The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-11-17
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND. 49,
rp,n.y NOVEMBER IT, 1871.
Grant and victory.


IF the Republicans only acoutd throw Grant
.s;de the Democrats would not be utterly
homeless. Grant can be re elected. The
blndest political mole sees that. And it is
morally certain that the patty from the prin-
ciples of which he has never swerved will |
make him its standard-bearer second time |
rather than take man whom they can prob
ably elect, but who would introduce the ele
msnt of uncertainty into the canvass. 1t
seems likely that the Republican ascenden- 4
cy is now so complete that even Horace
Greeley might be elected land a very good
President /, would make, too, if it were not
for his extravagance on the subject of pro-
lection. But Grant, with equal honesty of
purpose and greater experience, will make
better one. A Grant in hand is a good deal
better than the tarlest Greeley in the most
accessible bush. Cofax, if nominated, would
be almost certain to succeed. But, accord
ing to Colfax's own declaration, Gen. Grant
is better President than Colfax world make
W and is already virtually reelected by the peo-
= pie who have disclosed their opinions by vot-
ing the Republican ticket at the October and
November elections.
In re-nominating Grant, the Republicans
will do the thing which more than any other
the Democracy dread, Opposition to the re-
nomination of Grant by the Republicans is
the Que thing on which the Democratic press
is now united. Is it patriotism or self-inter-
est that accounts for this unanimity? IT they
believed, as they affect to, that he cannot in
$ any event he elected, would they take such
trouble to compel his withdrawal in favor of
a better man who can be?
% If Grant were to be abandoned, the opposl-
ton party would not find it difficult TO make
combinations that would reanimate their
forces, if nothing more. Now their democrat
ization, as they see the Republican cohorts
closing in upon them as surely and remorse-
lessly as the Union army closed in upon Lee
at Petersburg, is apparent in a hundred ways.
+. 1t is apparent in nothing more clearly than
in the numberless plans that are proposed for
getting out OF the Slough of Despond into
which they have fallen. Here are few of
.. the propositions:
To stand by the old white flag of the Bour-
.bons. Most of our Maine Democratic jour
mails favor this course.
~ To take fresh s'new leparture"next ar,
and try to make it more general. We should
think the Maine Standard and the "Young
Democracy" OF Portland might properly be
assigned to this class. .s.f..
To nominate very clean, unobectonable
Democrat, if one can be found, hoping to at
tract disafected Republicans.
-. To give up trying to elect Democrat, and
make desperate bid for Republican support
by nominating very conservative man, nom
inally belonging to the latter party. This
seems to be the favorite method with the
leading Democratic papers of the country.
To make no nomination at all, hoping that
the Republicans may feel strong enough
to quarrel and divide, thus giving the De-
mocracy an opportunity to form an alliance
with the least liberal wing.
But the Republicans need fear the effect Of
none OF these quack remedies, so long al
"Grant and victoIy"is their watchword.