Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-01-13
REPUBLICAN POLITICS.
The Situation from n Peculiar
Radical Standpoint.
The Grant Movement - Its
Why and Wherefore.
The Relations of the South 10
the Presidential NOmina-
ton and Election.

The following letter, from an occa-
sonal correspondent of the New York
Tribune, is given unusual prominence in
that paper:
WASHINGTON, January Al have been
spending some days in Washington, see.
ing and hearing Some of my observa.
tions may interest you, 80 far as they
indicate the political situation.
The session thus far has been chaotic.
Nothing has been done, because no one
peachment died ignobly, with scarcely
enough friends to give it decent burial.
The trouble about impeachment was that
few were sincere in it. The friends of
Mr.. Chase did not want impeachment,
because it would have made Mr.. Wade
President. The friends of Mr.. Colfax
opposed it because the temporary eleva-
ton of any Republican to the Presidency
would almost certainly deprive him of
the nomination. The friends of Grant
were for it and against tiff we may cite
Mr.. Washburne, who was an impeacher
last summer, but changed his mind.
There can be no doubt that the impeach-
ment attempt injured him. 1t gave Mr.
Johnson the courage of insolence. 1t
fell upon the party like shower Of rain,
and especially when it was attended by
the reaction against repubicanism in
the October elections Then, also, came
the financial question. So far as an i'm
mediate politicel effect is concerned, /
deem General Buffers financial pronun-
ciamento as unfortunate as Mr.. Douglas
Nebraska bill In 1854. No good is to be
gained by it. The question is not prac-
tical, and only becomes popular when
it appeals TO prejudice The Western
people are sensitive and restless about
the finances, and we have Butler making
Just such an appeal as Jack Cade made
to the men Of Kent: " There shall
be in England seven half-penpy loaves
sold for a penny; the three-hooped pot
shall have ten hoops; and | will make 1t
felony to drink small beer. 1t is pop
ular enough to cancel our debts by pay
ing certain portion of their value, to
make paper dollars gold, and to double
our wealth BY increasing the machinery
of the treasury printing bureau and our
Republican members have been appalled,
by this sentiment" They are trying
to get around tito sugar-coat gold pay
ments for gold obligations. The recon-
struetion measure comes once again.
We have tried to, make this complete;
but Mr.. johnson vindictive esrnestness,
coupled with the cunning of Judge
Black, has made it impossible. The
tenure. ofoffice bill-violated in the per-
son of Stanton-still remains reft and
torn, and Stanton is as much out of our
politics now as though he we're dead-or
an ex-president For a gentle, easy
fading of regulations, commend me to
this dear old dusty town. Where is
the brilliant and rising Gabhy from the
Rocky Mountain districtg' "0h =
Gabby yes; splendid genius-but he
was beaten by Rocket, and keeps tav-
ern in Montana So long as Stanton
was god of war, he was worshiped; he
had organs and courtiers; but now,
when his name on q lieutenants com
mission is not worth smithareen, be is
forgotten. Probably they may crowd
him in when the Senate meets. But
people care very little about It.
The woes of Stauton-impeaehment-
the dreuching storm of the October equi-
nox. which came down upon the poor
Radicals so dreaifully-Bntler g hnan-
cial jack Cade nolons-are all forgotten
in the Presidential handicap:
~. s. Grant, b. b., aged; dam Victory,
sired by West Point-ridden by +. B.
'Washhurne. Colors. red, white and blue
with black hoop"
If you will allow the racing calendar
text, thus give you the favorite horse
in the present handicap. II looks very
much ss IL our betting men had j: ar
ranged that he should be formally entered
at Chicago. / use handicap" in a
more expressive sense than q mere form
Of speech. Grant is the fsvoriie horse
in the political betting books. Every
iockey ard tramping man Of the repub-
lican party shouts for hin. The amount
of shouting is wonderful There is 90