Year: 1876

RELATIVE fkohPkCTs OF The PROMINENT Re-
PUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC oANDIDArks-
IMPORTANCE oY CARRYING NEW YORK STATE.
Correspondence Of The Nem York Times.
CHICAGO, April 20.--The most significant
incident Of the general canvass OF Presiden-
tial Candidates going on in the West ia the
fact that both Republicans and Democrats
are settling down to the convection that the
result Of the election will probably turp
upon the vote Of New York State. This
opinion is not jumped at, but IL the COM
mon point t. which observation from both
sides has led. There is notable lack OF
confidence in both parties. The encourage
ment which the Democrats found from the
tidal wave Of 1874 has been considerably
diminished by the vacllatihx policy OF the
Democratic majority la the House and the
defiant tone assumed by the ex-Confeder.
ntes. Where they formerly charged the
Republican Party with the responsibility
for the panic, it ir now felt that the Demo-
cratic Party at leaat shares the blame for
the


CONFIRMATION OF HARD TINES.


Among the Republicans on the other
hand, there is feeling that tho South IL
almost solidly Democratic, Hnd that there il
little hope for carrying even those States
where tho negro vote ought to turn the,





the 30 called Enforcement acts practically
imperative. A natural inference from this
situation IL that the contest will be close,
and that in such case, the large vote of
New York State in the Electoral College
has even more than its ordinary weight.
The influence which this inference is likely
to exert in both parties il the nomination
OF man on either si1s who is thought
most likely to carry New York and the
feeling Of uncertainty also induces the hope
thst both parties may be prompted to put
forward their best men.


THE REPuB loan cANDIDATEs.


It is conceded in the West, removed as
we are from the "mschine" politics which
has Washington ~ its b ,se Of operations,
that the best chance OF Republican victory
is to be found in the strongest possible
appeal to the reform element, and in the
nomination Of the man most likely to COM
msnd the confidence of the people in this
respect. IL is safe to say that the Western
delegations to the Cincinnati Convention,
with the possible exception OF
that OF Indiana, will go there with
this idea mainly ..in view, and
will be ready to sacrifice any individual pre-
ferences they may have to carry it out. II
may be that this spirit will discover the
"Great Unknown" whom Mr. Blaine is
represented rs regarding as his most
formidable contestant, but the present in
dlcation il, that IL this sentiment prevails,
it is most likely to fix upon Mr.. BristOw ~
its representative. That 'chs remark pay
not be given an undue Importance, will
say at once that Mr.. Blaine per contra,
seems to have the greatest strength among
political circles only it is always doubtful
nowadays how much the profe ssionsl poll.
ticians aud the self constituted wire .pullers
can control the


ASSERTION or TnK POPULAR WILL.


The Western States will not be seriously
lncumbered by the "favorite son" nuisance.
There will be no unity OF action from the
West in the Cincinnati Conv ention, and
probably no instructions or attachments
that will not be readily thrown OF to take
up with the candidate who shall develop
the greatest Strength with reference to the
campaign. The impression is that such
candidate will be either Mr.. Blaine or Mr..
former if the struggle with the
extreme Southern element becomes even
more pronounced than now, and the latter
II the necessity Of reforming the civil SER
vice shall be palpsbly paramount. In
either case it is conceded that the former
must thoroughly cloan his skirts OF any
aud all the scandals which the Democrats
may seek to fix on him. There is an i'm
plicit faith in Mr. Bristow in this regard.