The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-03
EDITOR BIxBY ON THE DUTY OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.


The Hon. Tams Bixby returned some
time ago from his roundup "trip on the
Eastern ranges, where he saw Mark Han
ma, Modified Secretary Hitchcock, and
babe adieu for a time to the Cherokee and
other Indians. The distinguished editor
of the Red Wing Daily Republican has
by this time settled down to his work as
manager of the political campaign of
Capt Samuel r. Van SAINT, and it may
not be inopportune to remind him at this
time, before the cares of the campaign
editorially in his newspaper. the Red
Wing Daily Republican, on May Z, 1885,
about this same Capt Samuel R. Van
SAINT, with whose virtues and qualifca-
tons as a gubernatoria1 candidate he is
now endeavoring to favorably impress the
voters of the state.
On May L 1898, Editor Bixby did not
think very highly of Van SAINT as a vote
getter. He saw nothing but disaster if
Van SAINT was given the Republican NOM
ination, and he declared that Van SAINT
could not command the full support OF
the party at the polls. He knew that
Van SAINT would not make nearly so
strong candidate as William Henry
Eustis. He further declared that even in
a presidential election year it would be
a close and doubtful attempt to try and
n1ant Van ont xuI1o
gerously large percentage of the Repub-
hcan vote as compared with Eustis.
This is what Editor Bixby said in his
paper at that time:
THE Van SAINT boom Is declining, the
EuStts boom is growing everywhere This
is not the rash prophecy of those with
whom the wish is father to the thought
1t IS the report of every GlSinterested and
competent political observer. Correspond
ents who have made the tour of those
counties in the southern portion of the
state, where Van SAINTS strength is sup
posed to lie. say that they are amazed
with which the Van SAINT movement is re-
ceived. Men who have committed them
selves, and men who have been tied by
pledges exacted from them by the ma
chine, stand by Van CANT, and will en-
deavor to deliver to him a lot of reluctant
and dissatisfied delegates. But even in
those counties where it Is admitted that
Van SAINT will have the vote in the state
convention, 1t is admitted freely that he
cannot command the support of the full
party at the polls, and that Eustis would
get a vote larger by hundreds or by
thousands.
It is a matter of history that Eustis
was nominated and defeated at the polls
by over 10000 votes by John Lind. so
that Editor Bixby's estimate Of Van
SAINTS weakness as a candidate should be
very discomforting to his campaign man
ager at this time. But, not content with
thus warning the Republican party of
the danger Of defeat it would run
by nominating a weak candidate-Van
Sant-Editor Bixby proceeded to urge the
turning down of Van SAINT in favor of
Eustis in these terms:
Now these are considerations that are
bound to tell more and more powerfully
convention meets. 1t Is no sinecure to
carry Minnesota for the Republican ticket
with an unpopular candidate If 1t is a
close and doubtful attempt in a presi-
suit in a year when no national issues
come to the rescue of the ticket. Study
few election returns ana read the an
swer there. The combination of the op-
posing elements is complete, alert, deter
mined, confident The Republicans must
put forth their utmost strength. offer
their most popular candidate. From every
county in the state comes the open adj
mission that Mr.. Eustis will poll the full
Republican vote. and that Van SAINT Will
lose a dangerously large percentage of it.
Leaving aside personal considerations and
studying party good alone, this makes
the duty Of Republicans very clear"
And, if the Clio e might make the
remark, the above-quoted editorial adj
vice of Campaign Manager Bixby must
at this time make the duty of Republic
ans rather Opaque. Leaving aside per-
sonal considerations and studying party
good alone.'' to quote Editor Bixby, what
the dickens is the duty which lies before
the Republican party? 1t has got as
its gubernatorial nominee a man whom
Mr.. Bixby has declared is an unpopular
candidate, who will lose more votes than
Eustis did, which should leave Van saut
short on the 5th of November next. about
10000 votes