The Portland daily press., 1871-09-19
sour Later ErankIin.o

cans and IS Democrats.
-s "Our Later ErankIin.o
AT the present time there are but two men
besides Grant who are SO much as mentioned
as possible Republican candidates fer the
Presidency. These are Schuyler Colfax and
Horace Greeley. 1t is not worth while to
TAX oil the former since he has already ex-
pressed himself so fully and with so much
emphasis as friendly to Grants denomination
that any action inconsistent with these pro-
fessions would place him clearly in the posi-
tion of an insincere and treacherous polti
clan. He has TOO often repeated his declara
ton of an intention to retire from public life
at the expiration of the term of his present
Office to make it possible for him to yield to
the opportunities of his friends. No doubt
there are many who, astonished at the ex-
tIaordinary spectacle of public man fleeing
from office, who will yell "Colfax" till they
are hoarse between this time and next June.
But the Vice-Presideht, cannot, as an honor
able man, crafty them by entering the lists.
The other name mentioned in connection
with the Presidency is that of Horace Gree
ley-''our later Franklin" as Whittier has
well called hin i'll recent poem. We take
II that Mr.. Greeley is candidate. Though he
mas never owned the soft impeachment in
express terms, both be and the Tribune have
carefully abstained from anything that could
be construed as denial. Besides, Mr. Greeley
is vigorously agitating the subject CT limita-
ton Of the tenure of the Presidential office TO
asingle terrh-an agitation which just now
must Indicate hostility to Grants renomina
ton rather than any special depth of convic-
ton as TO the general necessity of the reform.
There are several things in Mr.. Greeley's
isvor. He is one of the greatest men that
luis cou-try now has, or ever had. He has
the editorial control of the most influential
newspaper ever published on this continent
and by means OF that mighty engine he has
zone more than any other single individual,
10 educate bis fellow citizens IN the princi-
pies OF radical, progressive democracy. From
the first he has been identified with the part,
whose nominee he aspires to be, and no
mans influence in securing its triumph has
been more potent or more constantly excited
than his. More important still, he is an hon
est man. We are aware that there are differ
ent opinions on this point, but the pre-.
ponderance of evidence is SO strongly
on the side of the man who has
been foremost in the cause of hi
man progress for the third of century. and
who during that time has enjoyed the warm.
est respect and friendship of the purest, most
cultivated and most able men and women of
the age, that denial of his moral worth is
hardly rational act.
Having thus done Gen. Grants chief oppo
nent full justice in eonceding to him all those
great and good qualities that are claimed for
him, we can with the more freedom state his
Disqualification for the nomination to which
he aspras. If nominated, Mr.. Greeley could
not by any possibility be elected His very
eminence here places him at disadvantage
Such long and conspicuous career as his ex-
cited too many prejudices and animosities,
personal and political, to make his candidacy
o practicable The fact that during all the time
the Republican party has had tue control in
New York his friends have been unable to
place him in any position of honor or trust is
extremely pertinent and cannot be overlook
ed. Indeed he is so prominent and we'll
known parsonage that the Republican party
may he divided with respect to him into too
factions--the friends and the enemies of Gree
ley. The party is not by any means strong
enough to divide and still be able to conquer.
Nor do we advocate Grants denomination
solely on the ground of his greater availability.
He is better President than Mr.. Greeley
would make. No man who holds extreme
views on the subject of the tariff either can be
or is fit to be President Mr.. Greeley is the
chief of the extreme protectionists A ma
jority OF the American people and even of the
Republican party are strongly against him on
this issue. The Radicals are divided on the
tariff question, and would not give a unani-
nous support to any man who makes this
secondary matter of paramount Importance
An out and out free trader, who would even
the party as well. If there is a discernible
tendency either way it is not in the direction
in which the editor of the Tribune would lead.
but in that of such notifications of the tariff
as will best subserve the interest of the treas
ury without reference to any other considera
ton. The genuine revenue reformers, (not
the political malcontents and disorganizers
who call themselves "Revenue Reformers'')
are in the ascendant.
Nor is Mr.. Greeley likely to obtain very
attentive hearing for his sudden outcry in ia
vor of the one term principle. The moment
is most in suspicious one tor such reform,
If reform it be. 1t is one of those times when.
if such a constitutional limitation existed,
there would be movement in favor of its re-
peal, and when, if the limitation was one rest
ing on precedent alone, it would be swept
away without hesitation, in favor of the OBJ
ject OF the peoples choice.
Gen. Grant is deservedly one of the most
popular men in America, and is undoubtedly
destined to a reelection. And when the will
OF the nominating convention is made known
we have no doubt that the Tribune and its
editor as in 1868, will pursue the entirely
consistent, honorable and patriotic course of
supporting, as against the nominee of a hos
tile party, the candidate who has been NOM
mated by its own party against their earnest
pre- test. Indeed we have tho promise of such
conduct in advance.