The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-27
Tho Approaching Presidential Contest
What IL tho PrOspeots


all the indications around us, Will DO botly con-
tested. The last fall elections broke the charm
OF the inyncibility of The republican party, and
from the depths Of despair lifted again to their
feet the forlorn democracy and changed their
weeds Of mourning into garments ofjoy. They
ore so far exalted that they believe, or affect
to believe, that against any republican candi-
date except General Grant they can walk over
tho course, and that they can distance even
General Grant as the standard bearer Of the
radicals and their policy Of universal negro
suffrage AMI Southern negro Reconstruction.
The leaders and trumpeters Of the democratic
forces, however, 1t would appear, have learned
nothing from their long catalogue Of disastrous
defeats for they manifest no disposition to
cast or their exploded fallaces or their
incompetent and obnoxious copperhesd man
ayers and leaders.
The copperheads Of the West, by sort OF
spontaneous combustion are whirling their
hats In the air and shouting the name Of George
II. Pendleton as their Presidential candidate
against all oomers. From West Virgins to
Wisconsin Pendleton Is their man, and from
their enthusiasm over him 1t would appear
that they have found In him another Andrew
Jackson, or at least another Andrew John
son, host In himself, and more than a
match for tho radicals. But who Ii this Pen
dleton! He Is the very man who ran for Vice
President on tho Mcclellan democratic ticket
Of 1864, and who, next 10 the Vallandigham
Chicago platform, was, with his copperhead
antscedents and principles, tho desdweight
that broke down Mcclellan. How Is II, then,
that these Western copperhesds are 50 enthu-
siastic over Pendlcton! They build upon the
results of the last Ohio October election, in
which universal negro suffrage was rejected
by popular majority OF fifty thousand, in
which democratic majority was returned 10
each branch Of the Legislature. thus super
seding sold Ben Wade" In che United States
Senate, and in which the democracy came
very near the election Of their civilian candi-
date for Governor against very popular
Union soldier. Mr.. Pendleton was the chief
democratic stumper in that canvass, and all
these results In Ohio are considered rs mark.
Ing popular endorsement Of Pendleton and
a political revolution In favor Of the copper
head principles of which he is the favorie ex-
FOUNDER. Hence this copperhead enthusiasm
in the West over this man Pendlston.
ebay fool In mortar" says Solomon,
"and his folly will not depart from him"
1t may appear strange that Pendleton and
his followers should forget the democratic
victories OF 1862, from the Hudson to the
Mississippi and bow they were gained on the
platform Of the Union war democracy, and
how, in 1853, they were oil lost on the plat
form Of Pendleton and the copperhead peace
democracy. But 80 Ii Is. These Western
copperheads think tina! their principles and
their policy carried Ohio last fall, when tho
result was brought about through the aban-
donment by ths radicals OF their pledges and
professions OF 1865, and their substitution Of
the policy Of negro supremacy In the South
and universal negro suffrage. Mr.. PeDdleton
secured some no.oriety In this late Ohio can
vass from his advocacy OF the plan Of paying
or the national bondholders In greenba cks
when not otherwise named in the bonds; but
General Ben Butler and odd Thad Stevens "
have each as good claim to this thunder as
Pendleton.
The truth is that, excepting his peace record
during the war, Mr.. PendloLon has nothing
particular to recommend him to the support Of
the opposition elements, and this peace record,
If tried, will swamp him in 1868. as it swampod
him In 1864; for the "boys In blue and the
"boys In gray" have not yet died out Of the
memories OF The twenty five millions OF people
OF the loyal States. Against the revolutionary
measures and tendencies OF the radicals there
-, however manifest recoil In the public
mind; but TO bring Il into > full and effective
action an opposition candidate is called for
whose record during the war a. q Unonl.t il
SO clear that ia bis nomination tho snemy's
guns win DO spiked on that question. Som o
such man a. General sherman will servo this
purpose. The contest. then, being reduced to
the living political issues OF tie day, the oppo-
sition forces will have a clear Geld and some
prospect Of success
The republican party, which began some
three months ago to bosray strong symptoms
OF disruption between the so-calei conser-
yatives and radicals, Is now as evidently
closing up Its ranks. Its personnel, rank and
file, seem now TO be drifting, as by common
consent to the standard Of General Grant
There Is reason TO apprchend, however, that
in saddlins him with the despotic power, Of
their new reconstruction schemes the radicals
intend to kill and will kill bim OF. Formally
adopted IS their Presidential lcket by the
republicans Of New Hampshire and Connsc.i-
| cut tho result 10 the coming elections la those
States will 90 far to settle the question for
those States against The namS Of Grant tho
| claims 81 Chase will come again into tho FORE
| ground. But II does not follow that with his
nomination the opposition elements will obtain
possession o. the fell; for while DIR, Chase, on
the negro question, ID probably he nvorits Of