Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-04
From Harpei's Weekly.
THE Nomination Os Gen. Grant.

From Harpe' s Weekly.
THE Nomination 90 Gen. Grant.
The meeting st CJoper's Institute TO
nominate Gen. Grant for the Presidency
Is chiefly significant rs showing the con-
fjence rc,losed in him by the capitol of
New York. Capital finds something
very consoIiugin bis steadfast moderation,
and is willing to make him President up
N no platform but his character. That
IS but saving that Capital has no political
opinions. Il has no great national poll
O. to maintain. 1t asks rest and the
prosperity tbs; follows tranquility and it
very naturally aud justly believes that
tranquility Is more probable under
Grants Presidency .han under that of
any other man.
But Presidents are not elected by
those who have $50 policy. The popular
instinct has desiguat d Grant as Prcsi-
duet not because he has no policy, but
because be is believed 20 be sincerely in
sympathy with the policy Of the Repub-
llcan party. He IS a silent man; but
by DO word or act has he ever indicated
the least approval Of the spirit or the
measures Of the Democratic party; and
by wise instinct the Democratic leaders
are very Garcia! not to speak of him as
their possible candidate. The positive
men Of the meeting at Cooper's IUsti-
tuto were Republicans; the speeches
were Republican, and SO was the enthu-
siasm. Il is very amusing to read in the
Times Of q dav or two atterward that
the speakers ''Wers scarcely representa-
tives Of such q movement as tins meet
ing proposed to ina9gurate," and that
''thoSe who have the movement in hand
will DO well to be more careful in tier
future proceedings.
The "Invs;erIOUs movement men
toned in these extracts is what IS called
a '.nO party" party. Bat it is not quito
time yet for that consummation. la
our political system an e,ection for the
Presidency is contest of opposing
political views. I'VE contend fer the
crown as well rs for the government
under Il; SO jhat rs2H were 1t possible
that both parties stculd decline 10 npmi,
nate a President and suffer Gen. rant
TO be elected by common consent, The
Struggle would De merely shifted to tie
T.ce-PrcsiJsucy aud the Congressional
election. Then the President would be
compelled 70 choose. lie must favor the
one policy or the other, CT else fall into
tie unhappy plight Of 2 President with
cut n party. These who have the
matter in l:aal" are the people Of the
United States who hold TO tho Con
gressional policy rs opposed 10 that Of
he President; AMI Grant IS % irresisli-
be candidate, because he has shown by
his aets aud words That lie feels with
them.
Hs is, moreover, a man Of The new
epoch, and ins;inctiyely Understands it.
The great question Of tie election aud
Of his administrator is reconstruction;
aud man who brings with him 10
traditional Veiudices from oh party con
flicts brings an essential qualification for
the settlement OF Tint question. There
are no old gruices 80 forget, no old hos
t'tiss to forgive. The men who are
Instrumental in producing revolutions
seldom organize t'ieir rsu'ts. Sam
Adams was hero Uf 1912, not Of l7T9.
e Those among rs who were most active
aad eliicienpiu the CREST anti slavery
debate bci5re Tue war are ant necessarily
the best leaders nOw that the war has
abolished slaveFT. a4a7i
Besides his, there is a profound dis
trust OF party machinery which incliucs
tie LGiion to look Hopefully upon a
wholly Independent candidate. Nothing
has harlhcd BIZ. Chase as Presidential
candidate more than the universal con-
3 sciousness that. although Chef Justice
Of the United States, his heart was set
upon the Presidency. This also repe!ied
public sympathy from him in 1854 when
he was Secretary Of the Treasury, but
was also supposed TO be cognizant of
the PoIneroy novemen; 10 make him
Mr.. Lincoln's successor. The samc par
" machinery is understood to have been
arranged for. NJ. Chase's neUination
some months since; sad tic people are
tired Of a candidate who is imposed
upon them By politicians, although they
know by sad experience. that they can
not alwsvs help themselves. Here,
however, is a chance. There are many
and many Of the best men in tue
Republican party who are glad that at
length the people can impose a candi-
date upon the maaagers, aud compel
his nomination both because Of his
popularity and Of the general faith in
him.
We say Imposed upon the managers,
because party action is necessary to Gen.
Grants election. Should the RcpubIi-
can Convention nominate another canii-
date, the probability is that there would
be so formidable bolt thar the party
ascendency would be overthrown. The
DETECTION might not elect Grant, but it
would defeat any other candidate 1t is
therefore 20 be hoped thar the managers
vii be warned in time. They must
have sense enOagh TO see that in the
pTesent temper Of the public mind it is
their duty to follow an evident lead
They must not hope, by protesting TO
abide by tic nomination of Ibs Couse en-
ton, aud then working to determine
that nomination, that they can induce
the public mind 10 disfrust itself
I; is not a contest which should be car