The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-16


connected with the nomination of General
Grant for the Presidency presents a striking
but CHARACTERISTIC feature of the idiocracy Of
the violent press Of that section when any
measure is proposed calculated for the good Of
the country and not originating with themselves.
This is the Kansas border rufianism Of 1864
and 1856, with all its bloody and ferocious ad-
juncts and detailsf applied to what should be
the more mild and peaceful dsputations Of the
present day. 1t is the sentiment that actuated
the Jim Lane and StringfelIow and Quantrell
massacres and inccndiarism Of other and late
periods transmitted to a question of present
political necessity, and one of the highest mo-
ment to the American people. We will take
the Chicago Tribune as type of this san
culinary class of Western newspapers 1t repre-
sents the border ruffian press better than any
other sheet whose existence now occurs to
US. This paper Eliminates its DEGREES against
sll who interfere with the workings Of It's own
political machine with an audacity that would
be amusing were it not that, being incapable
Of good, it may be productive of much evil
and mischief to the country. With true bor-
papers Of its class would cut the throat Of
citizen who should declare his own preferences
for a candidate for the Presidenoy-would
plant bowie knife under the fifth rib Of one
who should dare to nominate q candidate not
Of their own choosing, and would shoot an en-
tire regiment if the election Of such candidate
should be advocated with spirit and inde-
pendence. What right have you, demand these
border rufaan prints, to select a candidate for
the Presidency without consulting ua? What
right have you to opinions of your own on tho
subject? This is the spirit now animating
the Tribune and exhibited toward those who
have brought forward General Grant for the
Presidency; and its foundations are echoed
by all the border rufian prints within the cir
Gle Of its influence.
But mark you: Of all this savagencss, all
this bitterness of all this vindictiveness and
bloodthirstiness, not word is levelled at
General Grant himself. These border rufian
prints let that hero slide, and try to tomahawk
his advocates. This is but another Of the cow
ardly practices of the border rufhans Of
former days reduced to Western jour-
nalism of the present. They dare not
assail q prominent object with the danger
of defeat and discontinue; but they prowl and
skulk around, and, assassin-like, attack their
victims when they believe they can do SO with
impunity. But, in the present instance, they
have found they are attacking position fast
becoming impregnable, and that the more the
friends and supporters of General Grant are
assailed the more earnest and spirited becomes
their advocacy of his merits and his fitness for
the high station.to which it is proposed to ele-
vate him. They dare not question his ability,
his strength Of mind and character, his pre-
eminent patriotism, his splendid successes in
the field and his universal popularity. They
know that his star is q lucky one, and that it
will shine as brilliantly in the Cabinet as It has
shone in the camp. They would rejoice in his
nomination had they had the making of it
themselves, and they would sing loud hosannas
upon his election should it be procured by
their own wirepulling, underhand, underground,
corrupt means. But not having had hand in
bringing him forward-not having made private
bargains among themselves about the distribu-
ton of public Offices upon his election-not
having settled the policy Of his administration
with regard 70 the war and the niger, and the
foreign, financial and jobbing and contract
questions that will arise-in short, not having
been consulted in the matter at all, these bor-
der rufian prints Of the West, seconded by the
State prison prints Of the East, are attacking,
with all the venom they possess, those who
have presented his name Independently to the
people, and are honestly and conscientiously
urging him onward to the Presidential chair.
We caution these violent presses to exercise a
little. more circumspection unless they wish
themselves and the greedy horde Of public
plunderers they represent to be laid out in the
cold, stiff and stark, about the 4th of March,
1865.
Nor A RIT REIrER We gee that the la0isla-