Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-04-11

Now that the brilliant result in Con-
necticut is ascertained, which has set all
the Democratic roosters to growing, it
may not be any the less interesting to
see what were the copjectures expressed
as to its effect before the election came
of. In the morning the New York
Herald said
The Connecticut election for Governor,
State ticket and Legislature comes of
to- day; and never before has either
party concerned, in the State and
throughout the United States, manifested
so deep an interest in any Connecticut
election. Last year, with Barnum and
his travelling caravan at the head OF the
radical procession, there was more fun,
more fuss and more noise and confusion !
but this year there is more system, more
earn sstness and more hard work on both
sides. The impeachment acts powerfully
on this election, and the result, one way
or the other, will react upon the impeach.
ment. The issue is regarded as matter
of life or death to the radicals, and they
have left no stone unturned to recover
the State.
Men with whom honesty is the best
policy, and men with whom policy is the
best honesty, are equally perplexed to
account for the late dishonest and impol.
itic announcement in the New York
Tribsne. that General Grant had ex-
pressed the opinion that the safety ofthe
country can be secured only with the re.
moval of Andrew johnson, and that,
therefore, the only course left for the
Senate is to hurry through this impeach.
ment trial and get this obnoxious man out
of the way as speedily as possible. Some
imagine that this scandalous pronuncla-
mento was intended to whip in certain
Senators supposed to be weak in the
knees; some suppose that this thing was
intended to damage General Grant; some
conjecture that the object was merely a
bit of buncombe for the Connecticut
election; some imagine that Greeley,
aspiringto place in the Cabinet under
"Old Ben Wade, is getting impatient OF
the laws delays, and there are some who
are inclined 10 think that this unseason-
able and startling announcement of
General Grants opinion Of this impeach-
ment was, after all, stupidly paraded only
as a newspaper sensational item, without
stopping to consider the possible conse-
quences.
The truth probably is that this disre-
putable publication was designed partly
as q warning to the Senate and partly as
an electioneering item for Connecticut |;
for there are some snug little Offices in
Connecticut and some large ones at
Washington and elsewhere dependent
upon the issue of this impeachment; and
"sreat expectations among the rank
and file of the Connecticut working Re-
publicans in this canvass are at the
bottom of their jealous and industrious
efforts to carry this election. They seem
to think, too, that the result, one way or
the other, will be apt to operate upon the
Senate pretty much as the charge OF a
respected Judge operates upon confid-
ing and weakened jury, and that with
the popular voice of Connecticut added
to that of New Hampshire every shaky
Republican Senator will be brought to a
proper appreciation of the indictment
against Andrew johnson. 1t is thus
apparent that, next to the popularity of
General Grant as the universally ac-
cepted Republican candidate, this i'm
peachment, in view of the spoils and
plunder involved in the final result, has
operated and is operating in Connecticut
to bring into camp the Republican strag.
glers from all sides.
In the present republican Senate at
Washington we know that Fessenden was
an aspirant for the place now held by
Wade; that Trumbull will not be
ruled over by Sumner; that Van Win
kle and Wiley, of West Virginia, are
not ultra radicals; that Sherman is
cautious conservative, and that
Grimes, free trader, has no admi-
ration for the high tariff notions of
Wade. Here are disaffectioHs which the
chapter of accidents may yet aggravate
to an extensive revolt. With Chase as
an aspirant for the position secured by
Grant as the Radical favorits, we shall
only need, perhaps, the entering wedge
of Radical defeat in Connecticut to
bring about an independent party and
ticket for the Presidency, with the ac-
ouittal of Andrew johnson.
The fears of the Radicals run to this
extent, and hence their unparalleled
efforts to reclaim Connecticut. But
their hopes are apparently sanguine that
thew will recover the State, the issues
being the same that carried New Hamp'
shire. They have an abiding faith in
Grants popularity, they believe that
johnson will be removed and they are
encouraged with the prospect of an
early division Of the spoils to the faith
ful under President Wade. The Demo
Gratis, without recognized presidential
champion, are fighting at disadvantage,
and the loss of Barnum is Republican
gain. Moreover, the conservative fed
eral officeholders in Connecticut are dis
armed in view of Johnson's removal,
and there is no enthusiasm in his de-
fense; for even his acquittal will afford
no margin of profit to Democratic or
anti-Radical Office seekers this side OF
1869. The issue in Connecticut, then,
being dependent upon the small balance
of a few hundred votes, we shall not be
surprised if the result is a Republican
success. But with all their show of con
fidence thsy may, on negro suffrage, be
defeated, and if defeated it will be de-
feat perhaps as disastrous to the hadi /,
Gals in its train of consequences as Will
surely be the late defeat of Disraeli in
the House Of Commons to the tory party
in England.
The Irish Reform Bill.
The Reform bill for Ireland was in