New-York tribune., 1867-07-30
pRESJDEYT-MdKING BY GUESS.


Fifteen months hence the People OF the
United States will be called to elect their Pres
ident and Vice-President for term OF four
years, commencing on the 4th of March, 1859
almost two years hence. Meantime, we have
to deal with the great and difficult problem of
the restoration of ten States still but partially
solved; we have to reconcile local self govern
mept with the permanent sway OF Nationality
and Loyalty; we have an immense National
Debt to care for, clamOrs for the repeal or the
Cotton and other taxes to consider, and the
ever present perils of an lrredeemabe Paper
Currency to guard against, and, IL possible,
overcome These problems may well tax the
best resources of statesmanshp, and ought to
secure general attention. In full view OF their
immincnce, few politicians by trade are in
tent on opening the Presidential canvass, bring
ing forward G en-. Grant as their candidate.
We neither affirm nor deny the fitness OF
this choice. There are features of Gen. Grants
character which incline us TO regard him with
favor. especially his magnanimity toward the
ex-Rebes. Time may prove that he Is the
man for the place; but that question cannot
now be determined. We need to understand
more clearly the issues on which that election
ia to turn, and tho views of the rival oandi-
dates relative thereto.
The people are not in tho mood for trying
any grab-bag experiments They VIII insist on
having a President who fully knows his own
mind with regard to the political situation, and
who has mot essentially another mind from
theirs. They have once or twice taken candi-
dates on trust, and have not been encouraged
TO repeat the venture. Aud, when they see
that Gen. Grants name is the Shibboleth of q
number of the most discredted of the cdmp-
followers and shoddy-patriots of the late war,
who barked at the heels of the sOrely beset
Republic whenever il was constrained to take
step forward in the course which led through
Emancipation to triumph, they will be more
strenuous in their demands for light than Ii
the General were not cursed by such 'backefs
MANY things are forgiven tO party which
has not outlived its ideas and its work but
one thing ia never forgiven. and that is dis
trust of the correctness and value of its own
PRINCIPLES. The Wing party was badly beaten
in the defeat of Clay by Polk in 1Si4-sorely
to its own apazemeDt and grief yet It's "
tally was so little impaired that it elected the
next House of Representatives. and the next
! Governor Of New-Yorls. -Four years later, 1t
succeeded with Gen. Taylor, but lost the
| House of Representatives. chosen along with
| him, was beaten out OF sight in tho next one
and never recovered its vitality. And the
reason was, that in it's contest for Mr. Clay's
election it boldly proclaimed and defended its
convictions, asking verdict thefeoh while in
that for Gen. Taylor's it rather concealed and
evadcd distinct issue of principle, trusting
for success to Fictitious appeals aud claptrap
| instrumentalities.
Let us repeat, to repel misrepresentation,
that we do not call in question the fitness of
choosing Gen. Grant "a the Republican candi-
date for President. We will consider that point
in due time. What we do say, Is that the Re-
publican candidates must represent and embody
Republican principles, aud be neither afraid
nor ashamed TO avow his faith in them and
his willingness to stand or fall by them. His
personal qualities and popularity are important
considerations, but his fearless, explicit deyO-
ton 10 Republican ideas is primary and es
sential requisite.