Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1868-08-20
E rumor has haon mt IN oirouIa

ton by some sensationist, and which is
being extensively published, to the effect,
that Gen. Grant, being convinced by the
manifest lack of enthusiasm inspired by
his nomination that he cannot be elected
is anxious to resign mis- position as the
candidate of the radical wing of the Re-
publican party. 1t is said that he has ex-
pressed "a preference for Gen. Sherman as
his successor. Whilst we doubt the truth
OF this rumor, every impartial observer of
passing events must have been struck at
the superabundant want of enthusiasm
manifested at the various points visited by
Gen. Grant during his recent Western
tour. There was a considerable amount
of drum beating, ffe-playing. horn-toot-
ing, and yelling and cavorting, but very
little real heart-enthusiasm, such as have
been witnessed at the Seymour and Blair
demonstrations everywhere. Some of the
more moderate among the Republican
journals have been candid enough to ad-
NIT that these things are SO. but are not
disposed to attribute them to any lack Of
confidence in the success of their candi.
date.
We leave the Republican editors and
leaders to account for the apathy among
the masses Of their party in the manner
most satisfactory to themselves; but few
OF them will deny the fact that it exists
Thinking men. however, who are acouain-
ted with the true character of Gen. Grant
know that the Chicago Convention took
him because Of his supposed popularity as
military chleftaln exclusively, and not
because he possessed, or was believed to
possess, any of the higher qualifications of
the statesman to essential so prepare him
for the presidential chair. It is the
knowledge of the utter incompetency of
their candidate in this respect that has
thrown a damper upon the radical party.
MIR. Seymour, the standard bearer of the
Democratic party, on the other hand is
acknowledged By candid men of all parties
to be statesman of enlarged views. ex
perience, caution, and capacities of the
highest order.
In addition to this obvious Incompetent
cy of the Republican candidate, as COM
pared with the nominee of the New York
Convention, Grant is pledged to all the
abomlnable measures of the radical major
ity in Congress, including negro suprem-
acy in the South, and, if elected, is bound
to light it out on that line;" while Gov
Seymour, if elected. is pledged to the res
toration Of the Union and administration
of the Government, not according to the
whims and caprices of party. but in ac-
coTdance with the mandates of the Federal
Constitution. On the other hand, Gen
Grant saws that, if elected, he will have
no policy of his OVID, but will be governed
by the will of the people; and we infer
that this commits him to the bchests of
popular opinion, regardless of the solemn
obligations of the Constitution, which he
will have sworn to support. He will be
merely the President OF the party by whom
he is elected, and net the representative
of those great principles of republican 60.
yernment embodied in the Constitution and
the lays enacted under it, and upon the
faithful observance of which depend The
perpetuation OF free government and tht
peace and prosperity of the people.