The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-31
At sea-wenden Phillips ON General
From tho Anti Slavery Standarf

From tho Anti Slavery Standard.
One thing is evident-the Republican
snip is drifting before the wind. Without
compass or pilot, she has given up all hono
OF reaching any particular harbor, and onlv
aims to outride the storm. We once SIN,
posed she had a drift-sail concealed nndar
the waves, and was seeking some special
port. But day by day it becomes more
ano more evident that she has neither
cargo nor destination, and is only waiting
-, uayllghe TO discover what sea she is in,
""n what nag it will be safest to run up.
az" much strength the party needs in
oLoer 10 keep hold of office, and whence
1na' s.'eheCn VIII ~oosiest be secured. these
are the questions. Tho answer to- them
VIII determine the Republican platform ~
1868. II the negro seems a trustworthv
friend she will run up the white fias ~
Justice. Should the. mild typo of Copper.
headlsm, which Fessenden, Trumbull
Weed, Sherman, and Seward represent.
seem a safer reliance, then the old black
rag that has, in front Of doughface ranks
braved so often the battle and the breeze
will be nailed to the masthead.
Grants reticence was, at first. the
silence Of a soldier who had no ideas. After
a while it became the trick of a Clique,
who have had him in training, and who
were doubtful which section of the Repub.
lican party would prove strongest. They
kept him uncommitted $50 far, at least, as
words go), that he might be ready at any
moment to declare for the successful side,
At last it becomes doubtful whether such
great States as New York and Pennsylva.
MIA can be carried for either of the
Republican sections or creeds, ever
with General Grant for candidate. Though
FesSenden and bis clique have thrown
off everything but the Republican name.
cautious men begin to fear that ever
that will be overweight even for Grant
in his race with the Democratic candidate.
Grants reticence has, therefore, got a new
value. He must still keep his lips shut.
waiting till the summer of 1868, to see just
how great the rejection has been, and
where he shall plant himself. Things may
have assumed such shape by that time thai
instead of Henry Wilson for. Vice-Presi'
dent, or Yates, the only safe and available
ticket will be universal amnesty" witt
Grant and Lee for candidates. If Grants
record is all ready to be made up in thai
form, and the timid, office pedling majo
rity Of the Senate will rally for his reti
nue., such an alliance will be the fitting
sequel to the S~magnanimtty" Of Apo
mattoX.
We saw a month ago how white Repub
lican lips had become how thoroughly
the election returns had frightened the
leaders. We knew then that Grant would
not be allowed to speak till it were seer
what it would be safe for him to say. w
have been long convinced that, so far q
Grant has ideas, his reserve did not pro
coed from any popularity Of his nature
or from professional etiquette, or any ide;
of dignity. 1t has been all along a tricl
of his friends-men standing halfway be
tween rebeldom and RadicaliSm-to keel
him uncommitted until 1868, in order t
see how little he could venture to promise
without risking success. Forgiving ant
credulous Radicalism would clutch at hin
any time, no matter at what eleventh
hour be professed the faith. Bitter ant
lynX-eyed Conservatism would never ust
him if once his lips uttered the hated
pledge Of justice and equality. Hi
friends, therefore, lost nothing by delay
and might gain by it everything. Hence
his reticence.
A month ago, the party, aghast, wa
ready to hide in Grants skirts withou
asking of him any pledge. Such was thu
temper Of the meeting in Cooper institute
soule weeks ago. We have dritted hal
an oceans width since that. The meeting
in Faneuil Hall and the lobby at Wash
ington show that the Grant men would pu
him on a platform pledged to somethin
very near the nature of Johnson's message
If Grant speaks before May, 1868, it vii
only be to conciliate and secure that ele
ment which we used to call Bordcr-Statc
iSm-the nightmare which cowcd Lincol
and inspired Scward-the miscrly capital
list who cursed the Government he swim
dled-the citizen who did nothing bu
snecr, the Senator who proposed nothing
objected to everything, and only foun
fault. These arc Grants hackers to
day-men who, like Maryland and Ken
lucky, were not bold enough openl
to take either side. If Republican courag
oozes out during the mex six months a
rapidly asithasdone within the last six, eve
this class cannot be relied on. The Who'll
Republican party will 60 with Greele
to Richmond; and so far as the negro
concerned, q vote for Grant will mean Il
more than one for Pendleton or Hancock
If any reader thinks us uncharitable in GU
judgment, let him go to Washington an
frequent the Hobbies. Meanwhile, let hin
in any event, use the coming six month
so wisely and with such earnest activity q
will either shame. or encourage these hell
less and vagabond puppets to an attitud
somewhat worthy Of the loyal men VIII
bore them through a hundred fights S
bravely on their shields.
The Feeling: fIh Italy.
You will have seen by the debates in tn
Italian Chambers that the fierce "JamaiS