The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-12-08
The Elements OF Opposition 70
General Grant.

ponents Of his administration consist OF
the whole Democratic party and fully
onc.klh Of the Republican party,
The. only difficulty is TO combine these
into one solid phalanx The defeat
Of Grant and the deliyerancc of the
country from another four years OF
his imbecile and disgracefGl admins
tration, depend upon the possibility Of
perfecting a cordial union among hts
opponents,
TO accomplish this some things
must he done, and other things TO be
forborna Among the things 90 be
forhorns aud deprecated are these
two: First, appeals 10 mere party
spirit and party prejudice. IL Dene'
Gratis should raise their party flag toe
high, and flaunt il too dehantly IN the
faces of Grants Republican enemies,
they would set bad and suicidal ex'
ample. Honest Republicans can en-
ter into such o union as We propose
only by breaking their present par
ties; and Democrats arc bound, in
hOnor and magnanimity. TO coneede
as much Is they ask. We cannot, ia
conscience and consistency, ask Others
10 make greater sacrifices for the COM
mon good than wo are willing TO make
ourselves. OF course. il would DO an
insult 10 either side 20 expect il TO
make any sacrifice Of principle; but
il, on comparison of views, the anti
Grant men are found 10 agree ON es-
sentials, it Is the plainest dictate of
patriotism and public duty 10 waive
minor points Of difference and NOT al.
low party punetillo TO stand in the
way of success.
Secondly, another thing to be for
borne is any obstiuaey of preference
for favorite candidates for President.
For our part, We do not much care
from which branch Of the combined
opposition to Grant the candidate is
taken. provided he be one who can
give the needed tone 10 our public SER
vice. Let il be understood that, in
this respect, both wings of the reform
party stand on the same footing in
every respect, and that there will be
on each side equal willingness and
zeal 10 support n Presidential candi-
date selected form the other. II is for
theinterestofa all to nominate the strong
est man, irrespectiveaWf geographical
position or former party connections.
We hope the friends Of no real reform
or will be discouraged from pressing
his candidacy when the proper time
comes. To lead such a movement is
nm object of honorable ambition
to any statesman. The more as.
pirants the better, provided the sup
porters Of each will cheerfHlly submit
to the decision Of national conven.
ton after a fair comparison Of claims.
A multitude Of competitors will be at
tended with two advantages it will
stimulate and diffhse effort previous to
the nomination and il will develop
the popular strength Of leading eandi
dates, thereby aiding the new Presi-
dent TO compose n strong and popular
administration. Let all candidates,
whether inside or outside the Demo
cratic party, have fair show in pre-
liminary canvass. Our chief business,
meanwhile, is to settle the principles
and issues on which the combination
against Grant shall be made.
Without undertaking to give n COM
plete catalogue, we will indicate q few
Ofthe elements Of opposition to Gener-
nj Grant:
i. The crusade against corruption iR
Office. This one Of the most hopeful
issues for O combined movement of
honest Democrats and honest Republi-
cans. Ii has been well started in sue
cessful campaign in which Democrats
and Republicans have served together
with cooperating zeal. The over
throw of Tammany il N preliminary
engagement, which introduces the gen.
eral battle against official corruption.
1t has demonstrated the possibility Of
sinking party differences in joint ef-
fcst to expose and dethrone fraud and
punish its perpetrators. A movement
Of this kind, which is prompted by an
awakened public conscience, cannot
stop with a mere local triumph. Ii
viii spread throughout the country
like n devouring conAagrntion, con-
suming the nepotism Of Grant and
the corruption Of his subordinates as
efFectually as ii has the abuses Of the
Tammany Ring. This is one plank
of the platform on which all the OPP
ponents Of General Grant can stand
together.
III. Amnesty 10 the South. Liber-
al, honest Republicans can unite with
Democrats on this ground as cordial
ly as i'm opposition to official corrup-
ton. The rascality which has been
brought to light in the Southern State
governments 10 absolutely astounding
and il has chiefly resulted from the
vindictive, ostracizing policy which
has excluded the property-holders
and intelligent classes Of the South
from their due influence in local poll
lies. A victorious crusade against
corruption necessarily includes the
snly radical cure for the hideous NAL
administration which prevails in the
Southern States.
III. The Yerenue reform or free
IrGdc nlOremeRt. This is one Of most
important bases Of the new political
For the last three years,
revenue reform has been making great |
progress among thinking Republicans,
in the West. The most |
widely circulated Republican journals |
in Chicago and Cincinnati are ardent
advocates offree trade, and free trade,
with amnesty for It's ally, carried Mis-.
souri against Grant and elected Gratz
Brown last year. The revenue reform |
Republicans and the Democrats can
act together on this great
issue.
Nv. These and some other bases
form the concurrent and harmopious
political aclionof all good men.
Such O new movement as we propose
affords the best promise ofenlisting.the
German vote in opposition to Gener-
Il Grant. The majority Of our Ger
man citizens, both in the East and the !
West, favor purity Of administration
and universal amnesty. Among the