Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-11-15
Gbe fireman.
MONTPELIER, VT,
WEDNESDAY. NOV. Is, 1871.
The Next Presidency.


little doubt on this subject before; but when
New York, which even the Republicans Of
that State did not expect to carry on the
State ticket, gives 10000 Republican major !
ty against 80, 600 majority for Hoffman last
yO.r. even the Democrats cannot fail to see
that they have mt the shadow Of hope Of
carrying the next presidential election; and I
the leading papers and men Of that party !
now practically confess as much.
While, however, 80 much may be regarded F.
settled, 1t is not yet settled whether there
will not be two Republican candidates for
president in the next campaign, and per
haps this will remain an open question until
after the regularly called Republican Ma
tional Convention, to be held, we believe, in
June next. The Boston Advertiser and
Springfield Republican are marked instances
Of newspapers in New England that oppose
Gen. Grant, denomination. Iii understood
that the New York Tri51me will also oppose
Grant. The Cincinnati Commercial and
Chicago IrIbuHe are prominent examples Of
a similar course among some influential
Western journals and there are, no doubt,
many more papers now practically uncom-
mitted to any one as candidate, whose editors
are satisfied that the Republican party con
tains many statesmen better qualified 70 b.
president than Gen. Grant. and yet who
look upon lis nomination as foregone con
clusion, and therefore iorbear to speak their
minds upon the subject.
1t seems 10 u, however, that the Republi-
can party is now strong enough if it can
ever be, or ever hope to be, to warrant it il
selecting for its candidates not simply the most
available men, but the best men Four
years ago availability was controlling con
sideration, and Gen. Grants popularity as
military chieftain was decisive element in
indicating him an available candidate
Few thoughtful men in the Republican party
would then have turned to Grant as the best
man, in training and fitness, for the office of
president, but it was agreed on al hands
that he would be a great deal better presi-
dent than HoTatiO Seymour or any other
Democrat. And it is about the same to-day
As between Grant and any Democrat who
could get the nomination IN Demo
cratic convention, Republicans could have
but one choice. They would all support
Grant, not as the best man in the Republi-
can party, but as greatly preferable to Sey-
mOur or Hoffman OF Hendricks or Pendleton.
But, speaking before any Republican has r
ceived the endorsement of national Rcpub-
lican convention, and while the nomination
therefore ought to be an open question, there
are great many Republicans who undoubt-
eddy believe that Colfax, or Senator Tlum-
bull, or Gen. Cox Of Ohio, or Charles
Francis Adams, or Secretary Boutwell,. or
Senator Sumner, or Horace Greeley,-aud
hundred others might be named without
hardly beginning on the list,-are, in almost
every respect, better men for president than
Gen. Grant And if they are, or if Repub-
licans think they are, why noI say go? IL
Gen Grant should die, the Republican party
would not die. Some other Republican
could be found who could perform the duties
of PRECEDENT, and who would bring to that
Office as much craftsmanship as large ac-
quaintance with public affairs, as thorough
knowledge of men, as clear and correct uu-
derstand.ng of the constitution and laws of
the land, as honest purpose - perform the
duties Of the Office with single eye to the
public good, and as strong belief ID Re
publican principles and Republican govern
ment as Gen. Grant has Gen. Grant is only
one man in the Republican party, and devo-
ton to Republican principles may, probably,
exist in a great many persons who think the
administration of public affairs would be
improved, to some extent at least BY the
choice of some other person than Grant for
next president.
In view of the admitted probability that
the next president will be, in any event,
Republican, Republicans certainly owe it
to themselves to urge the nomination Of the
best mar for the office. Loyalty to one man
is no test of true Republication it never
was and never can be. Republication has
now no excuse for not doing its best, both in
choice of men and in honest support of meas
ures. Those who believe Grant il the best
man for next president should, of course,
urge his nomination Those who believe ne
is not should oppose it. If Grant had Dot
been president, every one would at Cnce
recognize this as the true course . and his
having been president four years can give
him no right to be judged any more merci-
fully than we Judge others. 1t does, how
ever, make it probable that his nomination
will be urged by those who are interested
in other senses than for the public gOod-in
his continuing in Office, and therefore makes
it all the more an Imperative duty Of Repub-
Iicans to rigidly apply the test of merit .
him to other persons whose names may be
mentioned in connection with the position.
Having said so much, we frankly add that
we believe the Republican party contains some
men better fitted for the Office of president
than Gen Grant as it undoubtedly con
tains many men in public life a great deal
less fit for the office. We think Republicans
are now strong enough to take their best
man for president, and try the experiment.
Colfax, Boutwell,, Trumbull, among others,
we should unhesitatingly name as men OF
superior fitness for the position. General
Schenck has qualities which seem to US to
. admirably fit him for such an office as presi-
dent, iflarge acquaintance with public AFFAIR."
resolute WILL a sincere belief in civil ser
vice reform, practical good sense, a thor
ough knowledge of men, and severely trained
and strong intellectual power, can be regard
ed az good qualities in that officer.
But whoever the Republican candidate may
be, whether Grant or some one else, by al
means let the previous discussion of the
merits of men named in connection with the
Office be so frank and full, that the candi
date shall be nominated by the people be-