The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-31
The Nsxt Presidency.

Judge is well-known Republican politician
of washington, holding strong radical views.
His favorite candidate for the next presidency
is Ben Wade-who is one of the grandest OF
our public men, whether presidential candl-
date or not. The object of the Judge in calling
upon the General was whatH 1t was to ascer-
tain. first, whether General Grant would be
candidate, and, second, if so, with which party
he would act.
Now. we have fixed upon no favorite, as yet,
for the next presidency. Any one or dozen
good men whom we could name WOuId satlsiy
ms thoroughly. Moreover, why should we be
troubling ourselves with selecting man this
summer who is not to be nominated till next Z
Nevertheless, it is always safe practice 10
determine who shall not be presidential can
didate. We therefore announce in advance
our inHexible opposition to any and every man
for the next presidency to whom party
managers have to put any such miserable
interrogatory as, 'Sir, to which party DO you
belongY" -.
The Republican party wants Republican
candidate. A party with principles wants
candidate with convictions. party whose
policy is open and avowed demands a candi-
date whose opinions are definite and known.
party with moral mission disdains can
didate of doubtful faith.
We know nothing as to the authenticity
of the story of Judge Cartter's interview with
General Grant The statement, however,
originates with the Cincinnati Commercial,
a paper whose editor, as we happen to know,
is opposed to degrading journalism by pub
fishing sensation dispatches containing more
mischief than truth But we refer to the
story not for its own intrinsic Importance,
but solely for the moral which it points.
That moral is, Let the Republican party
beware of seeking a Presidential candidate in
IN, tuh n has lnnu OO founH
an open and unequivooal advocate of its prin-
ciples and aims.
Suppose General Grant, before the opening
of the campaign in the Wilderness, had been
waited upon by Judge Cartier, with the ques-
ton, General, under which flag do you pro-
pose to fight? ?'' The question would have
been an insult; for it would have implied a
doubt as to whether General Grant was a 10y
alist or a Rebel. So question to any proposed
presidential candidate, "Sir, from which party
will you accept nomination ?'' is equally an
insult; for it implies that the man to whom it
is addressed may be ready to join either the
political friends or the political enemies of his
country.
We are not to be understood as rejecting
upon General Grant. If either he or any
other man chooses to be without political
opinions, this is a free country, and such idio-
we insist upon is, not that General Grant shall
have political opinions, but that the next Re-
publican Presidential candidate shall have
such opinions. There are many ways in
which man may honorably serve his coun-
try, without holding without expressing
positive and well-defned political views.
General Grant has honorably served it in one
of these ways--that is, by leading its armies.
But it is not possible that aman shall honora-
bly, serve his country as a Presidential candi-
date and at the same time be destitute OF
strong, well-grounded, and openly known
political convictions.
This country has suffered for three years
under President who has been curse to it.
This man was the deliberate choice of the Re-
publican party. That party might have
chosen whomsoever it wOuld-picking the
finest spirit from among thousand able and
honest men. Its blunder in choosing Andrew
Johnson was, that it did not stop to ask
whether he had settled political convictions;
Or if he had, whether these were in harmony
with the settled political convictions OF the
party that committed its banner to his hands.
Andrew Johnson did not cheat the Republican
party; the Republican party cheated itself.
Now, God forbid our instituting any compari-
son, direct or implied, between President
Johnson and General Grant. The one is
knave, the other an honest man. But the
Republican party cannot afford to choose
either knave or an honest man without de-
finite political views. There ought to be an
amendment to the Constitution providing that
hereafter no man shall be eligible to the pre-
sidency unless it can be proved that he be-
ieves something. "By faith ye are saved"
The history of the Republican party is a
history of mingled glory and shame. The
glory of the party has been its fidelity to great
moral principles; the shame, its too frequent
compromise and surrender of these principles.
If ever in the history of the Republican party
there was time when that party needed for
its standard-bearer man of great devotion to
moral principles, that time is now; that time
will be the next summers campaign; that time
will be pre-eminently the next four years OF
presidential administration. If the Republican
party--the party which is to elect the next
President-shall deliberately nominate man
who is known for everything except for the
one thing which should recommend a candi-
date-namely, his political convictions, inte.
gritty, and ability--the party will inevitably
cheat itself, betray it's trust, and shame the
nation. The next administrator of the Federal
Government ought to be man with whom the
love of liberty has been a lifelong passion
with whom the principle of justice is sacred
flame; with whom political equality is cher
ished ideal. He ought to be a man who's,
Life has been identified with the great con
trOversy of principles which ended in the over
throw of American slavery; not man VIII
has been Indifferent all his life long to tn
greatest moral movement of modern times
As Abraham Lincoln was cut short in hi
benign work of upbuilding freedom, and a
his successor has been the betrayer OF tn
Government, the nation is now entitled to
President whose soul is competent to compre
hend the large proportions of the yet un
finished work, whose heart is full OF zeal TO