The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-11

General Grant Master or the Field.
The Presidential agitation has commenced,
and the controlling influence of the Presi-
DENTAL question Is beginning to be felt and
seen in all our political elections. 1t is appa-
rent too, looking at the general results of the
late elections In North Carolina and Kentucky,
that, notwithstanding the Ku Klux bill and the
carpet-baggers and the divisions and dissen-
sions In the republican camp, General Grant is
strong in the South and is gaining strength in
that section. Nor can it be questioned that
his name and the record of bis administration,
embracing his domestic and foreign policy on
his general programme Of peace, are tower
of strength to his party in all the North. 1t is
equally clear, from all the signs of the times,
that he will be renominated and reelected.
But still the family jars among the rep1bli-
cans, arising from rival aspirants for Presi-
Dental honors, from disappointed spoilsmen
and reckless demagogues, from trading cliques
and discordant factions, here, there and every
where, are very serious. They would be fatal
to the republican party In 1879 but for the
neutralizing troubles and embarrassments Of
the democratic party. Beginning with
Massachusetts,, we find that the irrepressible
General Butler has struck out on new
departure on labor reform and women's rights
as republican candidate for Governor.
Upon this movement Wendell Phillips, the
Yankee Cassandra, said in speech the other
evening at Boston, ''The republicans (for
Governo0 may nominate Loring. In that
event he phillips the labor reform leader,
would certainly nominate Butler" Further
more he said that ''Butler's course the past
month is the first blow to knock the republican
party to pieces, and it only needs one other
to crystalline it into new form. He knew of q
good many republicans who would not object
to reforming of their party on the labor
ISSUE" 1t is evident that Butler is thorn in
the side of the orthodox school of Massa-
chusetts republicans. He seems to be re-
solved upon running for Governor in Novem-
Der anyhow, and, If not taken up by the Regu-
lar Republican Convention, he may, as the
labor reform and women's rights candidate,
make good opening for the democrats under
the standard of the persevering John Quincy
Adams. Should this thing occur, and it may
occur, this republican upset in Massachusetts,
will assuredy create greater political sensa-
ton than did the unexpected triumph of the
democracy in New Hampshire last spring
Coming next to New York, we find the
republican party of the city and the State cut
up into various discordant cliques and fac
tons. They may all, however, be classed
under two heads-the Conkling republicans
and the Fenton republicans. The Conkling
wing of the party hold the Custom House, and
60 for General Grant against all corners for
the Presidential succession; the Fenton fac
ton, including the benevolent Mr.. Greeley,
being outside of the Custom House, are
thoroughly convinced that the good of the
country requires that General Grant shall be
reduced to one term. The Fenton faction,
however, have declared that they will abide
by the action of the September State Conven-
ton of the party, from which we suspect
that they count upon a majority in the Con-
vention, and upon snubbing Conkling, Col
lector' Murphy and General Grant in the Con-
vention resolutions. If they do so Tammany
may feel easy; for, with all the hullabaloo of
wholesale spoilations raised against her,
Der contest walk over the course. Mr.
Greeley says, in 80 many words, that he
''does not himself favor the denomination of
General Grant, and is prepared to give his
reasons at the proper time )" and we shall
probably get them at the coming Republican
State Convention, for there he will be COM
PEELED to make his fight against General Grant
or to surrender at discretion or bolt. We
look for bolt, with Mordecai Murphy still
''sitting in the Kings gate"
Next, looking into Pennsylvania, what with
Governor Geary and the labor reformers and
the temperance party, which has taken the field
for the October State election with an indepen-
dent ticket, and what with the fighting repub-
lican factions in Philadelphia over the spois,
there would be q splendid chance for the
democrats. with anything like concord and en-
thusiasm among them. Even as they are, all
at sea, they may, perhaps, recover the State.
In Ohio the republicans seem to be in better con-
dition; but in Illinois Senators Trumbull and
Logan, each looking out for the main chance,
under new Presidential shuttle, cut and deal,
are doing considerable mischief in the repub-
lican camp. The same remarks will apply to
Senator Schurz and Governor Gratz Brown in
Missouri, and the same may be said of the
dubious party loyalty of Senator Upton (the
Upton Slasher), Of Nebraska. We dare say
that including Senators Sumner, Fenton,
Trumbull, Logan, Upton and General Jim
Nye," of Nevada, there are at least half
dozen republican Senators who have got the
buzzing bee of the White House In their ears,
and that, waking or sleeping, 1t bothers them
all the time.
So much for the republican party in the