The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-17


There is no other going his way; and, II his
policy wins, the other won't 60 at all much
longer.
Presidential Candidates-Gen. Grant.
From the ". y World.
The current of Republican journalism at
least, if not the drift of party sentiment, is,
since the late elections, setting so strongly in
favor of General Grant, that the leading
radical organ attempts to breast it in double
loaded leader, which sets out by turning pre-
tensions like Grants into ridicule, and winds
up with predicting that if any man of his type
of politics is elected, it will be by the Demo
Gratis. The Tribune thus advertises that, in
addition to other causes of disintegration and
embarrass ment, the Republican party will be
at lOggerheads in the selection of its standard
bearer.
The party stands between the horns of this
sharp dilemma: with radical candidate ON a
negro suffrage platform they are certain to be
whipped-while if the party makes pre-
tense of moderation and runs General Grant;
the radicals will bring out separate candi-
date.
1t concerns General Grant more perhaps,
than it does anybody else, to form a correct
judgment of the probabilities of his success if
he should be made the candidate of the Re-
publican party. The reasonable pride of
character which BELTS a man in his position
would naturally withhold him from running
the gauntlet of an acrimonious political can
vass, unless he supposed there was more than
even chance of his election. But whatever
political syrens may sing in his ears, the
chances. if he allows himself to be made the
candidate of the Republicans, are ten to one
against him. We do not say this from an
overweening confidence in the fortunes of the
Democratic party; it is opinion founded
upon irreconcilable differences among the Re-
publicans, and the strong vantage-grOund DOS
sessed by the radicals for running a third
ticket. If they can get electoral votes enough
to prevent either of the other candidates from
receiving majority, they are quite sure of
eleeting the President; since, in that case, the
House of Representatives, voting by States,
make the choice, and the House on which this
duty would devolve is already elected and in
tensely radical. General Grant, as the candi-
date of the more moderate Republicans, would
prevent desertions to the Democrats, and thus,
as the radicals hope, carry the election into
the House, where their victory would be as
sured in advance.
If, therefore, General Grant consents to re-
ceive Republican nomination, the very ut
most his friends can accomplish is the preven-
tion OF choice by the people, and the election
of his radical competitor by the House of
Representatives. The aggregate Republican
vote will be greater if the party splits and
runs two candidates, than it would be by
attempting to concentrate its strength upon
one; since the moderate candidate of the
Conservatives would retain many Republican
voters who would otherwise desert to the
Democrats, while the radical candidate would
draw out the full vote of the extremists. This
| is the most skilful game that could be plaved
ba Ia - ;f
General Grant lends himself to it, he will
merely beat the bush for his radical rival to
| catch the bird.
The radicals seeing that they hold trump
| card in their strong ascendancy in the House.
cannot very well be cOerced into the support of
| Grant. To be beaten in the Republican Ma
tiOnal Convention would greatly improve their
| chances, which accounts for the boldness with
| which the Tribune haunts the radical banner
| and shouts for an advance since the recent
defeats. 1t is a calculated audacity. The
| Tribune itself does not pretend that the party
| can succeed by occupying its extreme ground.
| 1t artfully affects to undervalue success in
| comparison with a resolute adherence to
| principle; it bestows preposterous praise on
the Ohio radicals for perilling the late cleo
| tion by their fidelity to the negro; it takes no
| pains to have it believed that radical plat
form and candidate would lead to success.
The weakened Republicans and eXpe-
diency men will be confirmed by the protesta-
tions of the Tribune in their opinion of the
necessity of more moderate courses and the
knowing radicals will secretly rejoice at the
| growing strength of Grant which they pretend
| to deprecate. They know well enough that
with the Republican party united on a radical
/ candidate the Democrats would easily win
They hope that a division will strengthen both
wings; the Grant wing by preventing deser-
| tions, the radical wing by calling out voters
who would otherwise stay at home in disgust
| If the two wings together shall outnumber the
Democrats, the radical object will be accom-.
plished by carrying the election into the
| House, where they are safe.
Judging from present appearances, there is
| little doubt that General Grant can have the
regular Republican nomination, if he will
take it. 1t will be given against noisy, simu-
lated Opposition meant for no other purpose
than to lay the foundation for a radical bolt.
We have mistaken the character of General
Grant if he is not too shrewd and wary to be
drawn into such trap, and to allow himself
TO be made a stalking-horse to aid the election
of a radical President. The ways of politi-
clans are crooked and slippery, and Il be-
hVoves him to be well on bis guard.