The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-22
sPIRIT OF THH PRESS.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics-compiIed Every
DAY for the Evening Telegraph
GENERAL GRANT AND THE REPUBLI-
CAN PARTY.

OAN HAhI D.
From the ~ Y. Herald.
The ratification of the fifteenth amend
ment marks the opening of a new chapter in
American politics. 1t puts an end to 'the
almighty niger" as political issue, and
brings again into the foreground ''the
almighty dollar" Defeated on every point
in their long struggle for the old pro-slavery
Constitution, with its distinctions of caste
and color, the Democratic party at length
submits to the new Constitution of universal
liberty aud the civil and political equality of
all citizens of all colors. Successful in every
point on this question to the crowning en-
reimbursement of the black race, the Repub-
lican party has fulfilled its appointed mission.
Thus the issues of the past have become dead
issues, and upon the new issues of the day
the Democracy with their old party shackles
thrown off, have fair field aud an inviting
prospect before them.
The general issue now between the two
parties is Grants administration. In new
form it is the old conflict of the outside party
against the psrty in power. Essentially the
Democratic party against General Grants
administration is fighting the old battle of
the old Wing party against General jackson.
The same sweeping charges that were made
against the corruptions, spoliations, extrava-
gances abuses, despotc usurpations and
blunders of ignorance of Jacksons admins
tration by the outside Wings are now made
against Grant and his party by the outside
Democrats. But as the popularity of jack
eson and of his administration was equal to
all emergencies, SO, we think, will be the
popularity of Grant and his policy. jackson,
beginning with Calhoun and his confederates,
was kept very busy by mutineers and faction
lists in his party camp; but in his Cabinet,
or out of his Cabinet, he cut them adrift, and
by his rigid discipline and iron will he made
himself the dictator and the idol of his
.1xl.. tloH sc1 Ii, H.
same thing. Jackson was resolute but i'm
pulsive, imperious, excitable, and boisterous.
Grant is firm, but cool, deliberate, amiable,
and reticent. jackson, in his squabbles with
party malcontents and rebels, frequently had
the whole country in a stew. Grant clips off
the head of a Cabinet or Foreign Minister,
and the whole country is puzzled for weeks
In solving the mystery.
We have seen enough, however, of General
Grant in the Cabinet to satisfy us that, as in
the field, tenacity to his fixed purpose is his
great distinguishing quality. That strong
common sense, that clear insight into the
characters of men and into the weak points
of the Rebellion, which marked his prosecu-
tion of the war are manifest in his conduct
of the Government He has still great
purpose to accomplish and his own plans
for reaching it, and must have his
own men about him. In this view
the removal of Minister Motley, the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Murphy as Collector of
this port and the removal of certain officials
who were the followers of Carl Shurz in Mis-
souri,, signify that as the head of the Republi-
can party General Grant does not intend to
be the mere servant of Senator Sumner, Sena-
tor Fenton, Senator Shurz or any other
would-be party dictator. In a word, General
Grant intends himself to be master of the
situation, and as no Republican competitor is
though of to dispute his claims to the sue
cession, the party, to save itself, will stick to
Grant and silence the factionists till his re-
election is secured; but then will begin in
earnest the plots and counterplots of the
aspiring leaders of the party for the inside
track.
Against General Grant in 1872 the prospect
OF Democratic victory is very slim. In the
chapter of accidents the chances may be i'm
proved; but from all the facts and signs
before us Grant is good for another term
against any Democratic competitor With
New York to build upon, however, the Demo-
cracy have foundation upon which they may
raise the overlapping party in 1876. Tam
many, with "the almighty dollar, has secured
and is sure of holding New York. Money con-
quers everything. The coalition of the Tam
many ring and the Erie ring is ire sstible
in the State, and the Democratic managers
here have only to put their heads together
and ma ke joint stock alliance of
all the great railway and telegraph in
terests of the county in order to gain the
White House. The New York Central and the
Erie are in Democratic hands, and they, to-
gether with Tammany, are masters of New
York. The Pennsylvania Central and its ap-
pendages are in Republican hands, and Penn
sylvania is Republican. The Baltimore aud
Ohio Railway Company are Democratic and
so goes Maryland. The great Pacific road is
under Republican management, and it is
building up Republican States and Territories
from Nebraska and Kansas to the Pacific
But still, with New York as their base of
operations, Jay Gould and Vanderbilt may
form of all our great railway and telegraph
companies a Democratic coalition for the
Presidency which will be hard to beat in
1872 and completely victorious in 1876. If
Congress does not assume the control of these
railways this is the way whereby these
railways may get the control of President and
Congress.
The Democratic party, it may be said, is
opposed to all monopolies. Cannon Mark
how it has flourished in Jersey under Camden
and Amboy, and how it now hourishes in
New York under Tammany, Erie aud the
Central. Money is king 1t was money
even when it said "Cotton is king" The
Southern cotton monopoly and oligarchy,
through their money, ruled the Democratic
party and the country, with only break OF
two, from Jackson to Buchanan. Andy
johnson has declared that in the national
bondholders a Northern has taken the place
of the old Southern oligarchy. But the
bondholders are, many of them, Democrats.
although sold Buck" wouldn't invest dol.
lar in our government securities. Still the
national bondholders are power in the land,
but they are as nothing compared with the