The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-24
HE ISN'T A CANDIDATE.
From the N. Y. Sun.

From the N Y. SUM-
The canvass for the next Presidency is
going on with extraordinary vigor in all parts
of the country; and one of the most interest
ing features of the agitation is the reply of
Chief Justice Chase to the SIN which was
published in the HeraJd of Saturday last. We
had told the Chief Justice that in order to
enter the Presidential race with reasonable
prospect of success he must at once resign
the Office he now holds. The people of the
United States, we informed him, do not like
to think that the occupant of so elevated and
50 sacred q place as the bench of the Supreme
Court is operating for the Presidency; and
they will never approve the nomination of
candidate, no matter how great his moral and
personal gifts, If he comes into the arena with
the judges gown still hanging about him. Let
Judge Chase resign now, and his hopes of get
ting the Democratic nomination in 1872 and
of being elected President, will be reasonable;
but if he remains Chief Justice much longer
he cannot be President.
Now this is tirst-rate advice, and every SEN
sible politician in the country will say so.
But the Chief Justice cannot make up his
mind to take it, and beats about the bush in
stead of shooting the bird. In truth, it takes
as much courage to lay aside the dignity and
grandeur which surround Chief Justice as
1t took for Caesar to cross the Rubicon: but
it is just as impossible for Judge Chase to be-
come President without resigning as it would
have been for Caesar to become master of
Rome without marching across that little
stream. But ambition without courage is a
fruitless ambition. When in other DAYS
General Grant used to play draw poker, he
never feared to face the music, and he almost
always won; but the man who dares not bet
his bottom dollar to win hundred or a thou
sand, had better not try his luck at that great
A,,,a arip I11Ct hinf T,,t,T,
who wants to be President but hesitates to
risk the Chief Justiceship on it, is likely to
remain Chief Justice until somebody else is
certain to be chosen President.
Judge Chase says, through the article of
the Herald, that he has written no letter as a
bid for the Presidency, ''and that he care
fully avoids entering into political matters OF
controversies" But he is for a universal
amnesty to the Southern Rebels, so that ''the
wounds of the war may be healed AS the
first result of this measure would certainly
be that the Democracy would carry all the
Southern States this is very good policy fol
that party, and the Chief Justice proves him
self a shrewd political manager by advocating
it. But its successful adoption will not make
him President if he persists in remaining Chief
Justice.
There is good deal of smartness, how
| ever, in giving out that he is not candidate
That is the next best thing to resigning, but
it is not enough, 1t is well for men like Mr.
Seward, Mr.. Colfax, Mr.. John Quincy Adams
| Mr. Pendleton, Mr.. Hoffman, Governor
Morton, Senator Sumner, or any other pro
fessed politician, to protest that they are no
candidates; and our advice to them is to sticl
to it with all their might as long as they can
; But Judge Chase is not on the same plane
with them, and cannot be SO long as he holds
his seat on the bench of the Supreme Court
That fact is an obstacle to his success; and il
he is as wise as he is ambitious-and it is al
honorable ambition-he will at once clear i
out of the way. What is the use of his david
ling away his time in the dull formallties
Court? His proper place is among the ac
tive statesmen of the country, and the soone
he returns to it the better.