The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-30

Convention. If General Grant had maintained
his former reserve, they might have felt CON
strained to nominate him bv tboir
fears that Democrats and conservative
Republicans would take him up and
elect him. But they would deride the
Idea OF danger from his being run by the con-
servative Repu blicans alone. A split in tho
Republican party would do them no harm
provided the two sections of it Outnumbered
the Democrats. In that case the running of
three candidates would merely prevent a
choice by the people. The election would be
thrown into the House of Representatives.
House already elected and intensely radical
If three candidates are run with no choice bv
the people, the radicals would be Just as
triumphant with their candidate third on the
list as nrst. They have nothing to fear from
Republican split, but everything to fear
IRON the Democrats running candidate who
would draw off the conservative Republican
vote, or considerable portion of it. Hence
their manCeuvres to entrap General Grant into
declarations which would prevent his reoeiv-
ing any Democratic support.
General Grant has been so freely talked Of
in connection with the Presidency, that like
every other man who had fair prospect of
gaining that high elevation, he has come to
desire it. The removal of General Sheridan
looked to him like putting another military
candidate in the field against him. With
bodDess of strategy savoring more of a SOL
dier than OF politician, he took that bull by
the horns. He espoused the cause of General
Sheridan with such a superabOunding zeal as
to make the removal more of an affront 10
him than it was to Sheridan himself. Asa
mode of disposing of rival this was prompt
and adroit, but we doubt whether il was far
sighted. The radicals want neither him nor
Sheridan, and will be glad to see them both
lT1t0 INF nj fha vUa ~
service in smothering Sheridan; they now
wish him to go a step further, and smother
himself. The Tribune tells him plainly he
must not stop yet. We quote:--
"Mr. johnson has overruled his arguments
and reversed his orders, and has even gone so
far az TO direct Sheridan TO go at once to the
Plains, though Grant had summoned him 10
Washington. Nay. he has gone further: Grant
instructed General Thomas to maintain all or
ders he should find in force in the Fifth Dis
trict; the President instructs Hancock TO annul
whatever he sees it This is a direct issue, and
no man who honestly honors Grant for his SER
vices In the field, who honestly desires TO know
him as friend OF reconstruction, will fail TO
rejoice that 1t Is m made There is a gulf between
the people trust must stand upon their side of
It, No bridge is possible. No man, however
great his popularity, can reconcile belief In the
laws OF Congress with voluntary obedience TO
the Presidents policy; and the sooner the open
rupture" which General Grants friends pre-
dict, occurs-the sooner he speaks as n soldier
should-the better 1t will be Tor himself and for
the country
This was on Tuesday. Again, Wednesday.
speaking of General Grants letter, the Tribune
says:-
"Whle we heartily agree that the letter does
General Grant timely and essential service
we confidently cite that letter as justifying our
criticisms Of General Grants position.
General Grant has a perfect right to be or
not to be a Republican, without being 'as-
sailed therefor. What we 'assail' il false
pretense; and of this we have not known him
guilty"
Which means that, in the opinion of the
Tribune, General Grants letter to the Presi-
dent by no means identifies him with the Repub-
lican party. 1t is warning to him that he
must take sides so unequivocally as to cut him
off from all possibility of receiving any Demo-
cratic votes, or he cannot have the Republican
nomination. But if he takes that final and
fatal step, he is ''as dead as julius Cesar"
The only reason why the Republicans ever
thought of nominating him was to prevent his
election by the Democrats. If he descends
into the same arena with the other Republican
candidates, he will be formidable to none of
them. Chase's friends, Colfax's friends. But
ler's friends, reinforced by Greeley, by Sum
ner, by Wendell Phillips, by Tilton, and hosts
of others, will join hands to dispose of him
before the competition becomes active between
the radical, chiefs. Grant, having been
brought prematurely into the field win be the
easy victim of their common iealousies. For
though an early candidate, it would be
charged that he was tardy Republican; and
that he never declared his allegiance to the
party till thirst Of office tempted him to aban-
don his former principles. For our part, we
shall be slow to believe that General Grant
will march into the radical cul de sac.