The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-09

MINNEAroLIs, June s.--ISpeciall-
OF the two distinguished Americans
who have been so assiduously urged by
their friends during the past week for
the Presidential nomination, neither
one tonight seems to have the assur-
ance of sufficient votes to effect a nom
ination. The seeker after accurate in
formation as to the relative standin of
these two candidates is compelled to
discard as extravaganza and quite mis-
leading the figures issued from the
headquarters of each and a careful
analysis of the expressed preference of
all tho delegations, together with a
classification of uncommitted dele
gates, shows that the two leading can.
didates are each from twenty-five to
fifty votes short of the nomination.
Tho balance of power, il ballot had
been taken to-day, would have been
found to have rested with Gen. Russell
A. Alger, OF Michigan, who would GER
tainly have received from ten to sixty
votes, and then prevented either of the
leading candidates from receiving the
requisite number for nominating.
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 safely be
asserted that the past quarter of a cen.
tury has never witnessed convention
where there were such a rapid subsi-
dence of enthusiasm as is noticeable
here on the eve of the critical day
which should decide the contest
All the ardor and enthusiasm and
irresistible conviction of succ ess which
the rank and file of both forces have con.
stantly displayed today are signif-
cantly absent tonight. In the first
place the average Repu has b cen
deeply disappointed at the very leisurely
manner in which the leading spirits OF
the convention have postponed the
essential business for which the dele
gates are called together, and there is a
feeling that If the program of deiay
succeeds ballot may not even be taken
tomorrow. 1t has caused every faction
suddenly to realize that the citadel of
opposition is to be carried by assault.
after all, and he now awaits the result
of the ballot.
All this has had an effect to dampen
the enthusiasm which pervaded the soul
of every loyal Republican a day or two
ago, and now the people, who but
twenty-four hours since we're hilariouslv
parading the streets, are walking de-
jectedly to and fro and wondering how
the thing is going to end after all.
There is an evidence of consciousness
On the part OF the average layman that
he Is something of puppet in this bat
Tie tor political mastery, and that it is
the leaders in the conferences in tho nm
stair rooms who have been direc ting his
enthusiasm and who are likely to prof
by the results.
OF course these reflections are not
gratifying to the sovereign American
elector and he is disposed to resent this
assumption, by another man. of the con-
troll OF his political nonentity, so that to-
night 1T is not uncommon to see walking
around arm in arm through the streets,
or quietly conversing on the curbstones,
couple of privates who but a day or
two ago were arrayed in the opposition
factions and fiercely combating the fac
tional affiliations and Presidential
preferences of each other.
AS they get together to night and com.
pare notes each one finds out that the
other does not know much about the
mysterious motive and unfathomable
purposes OF the gentlemen who are the
ruling spirits of his particular crowd.
And so the loyal foot of the horn and
the triumphant blast of the bugle and
the inspiring music of the bands, that
buoyed the enthusiasm Of all, have
almost departed from the contest. 1t is
a quiet game OF watch and wait and
which is to gain the greatest benefit
from waiting and watching, or whether
an unknown candidate, whose star has
not yet risen above the political horizon