New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-16
THE PRESIDENCY.

We do not propose to hold Gen. Grant re-
sponsible for the utterances of any of those
VINO favor his election as our next President,
nreferring that lie should speak for himself,
and take his own time for so doing; but, as
Gen. Dent is commended to public attention
a. a brother-in-law of the General and a mem
Der of his staff, and as his letter, printed IN
our last embodies the views of a considerable
section of Gen. Grants present supporters, we
resubmt it to public attention. 1t is as follows:
DRARs.: =. To be quite frank with you; cen.
gi does not irish 10 be either he Republican or me emo-
ernie candidate for the Presidency lie would prefer 10
be elected by the people without any reference 10
the present party organizations III u Is possDc Iv
not the politicians. The General IL now III a posltlUn
which suits him very we'll ana no WIZ NOT eve ny
try lie toiH not take he Presidency " ne cannon
enter ,pon its otfce Unpledgcd and unenbdTdsSed oy
pgrfy affiliations and platforms He does not want to
decide upon questions OF public pocy untll they conc
Toned as TO platforms or confined TO certain lines OF
action He has definite views OF MS own, WHEN pIo
toeraby well expressed III an article WtI9n ~ OF
course he must not be held responsible Tor e te
therein expressed but 1t gives about what he THINKS Vi
the present political situation. 80,
While demanding perfect freedom OF action TOT himself
Gen Grant does not Wlsh 10 act to study their
Interests aud wishes, and do for them about What ay
wanted do for themselves. Let party questions enter
Of the Deope is the General will try and Loyalty obey IT,
on one point the General is quite clear II elected, he
will make no appointments on account OF polilcal sery
lie believes that reform OF our ciyI serviCc ~
IA that embodied in Mr. Jenckess bill OF last sess - VI
vital moment and all he will ask OF any candidate ior
position is honesty and capacity: 49,, .A,,,
You may use this among friends, and II they thk
Gen Grant can be elected without reference TO either
Of the existing parties, ley them 50 heap; Dt SSI
peat Gen Grant does not care Tor tue Flesueney ~ -
TO be the gift Of party. Yours, &cp 10
In palpable contrast with Gen. Dents pro-
gramme stands the declaration of the powerful
organization known as the Union League OF
America, which, at its session in Washington
on Thursday last, unanimously
Pesored That the National Council Of tho T. L. A. f.
utterly opposed any departure from the sacred ptno-
pies Of its organization or from those o. inc
party and that we do hereby respectfully but earnestly
and firmly, urge the National Republican Conyeuton 10
place man In nomination for President OF the United
States IN 1858 who Is not I'm himself reYersble guar
anty that he IS true friend OF the cause oil Union sh
Liberty. ne equal rights Of all men before ne d ana %
JisigeTsai Manhood Suffrage.
we believe a considerable portion of those
who united in this resolve are supporters of
Gen. Grant regarding him rs just such Gan
"ifevorsible guaranty" as their resolve calls for.
And we cannot doubt that, if Gen. Grant shall
be nominated for President dt Chicago next
May, it will be substantially on the platform
embodied in this resolution.
There have been times in which a President
could be fifty chosen with small regard to his
political convictions; but these are not such
times For, while many voters are doubtless
more intent on the election of their favorito
than the triumph of any distinctive principles,
there is far larger number who will support
the man mainly for the sake of tine principle
which his election is to establish. Many of
these are for Grant; others for Chase for
Wade, for Colfax OF for Stanton; but their
choice is guided by belief that the princ-
pies they cherish may thus be most surely
subserved. No presentation of candidates will
be generally satisfactory which does not rccog-
nizc and respect this truth.