The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-07
Greuiug Telegraph
SATURDAY, JANUARY Z, 1871.
THE pREsIDENTIAL SUCOESsTO

Il
The quidnancS are already beginning to
wonder who will be the next candidates for
the Presidency, and partisan chiefs who uu-
dertake to lead the public by the nose are
already setting on foot various schemes to
affect the future tenancy of the White House.
1t is generally understood that Grant is
candidate for the succession, although we are
not aware that he has definitely announced
this purpose, and it is commonly believed that
he is gradually waking up to the necessity of
displaying some sort of skill and judgment in
his appointments and in his policy in further
ance of his Presidential aspirations. The
highest honors of the republic came to him
in 1868 as reward for his bril-
liant military services. No President
since Washington made less effort
to clutch them, and they we're truly a
free-wil offering of grateful people. Even
at the present day there is disposition in
many quarters to regard his denomination as
a matter of course, and no formidable COM
petitor for the Republican nomination has
yet been put forward. But it is by TO means
certain, and, indeed, it is scarcely possible,
in view of the growls and discomfort in vari-
ous quarters, that Grant will be suffered to
walk over the course in the next National
Republican Convention. Although the anita
gonism within the Republican party has not
yet taken definite shape, it gradually grows
more and more formidable, and it will pro-
badly become we'll developed during the
p esent session of Congress. One thing is
painfully evident, that the av ailable strength
of the Republican party is rapidly diminish
mn tot off Skofn 1aaIc
into the Democratic line; and il
the tide is not quickly turned, the Democratic
party will inevitably regain national ascen-
dancy. While they go on capturing one
stronghold after the other-politically revo-
lutionizing the South and making fearful in
roads in the neutrality-suspicious. dissensions
multiply distracting new issues arise, the
revenue reforms threaten division in one
quarter, the civil service men revolt in
another, the advocates of free Cuba fight on
one line, and the antagonists of st. Domingo
unlimber their batteries. Two years hence
the controlling question in the Republican
councils will be whether, in view of the con-
dition of things then existing, Grant will be
the most available nominee; and the answer
to this question will largely depend upon the
IUture course OF the ADMINISTRATION. AS
matters stand now, it has made q consider
able number of enemies too powerful to be
despised, while it has not been specially sue
cessful in clutching to itself, with hooks of
steel, a very large proportion of the infuen-
tial Republican politicians. Grant stands in
no danger whatever of being Johnsonized or
Tylerized, but he has incurred considerable
risk of vigorous opposition in the next Re-
publican National Convention.
The Democracy, excluded from power for
ten long years, and conscious that their re-
peated defeats are due in large measure to
their own blunders, were never so vigilaut,
cautious, and prudent as at the present
moment. A great deal of adversity is at last
infusing little common sense into all their
movements. Intensely anxious to win in
1872, and hopeful of success, they are at the
same time deeply impressed with the neces-
sity of presenting to the American people
moderate platform and an available candidate.
They will keep strict watch and ward over
their extremists, guard carefully against new
insults to the patriotic sentiment of the
nation, fan skilfully all the embers of Re-
publican discomfort, and, if it is possible,
divide and conquer the victorious hosts of
1864 and 1868