New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-07

TIE NOMINATION OF GRANT-wHAr 1T AMOUNTS
To-TnE RING OF PoLITICIANs-THE MOVE
MINT UNSUPPORTED ny THE PEOPLE.
YcOs :. SPECIAL CoiresRotasst
PHILADELPHIA. Nov. 8, 1867.
The Grant movement in Philadelphia from begin
ming 10 end il movement of the politicians. The
people do not sustain it-not because there is any
popular opposition to the nomination of Grant to the
Presidency but because Grant has done nothing
since the closing of the to arouse popular cdhn
siasm. The memories Of Fort Donclson and the VIII
derncos, brilliant as they are, do not inspire
this political campaign. IL ~ lnPpS,lDle
that they should. The issues before the people now
are entirely civil they concern government, not
war and in the selection OF Presidential candidate
thinking men regard those issues only They DO not
need 10 be told that Grant fought bravely and WIS
great general: all about that they know; but they
do not know of his political opinions, ! do not
think respectable minority , Ul hrp aYent !O''S
fact | know it, In every ward n few local
politicians form Grant clubs, aud hold
small meetings. elect officers. make speeches. and
raSs resolutions aud there the matter ends. Nany
Republicans refuse to attend these meetings aud
could give you a list of hundred leading men who
have been asked To speak, who have pcrelnptoiliy
refused. Let first take the general reasons for
their refusal They do not kHOr what Gen Grants
politics are. Judge Kelley tells them he Is iirmly
convinced that Grant ~ "A Radical; but, though the
people have the greatest respect Tor Mr. hceNs con-
victions. the question inevitably suggests itself
Grant IS n Radical, why don't he say so hih,seH
itself nnder a bushel. This Is land OF free speech.
and while Andrew Johnson. Charles Sumner, Wen
dell Phillips Montgomery Blair and everybody
else speaks what they believe Grant Is the only man
who won't say a word. Now the best men IN the
Republican party in this city have evidently made mp
their minds that they will not nominate Grant until
Grant gives them declaration of principles.
They argue that he surely does not want tho ke-
publican nomination, ar he would do something 10
deserve it, I'm answer 10 this the Grant men present
n long catalogue of victories matter OF little I'M
portance, rs Sherman, Rousseau, and Frank Blair
have also won victories They get indignant ana
talk about the folly of doubling Grants patriotism.
forgetting that nobody doubts that estimabe quality
possessed by many Democrats. and that the question
is not of his loyalty, but of his Rcpubcansm. hen
they quote what somebody else believes that Grant
believes. II any man can be authority for him ie
has too often said that is authorized 10 speak
for him. and take his word for that. II II utterly
useless for the Hon. Charles ONell, representative
of the lid Congress District 10 that he - con-
WINGED on his soul that Grant il a Radical, when
Grant himself has warned the people that they are
not to depend on anything Mr.. ONehl, or any Other
man, may say of him.
Leading men, who get up the Grant meetings in
our wards have told me that they know Inc shs M IS
greater abroad than at home. The people OF Rev
York read III TuE TRIBUNE that an enthusiastic
meeting was held in a certain ward, while citizens
half square from the han knew nothing 2, 'Io
the Twenty fourth ward. West Philadelphia yet
Judge Kelley, the principal speaker, had not 200
listeners The Radical Republicans generally regard
the movement as unusuGed by any pnblic position
Gen. Grant has taken, and refuse To give IL their
countenance very small pop gun discharged
among the mountains, will have prodiglous echoes,
but il is nothing but pop-gun after all. .
Our local politicians want offices. They have their
eyes fixed on the Offce the Custom House. the
Mint the Navy Yard and in haste TO secure their
appointments. IF don't come ont for Grant. some:
body else will and / shall lose tho opportunity Of
being the first 10 hurrah" That il the argument;
but the people who don't expect offices are not readily
convinced by 10. Our District Attorney VIM. Il,
Mann, is one OF the principal leaders OF the move
ment. He finds 80 much opposition to his re-
nomination 10 the most lucrative Office IN
Philadelphia, that he hopes To gain strength
by advocating Grant. lie is n Radical, but u
politician also aud how good q politician may be
inferred from tho fact that the Democrats do not try
TO beat him. AT the last election ms opponent was
man Of straw. who several thousands behind bis
ticket and even in such Democratic strongholds ny
the Fourth Ward. Mr.. Mann received malpIity OF
votes, Well he IL for Grant Tho rest OF the King
of politicians 20 with him. This very fact keeps Inc
people out of the movement for the Republican de.
feat last month n ascrbed To the misnanagelnent OF
the city affairs by the who are now III Office Mr.
COwel, the defeated candidate for Sheriff, seeks ~
ride into power on Gen. Grants shoulders. Mr: VIII
liam III. Kern, w. =. StOkely future Ring candidate
for Mayor, Congressman ONeill and Myers arc all ia
the same boat and will be upset, your correspondents
hopes at the same time.
The trouble with the Grant movement II That II
don't move Ii IL mt standstill already. II " were
nj all pOpular and spontaneous you Nbuld SEQ tho
effect Ia our newspepers-tho best barVmetors by