The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-23
THE POLITICAL FIELD.
GRAND sCRJB RICE FOR THE WHITE
HOUSE.
Plottings-Senator Frank
Blair Trots out a New ca Candidate-one
of the Brown Family-Frank's Rea-
sons for Backing Brown-Greeley
Gulps Grant-A Sick Old Philosopher
The Labor keformers in the Field.

sons for Backing Brown-Greeie y
Gulps Grant-A Sick Old Philosopher
The Labor keformers in the Field.
rFRoA OUR own CORRESPONDENT
NEW YORK, August 10.
Frank Blair was in town the other day,
stopping at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and was
talking up Ben Gratz Brown, the liberal Gov
ernor of Missouri. for <neD Democratic nomlna-
ton for the Presidency. General Blair holds
that as both &c the great political parties are
badly split up upon matters of doctrine, the
next contest for President will really be be-
tween men. The Republicans disagree among
themselves about the tariff, about the manner
of paying of the national debt, about Santo
Domingo, out they appear to be agreed to ac-
cept Grant as their candidate In 1872. The
Democrats are at swords points about the 30
called "new departure" While the Northern
Democratic State conventions accept the stu
atien by large majorities in every case, there
are dlssentients in the party in every Northern
State, and large element OF the Southern
Democracy seem to be indisposed to abandon
their old position OF opposition to the amend
ments. It.is even doubtful II platform &C;
form would necessarily be weak.
Grants nomination by the Radicals Is as good
as made. The real business before the Democ.
racy now, according to Frank Blair, Is to put up
q man who can beat him. The Democrats
must get possession OF the government In
1872. Then party differences can be settled
afterwards. Blair believes that Brown pos.
sesses most of the elements of strength Of any
of the possible candidates against Grant.
Here are some Of them: l. BE will be ac-
ceptable to That large segment of the
Republican party dlsgusted with or. ashamed
of Grant, but unwilling yet to vote for pro-
nounced Democrat like Hoffman or Pendle-
for he comes Of famous old Jefersonian Demo-
cratic stock, started out in life as Democrat,
founded the ST. Louis Democrat, once the or
gan of the Democracy In Missouri,
and disagreed with the party only on the
slavery question. That being o dead issue,
there Is no difference now between his political
principles and those Of nlne-tenths Of the
members OF the Democratic party. They agree
upon the questions OF State rights. strict con-
struction Of the constitution, tariff for revenue
only, general amnesty, and civil service re-
form. 8. Being partially Of: German extrac-
ton, as his name indicates, the favorite OF the
Missouri Germans and the political and per-
command the entire German vote ofthe North
west, which holds the balance of power in the
States of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana Illinois,
Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska.
Senator SchurZ has assured Governor Brown
that he will take the stump for him If he Is
nominated. 4. He will poll the very best vote
We can get In the Mississippi Valley: s. He Is
tility and breadth, q fine writer and solid de-
batter, q man Of deep learning and ardent con-
victions, and conspicuous for the Jacksonian
qualities of self-relance, frmness and lntegri-
ty. 6e He is uniformly successful man. He
has never been beaten.
This is Brown, whom Blair would have for
the Democratic candidate for President. In
addition to the above points there may be said
of him, that he Is Kentuckian by birth, the
grandson OF that Senator Brown, Of Kentucky.
who was theSintimate friend and adviser OF
Jefferson, and for time president pro tenn. OF
the United States Senate; that he Is possessed
of ample wealth, and In per,onal appearance
Is quaint, knotty, little red.headed nan,
s'equal parts pluck and genius, whom the peo-
pie can see and huzZa for.n
Senator Blair tells his inquisltors that he is
working hard to get Gratz Brown accepted by
the Democracy. Coupled with strong Penn
sylvania Democrat on the ticket, so as to secure
the Keystone, his election will be certain. AS
the general is an indefatigable laborer, perhaps
he may succeed In arousing furor over his
iavorite. The principal trouble with the De-
nocracy Is certainly the want of man who
can command the individual support of the
party, while he draws votes from the opposl-
ton. 1t may be seriously asked whether what
is called the bourbon" element of the party
Brown. In reply, II is said that they voted for
Frank Blair, an old free-soller, three years
ago. without making wry face, and that II
the issue is simply Grant and Brown they will
have no choice but to accept the lesser OF the
s'evils." Brown, with Democratic admins
more of the man on horseback, with Butler.
the malignant Morton, (who announces his
belief In strong, consolidated governVeot,)
and the .'thteviDg carpet-baggers" behlnu him.
Poor Mr. Greeley Is In quandary. he hates
Grant, he wants the nomination for President
himself, and his better Judgment tells MIN tnat
the present occupant of the White House
{when he is there) has everything fixed for
controlling the convention. Greeley an
nounces In the IriSIne that he opposes the
denomination of the President because he be-
lieves in the single term principle. and be-
cause there are men in the party who would
run better. But conscious that be may have
reelection oil this incapable, corrupt. selfish,
vulgar and lazy man Is Infinitely preferable to
q Democratic triumph. This prostration at
the teet OF party Is lamentable in an individ-
ual who makes so many professions OF indie
pendence as Mr.. Greeley does. His future Is
dark indeed. He has nothing to hope from
the Democracy, and, If Grant Is reelected. he
is Just as much out in the cold, for the Presi-
dent treats him with the most exasperating
contempt, and cares nothing at all for his re.
Communications.
The third party, the Labor Reformers, win
certainly put candidate for President on the
track. The national convention Is to meet at
Columbus, Ohio, In October. fer the purpose OF
making nominatiun. 1t is understood that
the two prominent names canvassed among
the Labor Reform leaders In this connection are
those of George W. Julian, Of Indiana, and
Wendell Phillips. In spite OF the sanguine an
ticipations of Phillips. 1t Is difficult to see
where the material OF the "great party Of the
future" is coming from. The labor reform
movement is based on one idea only-the bet
tering of the condition of mechanics, or those
employed In labor by capitalists. AS the vast
majority of the inhabitants of the United
Statee are agriculturists, who have no very
strong reason to abandon present party asso-
Citations to aid party gotten up to assist
class only of the community, 1t Is evident that
the labor reform organization must be con-
fined to narrow dimensions.
There are three candidates besides Grant al
ready In the field for the Presidency, but 1t
must be admitted by their most sanguine sup
AZ 1u