The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1871-12-09
How to Defeat Gen. Grant.
BY ELIZABETH CADY STANTON,
The Mother of Bossier Parish, La.

To the Editor of The Golden Age:
1t has been evident for some tine
that the leading political parties,
having done there work, must
soon give place to new organiza-
tious with progressive principles
and live issues OIL which to rouse
tie enthusiasm of the people. 4
The Democratic party virtually
died with slavery, and the specif-
ic work of che Republican party
ended with the adoption of tue
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
mentS. - 80 ..-----
And now, so alarmed have the
people become with the barefac.d
and stupendous frauds and cor
ruptions in high places, that the
test of the Presidential campaign
of 1872 will be honesty against
corruption. 1t is generally sup
posed that the result OF the Octo-
Der and November elections will
rencminate Gen. Grant in 1877,
although a majority of the people
are opposed to his reelection. No
man can be nominated who tan
unite the opposition.
To carry the north, be must
have q good war record, and have
been sound on the slavery ques-,
ton before the "new DEPARTURE
and such a Inan could not carry
the border or southern states. Ell
Now, if the opponents of Gen.
Grant really wish 10 defeat him,
and are willing to show their
hands, they can do it without sac
riticing there parties or principles.
In our present mode OF electing a
President, lac does not represent
a majority ofthe people of the
country, nor often even MAORI
ty of the voters OF ais own party.
There are many voters, and not
a few politicians, who are ignoraat
of Unconstitutional provisions for
electing "a President, and they
would be very much surprised to
wake up some morning, and find
the old adage "yOu can't tell till
after election changed to lyon
can't tell after election The
electoral college may prove a rock
on which the ship of state will
some day be foundered. The
members of the electoral college
have by the Constitution other
powers than simply to register the
will OF there respective parties. T.
1t has becOme with us suci "A
mere form that, instead of choosing
our most distinguished mes as
electors, we elect some of the most
Insignificant and unprincipled,
and if you can buy a legislature,
why not i'll a close election two or
three Presidential eleetors. 50
But to the plan! 1t il to run a
fusion electoral ticket without
platform, a candidate in every
/, state composed of the most hon.
est, influential, and distinguished
statesmen who are opposed to
Gen. Grant and corruption. &.
This is the only way the oppo-
nents OF Gen. Grant throughout
the country can unite for his over
throw. Weak. kneed Republicans
need not lear the result, as the
Senate of the United States will
be Republican during the next
Presidential term. e.. =
Would citizens of the Enpire
Stale feel alarmed if represented
in the electoral college by such
men as Sanford Z. Church, Horace
Greeley, HoratIo Seymour, or Gen.
, Hamilton Ward! .-r
Would Missouri he disgraced
by such men rs b. Gratz Brown
, or ex-senator Henderson! ~
Would New England suffer
from the Judgment of such men
as Gov. Claflin, John Quincy
Adams, j. Lathrop Motley, or
James e. Englishi
, Could Ohio be misrepresented
, by William +. Groesbeck or Gen.
, j. ID. Cox9 Sucn a ticket would
sweep both South aud North as
clean as the "Reformers" swept the
, Tammany Ring in the last cleo.
! ton.
These electors thus chosen.
3 could meet in general convention.
: and nominate President; then
1 assemble in the capitals of there
: respective states, and cast there
t votes for the nominees of the cob.
g vention. Thus wOuld the spirit of
=, the Constitution as laid down by
). the Fathrs be vindicated, and the
O prpsi1anti.l chair n, o<.oun;ol L.