The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-10-07
The shrieyalty Situation.

considerably complicated. A week
ago, it looked as if there was only one
man in sight for nomination and cleo
tion, and that man was Edward r.
Stanton. We believe that if nomi-
mated, he will be absolutely sure of
election. We also believe the chances
OF his nomination are about eight out
of ten. Still, it is ~undeniable that
there is more opposition and more
uncertainty today than there has
been at any time since the campaign
began. Mr.. James Hennessey,
brother of the Freebooter, is loom
ing up with some display of
strength as a candidate; there is
not a little talk of Mayor
Pagan of Hoboken, and Finance
Commissioner Alvah Bedell is in the
somewhat peculiar position of having
an equally good chance of the nomin-
alton from either side of the field.
On the Republican side there is much
more uncertainty than on the Demo
cratic. No one candidate has the
preponderance that Mr.. Stanton en-
joys. 1t seems to be still a question
whether the party will unite with the
Clerical Reform Committee or NOM
mate a straight party candidate. In
the former case, Mr.. Bedell will un-
doubtedly be the man chosen, and it
is idle to deny that he will have ire
msndous strength. We do not think
anyone can beat Mr.. Stanton, but as
suredly Mr.. Bedell, running on his
record as Finance Commits
sioner for the past year, and
backed by the solid Republi-
can and disconnected Democratic
vote, would develop about as much
strength as any gentleman in the
county who can be named. If the Re-
publicans resolve to nominate a
straight-out party candidate, it seems
to be still doubtful who the man will
be. Colonel John J. Toffey and ex-
Assemblyman Simeon H. Smith are
still, so far as appears, the only avail
able men. Both would be formidable
candidates. though Colonel Toffey
would be by far the stronger Of the
two. 1t impresses us that a strong
current has set in his direction for the
last few days. For a while it looked
as If the hatred of the EUeGing Jour
nal and the opposition of certain ele-
ments in his party had barred him
out; but it looks just as if his
unquestionable popularity and per-
sonal strength were forcing him to
the fore front of the fight.
Thus, in a few words, we have en-
deavored to sum up the actual status
of the campaign without color from
our own desires and feelings, and
without any partisan bias or preju.
dice. Now we desire to say a word as
to the policy which offers the Demo
cratic party the best prospect of sue
cess, and we have only one word to
say. 1t is this: Nominate Sheriff
Stanton.
TO make a retreat at this stage oil
the campaign is simply to rush into
the arms of defeat. Mayor Pagan is
to our mind, out of the question al
present. He has not support enough
within the party at his back. Mr..
Hennessey is a strong man in his OWE
district. He would made a good
average run. But it is folly to bank
on winning with a good average
run or a good average mar
this year.. There is no use il
.sdoing the ostrich act" over
the prospects OF the campaign.
The foes of the Democracy
are out IN force this year, and they
are out to win-if they can. TO ger
panicky at this stage of the fight i:
to give them new courage; to run
colorless man, merely becau Sc Their,
is no little weak spot in his armor tt
attack, is to deprive the Democratic
forces of the impulse which they neet
to overcome the rush of the Republi
can campaign.
The thing that frightened Mr.. Stan.
toms supporters is the expected oppo
sltion of the New York World. Thi
is foolish. If it had caused a scar
and a change when it began, w
could understand it. But 10Y tina
it's opposition is thoroughly discount
ed, its ammunition exploded and it
rhetoric worn and threadbare. it seem
weak and foolish to begin to attacl
Importance to its attacks. We arr
convinced there is little to fear fron
thems They are based upon tw
false assumptions. -one that MI
Stanton is a bad Sheriff at present
the other, that he is an ally or ad
herent of Robert Davis.
The former of these lies. Republi
can lawyers have combined wit
democrats to repudiate and disprov'
in the columns of this, and othe
papers. The second is disproved b,
the general knowledge of every vote
in Hudson County. Sheriff Stanton
was appointed by Governor Alb
bett in opposition to Robert Davis
Davis and Stanton are now and hav