Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-11
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Rarely in this country has . pre-con-
vention political situation been 80 COM
s,,, plicated ~ that which
coiah pAeu prevailed 30 years ago,
Politics. on the eve Of the presi-
Dental campaign. In The
Star Of May 9, 1880, under the head
"A Terrible Mix" conditions are de-
scribed as follows:
1.-THE political situation, Is it becomes
more mixed, becomes more interesting.
It Is only three weeks until the Chicago
convention meets, and as yet the prob
lem to be settled there is . bewildering
state of confusion. The Republicans Of
all the States save ten have held their
conventions and elected their delegates,
and yet the situation il as viewed
through a glass darkly. The friends Of
Gen. Grant retain the confidence which
has ever marked their prediction that
he will be the nominee. It Is conceded
even by those who desire the nomina-
tion of another candidate than Grant
that good deal will depend upon ILL
nois. Senator Logan telesraphed here
last night that the State would declare
for Grant. The value of this predic-
ton can be better analysed after next
Monday. On that day Cook County will
elect % delegates to the State con-
vention. Should Gen. Grant receive
the bulk of this delegation the claim Of
his friends that they will control the
State convention does not seem to be
unreasonable.
1.-THE fact that the Grant managers
In Maryland outgeneraled the Blaine
men Is q matter of the nveliest salts
faction to the third-termers. Mary
land In the Cincinnati convention Of
1876 was so thoroughly loyal to Senator
Blaine that even after Hayes had &C
tually received suf1cient votes to give
him the nomination, Collector Thomas,
Maryland's vote, said Maryland, first,
last and all the time, casts Is votes for
James G. Blaine of Maine So elated
was ex-Postmaster General Creswell
that the Grant men had outgeneraled
both Blaine and Sherman that he took
the earliest occasion to visit Washing
ton, and last night he and Senator Conk-
ling had q long conferences. The rea-
son ascribed for Creswell's victory Is
that Collector Thomas played fast and
loose with both Blaine and Sherman.
He had the old love for Blaine, but
held o Treasury office and, In q desire
to please both candidates, was ground
out by the neither milestone. The Grant
men, IS q net result, put down IL of
Maryland's Is votes In the Grant col
umn.
Despite the disarmament OF sew
eral of the 'oft-laid plans the friends
of Senator Blaine are hopeful and con-
hdent. They have abundant reason for
the belief that the great body of the
Republican party desires his nomina-
ton. and that II the machine was NOT
an element in the contest Blaine would
be nominated with a unanimity more
in Philadelphia in 1872. They say that
Blaine was cheated out OF the nonina-
ton In 1876 by the very men who now
seek to again sacrifice him, but that
repetition OF q successful effort IN
that line they do not anticipate. The
friends Of Blaine feel confident, too,
that no dark horse will walk OF with
the honors at the Chicago convention;
that the race Is between Blaine and
Grant. They do not look upon either
Sherman or Edmunds as o possibility.
, "It Is noticeable, too, that the Sher-
man men build their faith on the be.
lief that there will be no dark horse.
They do believe that neither Grant
nor Blaine can secure the nomination.
This they base on the very decided ele-
ment within the party which regards
to a third term, but which at the
same time thinks Blaines nomination
would be o party calamity.
THE Democratic situation Is begin
ming to be OF more interest because Of
the conspicuous way In which Tilden,
quietly but unbidden. looms up. Ali
Of the real antagonism to Tilden thus
Tar Is talk. This does not seem to make
? decided impression on State conyen.
lions. 1t Is conceded that In all the
States where Democratic conventions
have yet been held Tilden has bagged
\ good deal more than his share of
votes. Even In Ohio all of the Cincin-
natl newspapers concede that Thur
cloak
THE greenbackers are almost forgot.
en In the contest, but they still live.
They say they will have national can
iidates in the field, and will have
strength enough to possibly defeat an
'lectton by the people and make music
y throwing the election into the HOUSE
u Representatives"