The Louisiana Democrat., 1868-06-24
THE CHASE MOVEMENT.

disposition to. act with impartiality,
the Radicals opened their batteries
upon him and attempted to force him
to conduct the trial in such a manner
as wonld rebound to the interests OF
the Radical party. On the other hand
the Democrats, who had so recently
opposed the principles of Mr.. Chase,
saw in him a nascent Conservatism,
and instantly his name was mentioned
in certain quarters in connection with
the Democratic nomination for the
Presidency. At first the matter was
considered only joke, but oflate the
movement seems to be enlarging its
proportions, and the gentleman him.
self, since his failure to secure nomi-
nation by his own party, would doubt
less not object to one from his late OPP
ponents.
We doubt whether Mr.. Chase was
ever seriously thought Of for the nomi-
nation by any considerable portion OF
the Democratic party. The movement
doubtless had its origin with these dis
affected Republican admirers of his
who, disappointed at not obtaining a
Chicago suffrage nomination for
him, would rather have d New York
white suffrage nomination, with its at
tendant loaves and fishes, than no
nomination at all. 1t is impossible
that any Democrat should seriously
think of nominating as a Conservative
candidate against Gen. Grant, The man
whom the extreme Radicals SO recently
preferred to him because the General
of the army was considered too conser-
vative for progressive Republicanism.
The nomination of Judge Chase by the
Democracy would be a fraud, perpe-
trated either by the candidate or by the
party. For, the Democracy, with such
a bright prospect before it, would not
think of going into the campaign on
any other platform than one which
should announce the fundamental prin-
ciples of the party. The Democratic
party is pledged to wipe out Radical
reconstruction and negro supremacy /;
to break down the rotten system of
National banks; te abolish the rrinous
protective tariff; and to put the poor
people of the'country on the some foot
ing with reference to the collection of
the revenue, with the capitalists and
bondholders who have grown rich off
the groans of tire Republic. Of the
most of the Radical measures Mr..
Chase is either the father, or the most
earnest of supporters. Either he will
have to give up Ills principles, or the
Democrats must surrender theirs
Neither is within the range of proba-
bility. SIS II.
Nor should it be expected that the
nomination Of Mr.. Chase would add
any strength to the Democratic party
at this time. The Philadelphia Con
vention, and the disasters which fol-
lowed it, show conelusively how hard
it is to. patch up platform which shall
contain everything and hold everybody.
The victories of last year show how
much more strength the Democracy
carries when it goes into fight with
out surrendering any Of its principles.
We, therefore expect a straight Demo
cratic ticket at New York and astraight
Democratic platform.
But, the menticr of Mr.. Chase re-
speetfnlly by Democrats, shows how
party politics and party politicians
have become mixed up by recent
events. The pet Of the extreme Radi-
Gals is actually talked of as Conser-
vative candidate, while the fayorite OF
the Conservative Republicans is actu-
ally the candidate of the Radical party,
on an extreme Radical platform. And
other prominent politicians are found
in positions which one wouid never
have dreamed Of few years, or even
months ago. Mr.. Charles Francis
Adams is on his way from England
He may be nominated for the Vice
Presidency at New York, and possibly
for the Presidency itself. And yet only
a few years ago Mr.. Adams was The
candidate for the Vice Presidency on
the Van Buren, ticket, gotu to defeat
General Cass and inaugurate an aboli-
ton party. General Francis P. Blair,
Jr., the father Of the abolition party
in Missouri, has been put forward as a
Presidential candidate by the Missouri
Convention, composed mainly of orig
inal Democrats, whom Mr.. Blair used
to denounce as "rottens, nullifers and
secessionists." Many other instances
might be mentioned to show what
strange bed-fellows modern politicians
sometimes have. "The times change
and we change with them," as dog.
latin proverb has it.
THE WAY TO DO .IT.-The Rnmp ha.
removed the disabilities Of Roderick R
Butler and permitted him to hold Office