, 1860-04-21
THE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION.


[Flona The Indl1napols Journal 18th ,r..,
vigorous health Of Judge Mclean, with the re-
mark that "every circumstance but this ad-
vanced age pointed to him as the man with
whom the Republicans should meet the pro-
alavery fanaticism Of the Democracy. aud It
might easily happen that he would be founil the
best man anyhow It excited aome comment
at that time; for Judge Mclean had hardly been
considered as within the circle Of possibilities.
As the time foz making the se.eetion comes
nearer we see more clearly that the opinion
then 80 solitary is likely to hare associates in
plenty Judge Mclean is already prominent,
the candidates. before the Republican .Conven-
ton Many things are contributing to this re-
suit. 1st. Judge Mclean almost alone Of all
living statesmen represents the era when Ad-
ministratlons were pure, and statesmen patriot
lc, and thus presents in his name the idea of
restoration Of the practices, as we'll as the pzin
ciples, of our fatheFs- He has been I'll his life
in the service Of the government, without incur
rng suspicion OF weakness, dishonesty or
vice. In m age when politicians are alnost
as notorious for personal vices rs public impu-
Tty, be has been pure. His personal char
acter is an element Of strength, for it can
claim more than the negative merit that
"noshing can be said against it," Men hesi-
tatIng on political grounds will be decided BY
personal qualities that command respect and
confidence. 3D. 4 life of close and constant
connection with public affairs has made him
familiar with the duties Of the Presidency.
This, though not an important consideration, Is
worth weighing. Cd. tnconnected With active
| political efforts he has escaped the prejudice
which ineyi1ably cfings to the foremost men in
great movement. The urging Of this consid-
Grafton we know Is nttcn, and with show Of
justice, stigmatized as cowardly, aud AS throw
ing away the representatives Of our faith ut the
I. nf II
causes ara worth more than men. If pre]u-
dice which will defeat one man may be avoided
by another who will maintain the same policy is
iscowardice to save our cause by sacrificing the
man? Against Mr. Seward and Mr. Chase
thsre does exist this prejudice Unreasonable,
unjust, unfortunate, but very real Neither Of
those men would carry this State, and the
causes that would defeat then here would de-
feat them in Illinois and Pennsylvania, in our
judgment. We are sorry It should be SO. for o1
all men living Mr. Seward is our choice for the
Presidency. Bnt it is foolish to 60 right IN
and with wilfully closed eges thrust our heads
against big immorable facts. It mar be thai
We had better suffer defeat with him o,
Mr. Chase than achieve victory with Nc
Lcan or Lincoln, but we can't so see it. De-
feat with them will leare the country DOW
ertcss before slavery. TAat istsrtaia. Victor,
with other Republicans would at least give u!
some power OF resistance that We do not nov
have Is that power worth gaining: We 50,
"yes;" and therefore want to make the fieht 81
that ne can gam it. We don't believe in Eiyin.
up everything to the enemy because we c1n'
get all We want for ourselves, particularly when
as in this cuse, We are really getting just a
much with one man as another. Therefore ~
suy Sudgc McLean-and Mr. Lincoln of Illinoi
stands in very much the same relation present
strong claim On the attention of the Repuhli
can Convention. 4tl. Judge Mclean has bee
Republican US long Is there has been Re
publican party. he was the favori.e Of tl
"battle- ground States" for the nomination il
1856, and will be again, we believe. He is til
embodiment Of the hostility to the bred SEQ.
decision. that charter Of oppression, and pre-
phecy Of ruin. lie did all in his power to p.1
cure the rendering Of tha. decision I~fors III
| election in 1856, that the countr: might the
see where Democratic policy WAS leading, bu
WAS overruled By the Democratic Judges. j
order to give their party the benefit Of tie Ere
State professions they made in the North. Fai
+ ing in this: be entered his protest against tn
: and couyircing argument, that justly gave hi,
4 claim to stand first in hostility to lie ere:
wrong.
We know that Judge Mclean is old, but he
, vigorous, aud his temperate. regular life is
better assurance that he will fill lis term thu
the dissipated vigor Of younger men. Ifnon,
: mated We believe he will surely be elected. au
if elected he will make an administration th
, will give TO these Inter days of the Republ
some idea Of what the government used 10 b
In the same class and next to Judge McLea
! We believe that Abraham Lincoln Of Illinois pr
! sents the best combination Of qualities as ca
didate and officer. With either Of these, L
with less certainty ofsuceess, with several 9th
mcn, the Republicans can beat tie Charlest,
p nominee, whoev.r he may BE-, OF on whatey
/ platform he may stand, in his STATE. How
j.. may be in other States we do not know, and on
= speak Of our own. hut we presumc that it "
= not be much different anywhere else. r
:, "1ogc Of events" shows tls that the successf
n man must be the representative Of the qtnfr
+ fres labor sentiment Of the country, aud n
- merely Of some particular form Of it. II,
Il sentiment is far wider than the Republican {
;. 2anizaton, but it Will not be hereafter if it
;. be now brought to tue support Of . Republic: