Middletown transcript., 1892-06-09


tion now in session at Minneapolis for
the purpose Of nominating candidates
for President and Vice-President will
probably make the nominations either
tomorrow or Saturday. The situation
is critical and serious rupture be-
tween the Blaine and Harrison fac
tions is imminent. Because of the
silence Of the Blaine people Harrison
had concluded that second nomina-
tion for himself was to be had without
much strife, but Blaine, in his usual
dramatic style, pushes himself forward
at the last moment and endangers
Harrison's chances. As to whether or
not he had a right TO become candi-
date under the existing circumstances,
there is great difference of opinion
even among bis supporters. The poll
icy he has pursued was one which cost
him little. He merely kept quiet while
many State Conventions we're instruct-
ing delegates to vote for him in the
Convention. When everything but
the last acts were accomplished, when
he could step in and secure the benefits
accruing from the efforts OF the Harri-
son men, he resigned from the most
important position in the cabinet and
in that way signifed his intention of
becoming a candidate. On the other
hand Harrison has let It be understood
from the beginning that he desired
denomination and consequently has
secured many of the natural follow
ers of Blaine. He has placed the pa
tronage Of the government where it
would do the most good, he insisted
upon the passage and execution Of the
Force bill to placate the fanatics of his
party who do not realize the fact that
the war is over, he allowed the Nc
Kinley bill to become a law that he
might claim assistance from the monop-
olists in fight which he knew would
be u hard one, he has defied the civil
service laws which he is sworn to
execute in order to make himself solid
with the wire pullers and ward workers
of the great party of office-holders, and
be has done what he could to increase
the pension burden by encouraging all
The home guards and army stragglers
of the country to ask for pensions.
His course has made him a host of
friends among the people who imagine
that this is paternal government
and as such is bound to furnish them
with the necessaries of life. Within
certain lines he is the most popular
candidate before tie convention, but
unfortunately those lines do not
extend in the same direction nor are
they SO clearly defined as those SO skill
fully laid out by Blaine. Whenever
the Republican party becomes tangled
they turn to Blaine and follow him
blindly to disaster.
Between these two men, or between
men whom these two will select, the
convention must decide. Into that
decision enter all the uncertainties
incident to the purehisaassaahslle character
of the negro delegates Of the South,
and the desire for Office characteristic
of many delegates from other sections.
In the end Harrison will be able to
dictate terms because he controls the
Offices and has now the power to reward
or punish the faithful and the unfaith-
fnl. The platform laid down by the
convention will Of course declare for
certain mythical reforms and for an
increase in the tariff. In the platform
will of course be found many allusions
to the past, the only time when the
Republican party has served any SEM
blance of a good purpose. but as to the
CRYING necessities OF the present strict
silence viii be maintained.
t&gse