Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-05-21

n 80 :
rpro.s Aw rnorsrErors. ~, u.
M0NDAY..--~..~....-...,..,-,.s....-.,..,..sAAr u
Repubricnn Presidsntinl Prospects as De-
~ clarod by Thomseives. i.t'
IL was freely proclaimed at Chicago by
Republican Delegates from various States,
that success would be hopeless with Mr..
Seward for the candidate. IL was also an
nounced that the Republican candidates for
Governor in several States would resign their
nominations in that event regarding 1t as
fatal TO the Republican organization there.
Either these were tricks of political gamblers,
to defeat the most formidable competitor, or
they were true statement Of the case. 1t
would be unreasonable to suppose that the
party which claims ELL the purity and princi-
pie would resort 10 treachery TO defeat its
leading statesman therefore, we are bound to
believe that it was an honest expression of
opinion; andas 1t would also be unreasonable
to doubt the information Of these delegates,
concerning the effect of their party nomina-
tions, we are compelled to believe that with
Mr.. Seward for its candidate for the Presi-
dency, the Republican party would be con
demned by the people. ...
Yet there is no reason for this anticipated
fatality, except that Mr.. Seward is the fore
most man of the party, and has been thor
oughly. identified with all its so-called ,prin-
ciples, and is their ablest advocate in Congress
and before the people. Theparty universally
..lo, k,,,, .I,oaa .,,a1;t.o, .n,1 ,-;ll -, ~.
tend that it was any thing but these that con
stituted the fatality of Mr.. Stewards nomina-
ton. The declaration, then, was clear ad-
mission that in its own proper shape and un-
der IFS ablest leader and advocate, the Repub-
lican party would have no prospect of sue.
cess before the people. As we before re-
marked, we have no reason to deny that the
Republicans are fully competent to appreciate
the merit and the popular estimate of theil
doctrines, and in return for our confidence
we expect that that they will not deny theil
own statements when carried to their newt
able conclusions.
This enables us to criticise the motives ant
merits of the nomination of Mr.. Lincoln
II is not pretended that he is any less radical
and outspoken than Mr.. Seward. The decla-
ration Of Mr. Seward that the two systems Of
slave and free labor were in nconfiict-which is
just as much political doctrine as the
statement that fluids seek their level would
be, but which has been distorted to play
upon ignorance and sectional excitement
has been just as plainly declared by Mr..
Lincoln, and it has the same facilities for
damaging him, now that he is brought for
ward into national position. Against the
most seductive political capital of the Democ-
racy-popular sovereignty-Mr. Lincoln is
the most eradical of the Republicans,
holding that no quarter should be given
it. Republicanism has no salient points
which will not be found just as vulner-
able in Mr.. Lincoln as in Mr.. Seward, when
he becomes equally prominent, and the presi-
DENTAL canvass will make him so. His nomi-
ton, but as soon as the forces are dep,vyed,
the same vulnerable points are exposed. II
defeat had been inevitable with Mr.. Seward,
it certainly must be with candidate holding
the same obnoxious doctrines, as soon as ht
is placed in the same leadership.
Mr.. Lincoln is Wing, grated with anti
slaveryism, the same as Mr.. Seward, and hold
ing the same opinions on protective duties
which are the peculiar weakness of the Penn
sylvania Republicans yet while they pro
claimed that defeat would be inevitable in tina
State, with Seward, as soon as Mr.. Lincoli
was nominated they declared that Pennsyl
vania was good for twenty thousan
majority for him. Certainly this is a larg
margin to depend on the Ignorance o
the people of that State concerning
the sentiments of the two men, and thi
really is all the foundation there is for thi
estimate. The National Convention of tn
Republican party has officially declared tina
the nomination of their most prominen
statesman would be fatal to their success
before the people. They have thereby de
clared their estimate of the popular regard 70
the doctrines of the party; and inasmuch a
the Presidential canvass will make the nom
inee equally prominent, it is in effect de
claration that no candidate fully Representing
Republican doctrines can be elected by tn
people. We have before expressed our cor
fidence in their Judgment of the estimate i
which they are held by the people, and W
see no cause to retract. We are unable I
see how party can pronounce the populi
condemnation on its leaders without col
demning itself.