Year: 1876

A large number of States and Territor-
les have held their conventions, and poll
ticians are making their figures as to the
probable action Of the Cincinnati and
st. Louis conventions, basing their CAL
culations upon the States already heard
from. 1t is now conceded that Mr..
Blaine will, unless some extraordinary
circumstance occur to change men pref
erences become the Republican nomi-
nee for President. Blaihe's prominence
in national politics for a number OF years
past gave him prestige to begin with.
His debate in Congress with Ben Hill
and other scions Of chivalry whose zeal
out ran their discretion, brought him be-
fore the country in manner calculated
TO advance his aspirations, and we may
now add, that the persistent attempts of
his political opponents to blacken his
public character by charges duplicating
him in some one of the many schemes Of
corruption which were unfortunately to
be found at the National Capital, have
only succeeded in bringing about exactly
the opposite result from that desired, and
thus have directed public attention 10
him as a candidate, which might have
centered on others, had he not been so
causelessly maligned. The Republican
party is not deficient in statesmen. There
Is scarce State In the Union but can
present the name Of one or more of her
distinguished sons who have made a ma
tional reputation. In the sixteen years
of Republican power it has developed
many intellects which could preside over
the destinies of the country with honor;
so there is no lack of competent, availa-
BILE men to select standard bearers from,
The logic of events has made Mr.. Blaine
the undoubted choice of the people and
we shall be surprised if he is not the Re-
publican nominee.


In the Democratic ranks Mr.. Tilden
appears TO have the advantage OF his COM
petitors, but it does not therefore follow
that he will be selected. The Democrat
ic party is made up of different elements
from those of their Republican opponents.
But in the leadership of all is the South
/ ern wing OF the party. 1t is in the South
where the party has most of its strength !;
north of Mason & Dixon's line it cannot
count with certainty upon single state
If the nomination of Tilden be most ac-
ceptable to the South, we can look for
that as an accomplished fact, for tho
South controls the West. But the West
and South each have candidates Of their
own, in the person of Hendricks and Bay
ard, either OF whom is more acceptab BILE
than Tilden, to their particular section.
o. the three men Bsyard has the best
national reputation. The strength Of
Tlden for the nomination appears to lie
chiefly in States which It is doubtful il
any Democrat can carry. This will be
strong argument against the selection Of
that gentleman. Still. Tilden seems to
be the favorite candidate of his party,
and if the "two-thirds" rule Is not adopt
ed, may gain strength enough to give
him the position.


But it is said to be hard to tell what
the verdict of jury will be, or to foretell
the action of a political convention.-
While Blaine and Tilden appear to be
the favorites Of the masses of their re-
spective parties, one or both of them
may be shelved to make room for nobod-
les against whom nothing can be said,
because they have done nothing worth
mentioning. The unexpected nomina-
tions of Polk and Pierce we're samples Of
what unlocked for action political con-
vention can at times be guilty of. We
do not think that Mr.. Blaine can be de-
feated in that manner, but the nomina-
ton of Tilden is problemstical, to ssy the
least.


For the office of Vice President there
seems TO be dearth OF candidates. 1t
is not an Office to which men Of the higher
order Of ability aspire, and the custom
has obtained with all parties, 20 nomi-
nate second or third-cass man for the
pOsIliOH. ING O6UlOCIuCy nhY6 IOSL
nothing by this custom, but on two occa-
sions their opponents have had reason TO
regret the choice they had made Of
Vice Presidential candidate. So far as
the actual duties of the office are con-
cerned they can be discharged by any
man of good parliamentary ability, but
when we reflect that in three instances
since the government was instituted the
Vice President has been called upon to
take the place Of the President, i: will be
seen that the men for both positions
should be ofequal ability. Clay and Web
ster could have each succeeded in their
highest ambition had they been content
to accept the subordinate position. But
as it is the men truly qualified do not
GEEK it, and to-day we hear little or moth
ing said in reference TO the position from
which more than one has attained the
Presidency.


SENATOR SARGENT.-Those who know
Il