Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-03-16
Democratic Presidential Prospects : Mr.
pendletou

| Discussing the bondholding and anti
bondholding elements in the Democratic
party North and the bearing either or
both may have upon the nomination for
the next Presidency. the Neeman's 5
Journal says:
Our interests demand that we pay the
principal now, and at earliest maturity,
on these bonds, and stop the impover-
ishing drain Of specie, paid as interest
at an extortionate rate on their original
outlay .
This question we treat under the head
| Of Presidential prospects" for the
reason that Mr.. Belmont is reported TO
have said, in Washington, that i would
not do to call the Democratic General,
or, as they term It, National Convention,
so early as May, because, il that was
done, Mr.. Pendleton would surely be
nominated Time was to be had to
manipulate delegates of various States
as was done in 1864 Well, try It'll
How many delegates do you expect to
buy up2 Do you suppose Senator Hen
bricks, Of Indiana, so green politician
as not to know that your suggestion OF his
name is not made in good faith-but only
as q lure to break the united phalanx OF
the Northwest for Pendleton Use your
four mouths-from now till July 4-and
see what you can do2 Buy up all the
| delegates you can buy
After all that, we venture the predic-
tion-to your utter discomfiture-that
George Fl. Peudleton will be nominated
on the first ballot, in the General Demo-
cratic Convention that is called to meet
| in the city of New York, on the fourth
day of July next We venture further
prediction. 1t will be done with a
unanimity and an enthusiasm that has
not been witnessed since graybeards,
like ourselves, cast their first vote for
Presidential electors Messieurs the
Bondholders, put, that in your pipes
and smoke it. And be glad you have
gotten that much. For, except for the
moderation of Mr.. Pendleton's PROPOSE
ton to pay you off in greenbacks for the
ive-twenties, you would have, in very
short time, reputation of the whole
debt, principal and interest.
In country like ours, subject to fire.
quent elections, we object, altogether, to
undue assertions of personal preferences.
We have not said, nor will we say, that
Mr.. Pendleton is the man, above all
others, that we would wish for President
One set of men may wish for one man
q different set may prefer another man.
The disposition of tree men ought to be,
almost always, to hold individual prefer.
ences subordinate to general agree
ment. But theories must be modified by
practical circumstances in politics. 1t is
a fact, at the present moment, that ANA
iority of the voters-we believe large
maiority-on the Democratic side, have
Mr.. Pendleton in their eye as the man.
Of delegates to the National Democratic
Convention, a majority are sure for him,
on the first ballot, after counting all that
are doubtful as against him. There is
no other candidate in the field that can,
on the first ballot, command one-fourth
of the votes cast in the convention. The
lapse of time from now till the 4th Of
July will only serve to increase Mr..
Pendleton's strength.
We take this fact as it stands. Any
nomination made against majority for
one candidate (supposing the two.thirus
rule to be maintained afte; the reason
for it has ceased) would be unfortunate,
and, probably, disastrous The old
joker's little anecdote " comes in here
to good purpose, about swapping horses
while swimming the river" There is not
time to work up sentiment of enthusi-
asm, such as now exists in critical States
for Mr.. Pendleton, for any other candi-
date. In many of the States his person
al popularity is of the highest value,
and the substitution of any other
name would chill the public senti-
ment. In all the Democratic State Con-
ventions that have been held no
preference has been expressed for any
other candidate. In Ohio, Indiana,
Kentucky, Iowa, Kansas and West Vir-
ginis, either instructions have been given
to delegations or preferences expressed
for Mr.. Pendleton. Missouri, Illinois,
Wisconsin and Minnesota are known to
be of the same mind. In. New York,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Mr.. PEN
dleton is the favorite name among the
people, and the politicians are fast find
ing it out. Maryland will be for Pendle-
ton, and so will Tennessee--the moment
some of its men drop their lip service of
Andrew johnson.
There is phase in politics that
battles analysis. There is an instinct,
for good or evil, that runs like conta-
gion and sways the masses. The instinct
Of the people now reaches toward Mr..
Pendleton.
We accept it as an indication, if not
of what is best, at least of what is, and
is possible. The grand thing is to have
nomination that will fire the popular
mind with sincere enthusiasm from the
moment it is made. With this, we can
carry every State North, and most of
the lesser ones. Dampen this enthusiasm;
let us have long wrangle over who shall
be the candidate, spring one who is not
known to be of Mr.. Pendleton's school
about paying the bonds in greenbacks,
and there is no use of going into the can
vass, for, without influence and con-
6dence in the candidate, the people will