The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-04-30
Wanted, a Republican Candidate for
tho Presidency

lOO,9G7.
Wanted, a Republican Candidate for
tho Presidency
As long as GEORGE H. THOMAS was alive,
the Republicans had sure candidate for the
election of 1872. No other man could have
beaten him. The masses Of the people were
for him the Radicals honored and trusted
him, and the Conservatives would have raj
lied around him with enthusiasm. His nom
ination would have been equivalent to his
election.
Since the death Of this great man, the be-
wildered leaders of the Republican party
have been vainly scanning the roll of their
Presidential aspirants for name to I'LL the
place made void by the fall of THOMAS. The
list has become hackneyed and stale, and
bears the name of no statesman who has any
such hold upon the confidence of the people
rs the crisis demands. Some shallow politi.
clans believe that GRANT will be taken but no
disintercsted person with sense in his noodle
supposes that GRANT can be available. Gen.
GRANT himself, of course, does not think
anything is the matter with his prospects !;
and what dispenser of patronage, breathing
the incense of adulation, ever could be made
to see that his role was played out till the
fall Of the remorseless curtain shut out all
hope for the futureT FRANKLIN PIERCE,
rather a shrewd politician, aud not over san
guine, could not be made to believe that the
Democracy were not going TO rcnominate
him until the telegraph told him that his
vote in the Cincinnati Convention had
dwindled down to AZ. The fattery Of Office
holders and ofiice-beggers has added brains
great deal larger and clearer than GRANTS.
In this condition of affairs, a singular
change is coming over the minds Of the more
Intelligent and prudent members Of the Re
publican party. they are turning their eyes
back to their ancient champion SALMON p.
CuAsEl For year or two past Chief JUS
tice CHASE has been counted as a Democrat.
In the impeachment of ANDREW JOHNSON he
broke with the extreme Radicals, and there
by did the Republican party service which
all sensible men among them will now ac
knowledge. But this does not constitute the
reason why thoughtful Republicans are led
10 inquire whether ii would not be better to
make friends with Judge CHASE once again,
with view to running him for President in
1872. The fact is, that on the essential doc
irine OF Republicanism, as it stands to-
day, there is no man in the country
pounder than Judge CHASE. He is a
Republican, and not q Democrat. We
mean, OF course, the great principle Of uni
versal suffrage as set forth in the Fifteenth
Amendment Opposition to that principle
considerable body of clamorous, stupid
old Bourbons, who have nicknamed them.
selves Democrats, propose to make the main
issue in the next Presidential campaign and
who so fit to lead the Republicans in such
fight as SALMON p. CHASE?
But even this does not constitute the most
powerful among the motives which are lead
ing 80 many intelligent Republicans to look
to the Chief Justice as possible candidate
for 1872 The great reason is that Judge
CHASE can certainly be elected. This
renders the movement we are speaking of
one of the most interesting ever developed in
ppr political history 1t may not result in
NE actual nomination of the Chief Justice by
DE Republican party, because there are plen-
" of Bourbons in that organization rs well
as among the Democracy. But it affords a
most impressive illustration Of the present
rather chaotic state of politics among us, and
of the scarcity of commanding talent and
popular availability, that any number Of Re
publicans should perceive that they cannot
possibly be so safe with any other candidate
rs with the Chief Justice