The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-05-11

opinion, the most popular nominee
and the mar best fitted for the duties
of the Office is that able statesman,
pure citizen, popular gentleman, and
sincere Republican, Schuyler COlfax,
Speaker-ef the House of Representa-
tives.
Mr.. Colfax's popularity as a eandi-
date is the first and most noticeable
element OF his strength. He a Of
such happy, genial and catholic EN-
permanent, free from all e~nvyings,
j~ealousies and resentments, and Is so
cOnspicu0usly generous and noble Of
character. that he has alRost no enc
mics We doubt if any man has been
as long and as prominently in public
life and has made so few foes as
Schuyler Colfax. Nor is he one Of
these negative men, without enemies
because he is without friends. On
the contrary, he has hosts Of the lat
ter. And Throughout the country his
name is one which Is sure TO excite
the enthusiasm Of the masses. His
reputation is by no means local, but
he Is known and loved throughout the
entire Republic. There is a personal
magnetism about the man, an evident
sincerity and purity Of purpose, a no.
bility of life, which are the surest pass
portsato popular esteem. Colfax pos
sesses in a large degree the qualities
which made Lincoln 80 popular. We
believe that he could bring more votes
to the ticket. the Union through, than
any other nominee. Curtin could
perhaps rally more votes in Pennsyl-
vania, Buckingham In Connecticut,
Hamlih in Maine, but CoI.axl IS every
where strong.
But Mr.. Colfax has other merits
than this Of mere popularity, or We
should not urge him. He is, all
things considered. the fttest man for
the nomination who has been promi-
nently mentioned in connection with
it. He Is, 10 The first place, the ablest
presiding officer IN America. He
possesses q readiness. a courtesy. a
tact, an experience, a perfect famili-
arity with parliamentary law which
fit him TO preside over the first legis-
lative body Of the nation. In
this respect be contrasts strongly with
Mr.. Wade, whose utter ignorance Of
parliamentary law Is not redeemed by
any especial tact or courtesy Of man
ner. Then, too, Mr.. COlfax possesses
In a high degree the executive facul-
ty and experience which would emf
qualify him to discharge the
of the Presidency, should any
unfortunate event remove the Presi-
dent himself. Like Mr.. Lincoln. he
is not a great genius, but Mr.. Lin
administration has taught us
how much better is practical common
combined with patriotism and
purity of motives, than the most brill
liant genius. Again, Mr.. Colfax's
sunny geniality OF temper, his fund
Of humor, and his utter lack of jeal-
ousies and resentments, would make
him singularly successful and popular
as an administrative officer. HIS /
purity, too, is a guarantee that
no corruption or m~alfeasance In
Office would be tolerated by him lEl
The only objection to Nj. Colfax is
his locality. 1t is said that as Gen.
Grant is from the West the Vice
President ought to be az eastern
man. And were the East
upon any worthy man,
We should urge his unanimous Domi-
as a tribnte to that section Of
the country. But it is not. New
England presents three candidates,
aamlin, Wilson and Buckingham
New York proposes Fenton; New
Jersey suggests Frelinghuysen Penn
sylvania, kCurtin. Either Of these
gentlemen would be a strong candi-
late. But the East is not united up
IA any of them. Indeed, we believe
hat there are more Colfax men 10
he States east of Ohio than there are
men Ia sympathy with any one or any
.wo Of these candidates, and that Mr..
after the first ballot for Vice
President, will receive the vote of
most Of these States. AS the East,
therefore, insists upon no special can
lidate, we hope that the Vice Pres
dental nomination viii be bestowed