The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-06-27
yE,e Presidential Canvass.

Tho fact that the Democratic nominee for
the Presidency will stand a first rate chance
IF election in the approaching contest i'm
parts very great interest to the convention
which will assemble in the city OF Nc"
York JuIy the 4th. The press is engaged
worry earnestly discussing the merits OF inc
several candidates who hold a prominent
,,ace for the nomination. Weremark now
ever the almost total absence OF that Oit'cl
~par,isan feeling which is usually displayed
before a presidential election between the
friends of op2osinc candidates for the noHnl-
nation. Such is the conviction among ali
conservative people, North as well As South,
of the great Importance Of this election to
the d~estinies of this government that pri-
vate feeling and preference are put aside,
and the war,ncst adherentS of either OF the
candidates decla in advance their deter
mination that, failing to secure their own
choice, they shall support most cordially
the successful contestant, whoever he may
be.
Gen. Hancock, Mr.. Pendleton AID Judge
Chase are now most prominently spoken OF
in connection with the nomination. Each
of them has many influential and Jealous
friends. Between the first two very little
difference exists and little choice is express
ed. The only material question is one Of
availability. So far as we are concerned,
either would suit, though we are free to say
that We rather incline to Gen. Hancock.
We feel that it would be a timely and
grateful act in the American people to re.
ward him with the highest office in their
gift for his General Order, No. l and his
subsequent official conduct, willie in COM
mand Of the 9TH Military District. The
whole people of the South, but especially
of Louisiana, regard him with gratitude and
respect. At the gloolniest period of thei-
history since the surrender of Lee and
johnson, Immediately succeeding the reign
of Sheridan and Mower, he appeared as the
champion of the Constitution and the friend
of the oppressed, down-trodden people OF
the South. Gen. Hancock stands nre,cml.
nent among the few Americans of note now
living, who, in spite of the insidiously cor
rupting influences Of this bad age, have re-
tanned all the antique heroism and Spartan
integrity which belong to the era of Wash
ington and his compatriots. What a very
dwarfed and puny figure is that of U. S.
Grant when we compare him TO this admi-
rable specimen of the soldier, statesman and
gentleman! The one is q dumb automa-
ton whose appearance, manners, and hlsto-
nv give no token of intellectually, and
whose political principles, if he he has any,
sit so lightly upon him that they may be
varied to suit what his political friends be-
lieve to be the popular current of oplnion.
In their hands be is a nose of wax; any
platform that promised him the Presidency
would have been acceptable.
But the most singular aspect Of the con
test for the nomination is the position o
Judge Chase. For nearly thirty years past
indeed ever since the Radical party had any
consistency or strength, he has been thf
ablest and most persistent advocate of its
leading dogmas, and it has generally beer
admitted, up to the time Of the convention
at Chicago, thst he was a candidate for tha'
nomination, and would have accepted ithaf
it been rendered. Now We find, most sin
gular to say, that he is supported by a nu
merous body of respectable Democrats, a
a candidate before the New York conven
toni. If any one change is more to b
wondered at than another, in this age of pc
litical regeneration, it is the detection o
Salmon ?. Chase from the leadership Of til
party to WHICH belong such men as Sum
ner, Phillips, Greeley, Garrison, Wade an
the deceased Lincoln, and his cordial afilia
ton with the Aaders of Democracy. Blu
bis adhesion ,a&the old Democratic faith j
Of too recent d 2ate and his hostility to i
was too sternly maintained for twenty-fiv
years back, to entitle him to the slightelA
consideration by the Convention. III
had . voice. in the. matter we r-%GA
come Judge Chasadiato the rankTLh as
ty US warmly as b might desH19, butV
qualification over 4 cauisitiorf would
lead US to the great length of offering \
him the. highest place in the peoples gift
Modesty should restraiR him from asking il
And as for the party sci, it should b
warned by the exampN of several of tn
Presidents and latterly bJ Vat ofMr: Johi
son himself that old print Mes and pau
associations, after the Presidss Y is oncei
cured, may prove too strong ~ the
profession Of faith made most pfSS
rectlyin view of a nomination.
Wegive Mr.. Chase credit for hones5ss1
his political principles and in. his recent;
abandonment of the Radical party ; but "
fail to see the necessity or the justice otter
laerins him the presidency in preference t
the many eminent gentlemen Of the Iteme
cratic party who have borne the burden an
heat of the day throughout the bitter cor
test that has been waged since 1860, b.
tween the supporters Of the Gvrstitutio
and laws on the one hand, aud an irrespol
sible military despotism on the otho
Though it is true that Judge Chase, by h
official conduct and personal bearing SIM
the, war, has done much to soften the aspe
itIes Of feeling eagendercd by II, yet v
must not forget that he was the most yea
y and able supporter ofall the violent ":
measures of Mr. Lincoln. and that havir
been so thoroughly committed to.theEn
cannot now ftly represent the new era
States Rights, respect for the Constitute
and for tile personal rights of the citize