegates
have been seated in every instance. al
though IN several of these contests there
was no difference as to the presidential
preferences OF the contesting delegates
The Alabama contest was decided II
| favor of the Blaine delegates, the vot'
standing "a to %.
It's q possibility that the Committed
on Credentials may not be ready to re
mort by tomorrow, and if this should b'
the case there rs pretty sure to be . row
In the convention when its chairman sub