The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-03-31
GRANTS REGENERATION.
Opinions and SpecuIatiOns Of Politicians
in Washington.

WASHINGTON, March ga great |
deal of quiet discussion is going on
among prominent Republican politi- |
clans here upon the question of who is
to be the nominee of the party next
year for the Presidency. Last Decem-
Der, when Congress met, there was but
one opinion upon the subject, and that
was that Gen. Grant was sure of re-
nomination, and more sure of election
than any other man who could be nam
ed. Since then, and especially within
the last few weeks, a marked change has
taken place, and it is now apparent that
a strong opposition to Gen. Grant ex-
ists, which includes number ofSenators
and Representatives of large influence
and national reputation. This opposi-
ton is no doubt caused in some part by
recent political events, but it results,
also, TO large extent, from the mani
festation of the latent hostility that has
been accommodating, during the two years
of the present administration, and which
naturally shows itself about a year be-
fore the time for holding the nominal
ing convention.
The chief argument of those who OPP
pose the renomination of Gen. Grant is
that defeat would be certain if he should
be the nominee. They maintain that
lican party can only be healed by the
nomination of new man, against whom
no portion of the party entertain feel
| ings of GOODNESS or animosity, and that,
in view of the increased strength, vigor,
and confidence of the Democrats, any
other course would be suicidal.
To this the friends of Gen. Grant re-
| ply that a President always becomes
most unpopular about the beginning of
the third year Of his term, owing to the
disappointments of office-seekers and
the Quarrels of politicians who strive to
control the distribution of patronage ;
that this unpopularity is chiefly manifes-
ted at Washington, and is no true index
of the sentiment of the people and that,
from now on, Gen. Grants popularity
will steadily increase, so that he will be
nominated next year without serious
opposition, as unquestionably the
strongest candidate that could be select
ed. They refer to Mr.. Lincoln's exper-
fence as proof of their position. In
1868 there were scarcely dozen Repub-
licans in Congress who favored Lin
coins denomination, and yet, in 1864
the tide had so turned in his favor thai
there was no question of any other can
didate. -
The anti-Grant men reply that Lin
coins case was the exception 10 the rule
in politics, caused by the fact that the
people were averse to making a change
in the midst of war. Every other Presi
dent, thew argue, since the time of Jack.
son, steadily lost his popularity from
The beginning to the end of his admins
tration, and after the denomination and
terrible defeat of Van Buried, neither
, party ever ventured to re-elect a Presi
dent until 1864, when the war set aside
. | for the time all established DOlitica
axioms. They insist that when parties
are nearly evenly balanced, as at pres.
ent, it would be impossible to re-elect
any President in face of the jealOusies
. disappointments, and animos Inc
necessarily causes in the course of his
! administration, be he ever so wise, ever
if he has been so successful as to ge
= through his term without creating any
divisions in his party upon questions o.
public policy.
The opposition to Gen. Grant is not
united upon any candidate, and nc
; names are mentioned except in a sug
: gestive way. Some think it would bt
well to take public man of undoubte6
strength and force of character like
Blaine, Schenck, Colfax, Boutwell,, Nor
ton, Wilson, or a dozen others who
might be mentioned; others, that sue
cess would be more certain with mill
tary candidate of great popularity like
Gen. Sherman; others, that splendid
war record, followed by a successful
career in politics, would make such 6
man as Gen. Logan the strongest posi-
BILE candidate; and still others, that 6
candidate who has kept out of the re.
cent broils of politics, but who ha:
marked talents aud high reputation
, would best insure success.