New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-01

THE MAN FOR THE PEOPLE.

successful President or victorious General has
ever obtained prior to the meeting of Repub-
lican convention the strength which Major Nc
Kinlcy has already secured After most sue
ccssful Administration. President Harrison
ceived on the first ballot fewer votes than are
already assured for Major McKinley-.3J. IN
Guiding many votes changed to him before the
result was announced. His first nomination. In
1883, came after long struggle In which he
was not at first the leading candidate. Mr..
Blaine. for a long time the most popular Re-
publican received 3341a votes ont Of SIS on the
first ballot in 1854. and was not nominated until
the fourth ballot Grant received 3O4 and
Blaine oS4 votes on the first ballot in 1850, and
Garfield who was nominated on the thirty -SXth
ballot received on the first vote. Blaine
started with 2S5 votes in 1876 and rose 10 30S,
while Hayes. who started with 81 votes, was
nominated on the seventh ballot. Thus 60
back twenty four years 10 the second nOmina-
ton of Grant, which was practically unani-
nous. without finding Il single candidate who
had in his favor prior to the convention so large
q share of Republican support Governor
Mckinley has secured. The two nominations Of
the victorious General were practically unani-
nous: so also was the second nomination Of
President Lincoln. the ovcrshadowing war spirit
preventing difference. But President Lincoln
had on the first ballot in 1860 only 1O2 votes out
of 400
In the forty years since the Republican party
entered the field, Lincoln Grant and Mckinley
are the three who have attained 60 per cent or
more of the votes before convention met The
Democratic record shows even fewer instances
OF unanimity. Cleveland practically compelled
his nomination after the first term by the great
body Of officials who had held places under him.
but his first nomination. in spite Of the fact that
no other Democrat could hope for such success
as he had in this State, bitterly opposed,
and on the first ballot he had only .,2 votes in
Guiding 81 changed to him. Hancock started In
1880 with III votes. .Tilden. though both Coy
ernor Of New-Iork and wonder in Organza-
ton. had only 4O4l2 votes Oh the first ballot. in
1876 The Democratic nomination in 1872 was
practically made AT the Liberal Convention.
where Mr. Adams led at the start In 1865
PendletOn and Hancock led AZ the start, and
Seymour was not in the list Of candidates. War
necessities dictated the nomination Of McClel-
Ian in 1864, though h. was savagcy opposed
and had lG2 votes at The start. The Democratic
rupture in 1860 was the result OF inability 10
nominate anybody. buchanan was nominated.
in 1856. on the seventeenth ballot; Pierce, III
1859, on the forty-ninth ballot: Cass. ia ISIS,
after four ballots; Polk, In 1874 on the Einth
ballot. Thus ffty-six years have passed since
any Democratic candidate has secured for his
first nomination the share Of strength in adj
vance OF a convention which is assured for
Governor Mckinley
Thisrevew OF history suggests that no man hay-
ing overwhelming strength in convention when
first a candidate ever has been beaten For that
strength in convention means that the practical
men, who make delegates or are delegates, and
not In the business to get beaten know that
the candidate will draw the votes Of many from
the opposite side and that they find this 10 be
the fact not il one district or State but all over
the county. That fact made Grant invincbe.
1t was not the personal fondncss Of politicians
for Mr.. Lincoln, but his overwhelming strength
with the plain people, that made his renOmlna-
ton practically unanimous. The course Of Mr..
Cleveland as Governor, and the worship which
he received from a large number of free-traders
and Mugwumps, was the secret Of his strength
as a candidate and served him at a pinch when
II barely saved for him the vote OF NewYOsk.
The secret Of McKinleys strength as candi-
date Is the fact that delegates from all parts OF
the country know Democrats who will vote for
him In preference to any other man.
The contests for seats may leave five States
and two Territories without representation at
the start, and three OF these States, Florida,
Mississippi and South Carolina. are for McKin
ley while Texas, Delaware. Arizona and Alaska
are against him. Omitting these, as all their
delegates are contested, there remain forty -four
States and Territories Of which Mckinley has
all the uncontested delegates from nineteen and
large majority in seven more without count
Ing Connecticut or NewMexico, which his
| friends expect to go the same way. or the six
| teen States and Territories which remain. there
are instructions for Mckinley after Reed in
| New Hampshire and after Bradley In Ken
| lucky. In fact, over two-thirds of the uncon
! tested delegations are in his favor as against
| any combination that be formed, which
| shows how widespread is the conviction that he
| Is the right candidate for the people And his
| tory teaches that such candidates are never
| beaten.