The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-31
Tho Next Presidency-The Canvass Com
monced.


menccd.
The campaign for the next Presidency has
opened half dozen candidates are already
before the public, paced and lauded by their
respective adherents and admirers. and the
canvass is active, for and against, on all the
names The most significant point developed
thus far is the shy fighting against Grant from
all the factions. Representative journals Of
all the republican cliques discuss the Presi-
dency with gusto 80 long as they are per-
mtted to merely laud their little fav0rites-to
mention the virtues and claims of Chase,
Stanton, Colfax and Old Ben Wade; but no
sooner is the name of Grant heard than there is
a sudden change in their manners. 1t is amusing
In such circumstances to hear them depreoate
the discussion Of the Presidency. They say 1t
is too soon. They urge, then, that the Pres-
dency should be untouched for some time yet,
and argue that there are great many other
topics that naturally precede it and ought to
be settled first They run hurriedly over the
list Of national troubles-reconstructio and
the ten torn up States, the national debt, the
Indian war, and so on. This shallow dodge to
escape from what they fear to face will avail
but little; for the people have already seen and
determined that all these national evils are to
be settled by settling the great question Of the
Presidency. The settlement of the Presidency
is the necessary preliminary to all other settle
ments in matters Of national policy. 1t is at
the root of all; 1t underlies and involves all;
ii Is the great first fact for the next period in
the life of the country; and if it is settled right
all other points will settle themselves in har-
monious accordance with it; while any attempt
to patch up an arrangement Of great national
topics In advance of this settlement and with
out reference to 1t must inevitably end in
failure
One OF the more advanced of the republic
can organs puts its opposition to Grant on
a rather broader basis II Is afraid that may
be, he is not good enough republican. Itdoes
not know enough OF his principles to feel sure
of his fidelity or to be satisfied that he Is such
a true representative Of the power and great
ness OF the nation-so in sympathy with the
mass of the people as to make him their proper
Executive. 1t Is one of the astonishing things
Of the ago that there are pygmy people-men
who have never done anything better in the
world than write trashy politics and try ex-
periments on their own precious digestion with
bran bread-who have yet the ineffable i'm
pudence to stand up and question the fidelity
and the genius of man with General Grants
history. 1t is the strangest Of contradictions
that in the United States, whose whole people
lad 70 60 hot 4
more than for what they have said, whose
greatness Is in their achievements, not in their
speeches-in the ideas they have wrought into
tremendous facts rather than framed In fine
sentences-it is q strange contradiction that in
such country, in tho midst Of such people,
that man should be decried and questioned
who has given the most direct evidence that he
is a real type Of the people, In having done
more than any other man and said less. To
this Wendell Phillips argument-this phrase
monger's notion-that the man who has led
the American people to the most wonderful
achievements Of the age has no ideas and no
principles, because he has not written and will
not write political letters to two or three men
in Massachusetts,, we will make no serious
answer.
Yet we are happy to be able TO state
that General Grant has q platform, and
one that will bear comparison with the
platform Of any proiessed politician in the
country. His nrst plank relates to what
the American people should do. He believes
they should cultivate the soil. He holds that
II ought to be the ambition Of every American
citizen TO be good farmer, and acknowledges
and declares that that Is his own greatest
ambition" His reduction Of vicksburg, his
capture Of Chattanooga and nnal destruction
Of oil the rebel armies were only incidents in
his career, and each success welcome as bring.
ing nearer the happy day when be should 20
home and smell the fresh earth and take pride
in the ripsned grain Of his farm. From this
natural occupation q man may turn for one
paramount reason-his duty 70 his country.
To mind that duty is the first great thing a
man has to do In life This is another plank
in the platform, and this will DISCUS. the radi-
calls, who believe that mans Hrst duty IL not
to bis country, but 10 his party. Grant also
holds that when man has performed this d uty
he ought to retire 70 private litc This point
In the candidates principles is expected 10
secure him the opposition Of oil the once
holders, including Seward, welles, and Stanton,
who will never retire TO private life II
they can help IL Grant believes that be has
done bis duty, and feels, OF all events, that be
has earnestly tried TO do It; nevertheless, II
the country still calls, be Is ready. II the
people wish TO give him the Presidency be will
take IT, be will defer bis retirement at the
national bidding, though when he has done
big duty In The. line for four Or eight years 10