Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-29
THE RADICALS PERPLExEp.

The Radicals are sadly perplexed
They feel that old Ben Wade, who is
forcing himself upon the party for some
position, is a load which they viii find
exceedingly difficult to carry, should he
receive the Chicago nomination for the
first or even the second office. The
other day they were discussing the pro-
priety of prolonging the impeachment
trial until after the Chicago Convention,
in order to keep Wade out of the White
House as long as possible. This scheme
finds favor among those on one side who
are anxious to be placed on the ticket
with Grant, and exacts violent oppose
ton from others who desire to make
Wade President, and to have him also
nominated at Chicago as Vice President.
But this is not the only perplexing de-
yelopment that alarms the Radicals la
his letter from Washington of the 24th
inst, Mr. Halstead, editor of the Cincin~
natl Commercial, says:
"Reeent elections do not indicate that
Impeachment has helped the Republicans.
Beyond doubt they have most serious task
before them. Every inch of the field will
be bitterly contested. | may say that this
is the conviction of those best informed
and most deliberate in forming conclusions;
and | must add that this class of men be-
lieye that it will not be safe to depend upon
the popularity of Grant to carry through
an unpopular Vice Presidential candidate,
and platform that is peremptory upon
points concerning which there are honest
differences Of opinion among Republicans.
As to financial policy, no party has one.
All is chaos ia that department, and the
Republicans are at the disadvantage of
being under the necessity of shouldering
the largest share of the responsibility for
the prevailing confusion. | will be more
particular, and say that there is feeling
among those most concerned Tor the sue
cess Of the Republican party that it would
be dangerous TO put Ben Wade upon the
ticket with Grant, and disastrous to give
any countenance to the obstinate and extor-
tionate factionists who contend that the first
principle of Republican government is the
maintenance Of prohibitory tariff, so
that moEopOlists in the manufacture Of
necessaries can regulate, without fear Of
competition, the price of their products
that is TO say, can tax the consumers at
pleasure"
Mack the well-known Washington
correspondent of the Cincinnati Com
merciol, writes on the Oath inst as fol-
lows:
No election held this spring, or since
last fall, has produced such an effect upon
the politicians of the Northwest, as the
recent city election of Chicago. General
Grant looked to it with great interest, and
had scouts on newspaper row" on the
evening Of its occurrence, TO bring him the
latest and most reliable news, with which,
when received, he was not at all encour-
aged. Mr.. Judd, who represents the Chi
cago district in the House, had given il
out to all his friends that his constituents
would roll up a tremendous majority for
Grant and the Republican party, but yes
terday he had discovered that the election
was conducted solely on local issues, and
that neither Grant nor Republicanism had
anything to do with it,
"fhe Chicago election proves the truth
of what have repeatedly said az TO the
strength of the working mems movement.
People have laughed at it as a humbug,
bat when election day comes round it turns
the laugh the other way. Pittsburg, Gin
cinnati, Philadelphia and Chicago have
already demonstrated that there is a bal
ance of power in the working mems move
ment, and that the tendency at present is
to use it in behalf of the Democratic party.
Most ofthe men who belong to those or
CARNATIONS have heretofore voted the Re
publican ticket. They have kept the Re
publicans in an immense majority in Pitts.
burg and Philadelphia, especially, until
recently. They have more political power
than the Grand Army of the Republic. and
are now certain to use it for what they con-
ceive to be their best advantage. They
number six hundred thousand voters.
Fiity-seven Thousand votes, properly dis
trlbuted, would have given the last general
election TO the Democrats, Notwithstanding
the Republicans have more than a two
thirds majority in each house. The Radi-
Gals will do well to take notice of these lit
tie circumstances, and govern themselves
accordingly, under the administration Of
sturdy old Ben"
These are indeed perplexing signs to
the Radicals, and they are looking upon
them with dismay.