Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-06-18
OUR PREsRNTIMENT.

OUh
-
For some weeks, if not for months,
the Republican and Independent press
have teemed with speculations as to the
probable selection which the New York
Convention would make Of a nominee
in opposition to Grant. The general
public mind has also been considerably
exercised upon the same subject.
Mcclellan, Hancock, Haight, Chase,
Adams, English, and a host Of others
have been suggested as Conservatives
upon whom the elements of opposition
to Peudletou might be concentrated.
Latest dispatches renew intimations of
a formidable movement in favor Of the
innocent and prosecuted martyr who
now honors the nation, graces the
White House, and adds dignity to the
Presidential Office, viz Andrew John
son, ex-Alderman, etc., etc.
knowing as w do that the Democracy
bear no more love for johnson than we
do, and that his past history forbids
even them from entertaining any conf
dence in his integrity, there could be
no reason imagined for their nominating
him other than on the score Of availa-
bility or purchase. All men will scout
the idea of his availability, aud few will
imagine that no can control means
enough to command q nomination.
Mcclellan is o dead cock. He was re-
luctantly supported once, sslely on the
availability plea. He failed, and that
was the end Of him. Hancock lacks
even McClellan's merit Of having been
n military failure. They have obtained
all they can expect from him he would
meet with the active opposition OF
the Pendletonians, who would repeat
the Breckenridge programme Of 1860 if
Hancock were the nominee. This is
too apparent, or will be made so at the
Convention, to justify the idea that
Hancoek's nomination is among the
possibilities. Chase and universal suf-
frage, as the Democratic nominee and
platform, would be very q strong, in
fact the strongest card the Democracy
could play, provided the Democratic
party can be induced to support them.
But there s the rub. One of the foun-
ders of the Republican party, or a ne
gro suffrage platform, as the nominee Of
the Democratic party, is too broad q
joke for Dan Rice, George Constable or
any other arenic clown. Governors
Haight and English are satisfactorily
sensitive on the Chinese and negro
question, o would they Intentionally
intimate that treason or rebellion were
at all criminal or deserving of reproba-
ton, without first preparing an elabor-
ate apology for mentioning the subject,
accompanied by q thrilling culogy Of
the g~allantry Of our misguided aud
misled brethren Of the South. But
despite these strong claims to Demo-
cratic regard, the fact that the reputa-
tons of both English and Haight are
purely local, and that each won his
present eminence by the skin Of his
teeth, the anti-war Republicanism Of
the one and the participation Of the
other in the cruel abolition crusade
against the lost cause" will make
the Democracy wary of them as reliable
Democratic standard bearers. But if
we may be permitted to indulge in the
prevailing habit of prophesying the re-
suit Of the 4th of July Convention, we
will, without claiming the possession
Of the mantle of any Of the ancient
prophets, hazard the opinion that
the unanimous endorsement Of Re-
publicans as well as Democrats in
the United States Senate, has lately
been accorded to the mar who, If any
one, will be the successful competitor
of Peudleton for the Democratic nomi-
nation for President. The nomination
and unanimous confirmation of Reverdy
johnson as Minister to the Court Of st.
James have attracted the eyes Of the ma
ton and the world to his record. While
we hold that George H. Pendleton is
uuqusstionably the truest representa-
tive Of the prevailing sentiment Of a
large minority of the Democratic party,
we yet believe that there is a portion of
that party who who would bitterly and
actively oppose him, sufficiently numer-
Gus to render his election a palpable
impossibility. The meeting of the Con-
vention will make this fact Individually
evident. That a majority Of that Con-
vention will personally prefer Pendle-
ton is also certain. Whether that ma
jority will be so welded to his fortunes
as to entirely disregard the dictates of
policy and expediency, is the only ques-
ton on which the result will hinge. If
his friends pay no heed to the improba-
bility Of success, but use their power
and nominate their favorite, the Gam
paign will DO a mere formality and
Grants election only a question of a
few mouths time. But IL they relin-
quish their favorite to the demands of
e1pediency, we venture the prediction
that Reverdy johnson will be the DEM
ocra.ic standard bearer. His character
is a conglomeration of compromistic
subtleties. If there be such a thing as
a compromise between treason and 10y
atty, be is its personi6cation. He was
opposed to the rebellion and equally
opposed to any effective mode Of sup
pressing it. &c justified the war for
the preservation Of the Union and OPP
posed emancipation, without which the
war would have been q barbarous, MUIR
derous futility. he avowed acqui-
escence in the results Of the war,
and professedly advocated the liberation
OF the slaves, but opposed every meas
urs to secure the fruits Of victory or to