Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-11-12

thus misled, ard that good many more
will repent and more bitterly before the
winter is over. But we do not care to
dwell now on the mistakes that may
have been committed
We wish TO call attention TO the fact
that whatever local issue may have
existed yesterday, none exists to day, so
far as the people at large are concerned.
How much ground has been lost which
must be regained in settling the great
national question we do not inquire, nor
is it important to know. Republicans
in every State have acted this fall as it
we're with an instructive faith that the
decision of this question at the next
election Of President cannot 90 wrong,
and in this we believe they were right.
We can safely count upon the intelli-
gence of the American people, their love
of justice and liberty, to save the Union
from Democratic reaction next year. Ii
the dominant party has needlessly
weakened itself for the contest by its
errors this fall, there is strength enough
and to spare in the great appeal which
it is now to make to the whole people, to
establish their Union on the firm basis
of loyalty and right For the purpose Of
that appeal and laying aside all other
subjects of difference, the Republican
party from this moment stands united,
and, being united, iuvincible.
From the Chicago Times.l
We have no wish to exaggerate the
Importance of the triumphs gained by the
Democratic party in the elections of this
fall They are conclusive evidence that
the majority of voters in the Northern
States condemn the ruling party. No
pettifogging or manipulation of figures,
or dexterity of sophsiry, can evade or
obscure this simple truth, That party is
condemned, after trial of its most i'm
portant measures, by the sober, second
thought of the people" In the conduct
of the canvass in all of the States holding
elections this fall there has been as little
of bitterness and heated partisan discus
sion as has been shown in any contests
of like kind which have taken place in
the country since the passage of the
Kansas. Nebraska bills in 1854 The
people have decided deliberately and
without passion, and it is therefore
reasonable to assume that the verdicts
given by them this fall will not be re.
versed in the Presidential election Of
next year.
From the New York Tribune.l
"The King is dead live the King Z"
The Republican sscendancy having been
designedly, purposely broken down by
professed Republicans, they are now
busy telling us how it may be restored
All we have to do, in their view, is to say
no more of Republican principles, but
20 it blind for General Grant as next
President.
We have an abiding conviction that
our ablest and most worthy statesman is
Chief Justice Salmon p. Chase. And
we holdlconce6ed ability, wide civil ex-
perience, and eminent private worth
qualities that the people appreciate and
take pride in. We deem no man en-
titled to the Presidency, and do not de-
sire Mr.. Chase called to it for his own
sake. He has great Office now-one in
which he is eminently useful and hon
ored. The same is true in equal meas
ure of General Grant If either of them
shall be summoned from his present to
the one higher station, it must be because
the place needs him, and not he the
place.
General Grant we esteem by no means
great man, nor even a very great
General Yet he has, id every position
he has filled, evinced a modest good
sense, q practical, unostentatious sa-
gacity, which have justly won for him a
large measure of public confidence. He
is not by training a statesman; yet his
negotiations with General Lee, and the
terms of capitulation conceded by him
at Appomattox, evince q wisdom and
breadth of view which few among our
statesmen could have equaled, and none
of them have surpassed. We do pro-
foundly honor and esteem him that he
has never uttered one syllable that
savored of exultation over the defeated
rebels or called down vengeance on their
heads. The blood and thunder policy OF
execution and confiscatlon, which we
intensely loathe, has had no more effec-
tive opponent than this tacilurn, reticent
first soldier of the Union.
Let it be forever understood, then,
that our preference of Governor Chase
is based on no dislike to General GrantF
nor even on a low estimate of his abili-
ties. We presume he has no judicious
friend who would pronounce him equal
in capacity, ,'or experience, as civilian,
to the Chief Justice; we trust no friend
of the latter will fail to render the Gen
eral hearty support should he be made
the standard bearer of the Republican
principles in the great struggle now
opening. We, at all events, shall not
hesitate, in that case, to do our utmost
for his election.
But our interest in the success Of any
candidate will be based upon, and
measured by, his devotion to impartial
liberty; and here is where we think
those who are now grooming General
Grant for the Presidential race are
utterly mistaken.
From the Eew York Times.l
We regard the defeat, therefore, as
simply lesson administered TO the he.
publican party. They are admonished
to be wiser, more discreet, less arbitrary
and extreme in their measures, less ar
rogant and overbearing in their tone.
fthe lesson is needed, all these mistakes
can be corrected-all these losses can be
retrieved. Congress, at its coming ses-
sion, has the whole question in the hol-
low of its hand. Ii it recognizes and
defers to public sentiment as now ex-
pressed-not by any reversal Of its gen
eral policy nor any abandon ment Of its
leading principles-but by a modifica-
ton of its temper and tone, 1t can put
the party on impregnable ground. The
Democrats are no nearer the possession
of power, if the Republicans are wiser,
than they we're year ago. Indeed, II
the Republicans profit by experience
and by the lessons Of the late elections,