New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-31
THE CAMPAIGN OPENED.
The Case as it Stands.

The Case as 1t Stands.
From Wilkes Spirit Of the Times.l
The canvass for the Presidency Of 1s7
seems to be fully opened. Six weeks az
everything in relation to it was in din
nebulOus condition, and the lines OF on
vast figure kept crawling through the slug
gish mist as if none could settle the hord
scope. The dull lineaments of the mai
with the cigar grimly domineered the cir
conceded that General Grant would con
time to remain master Of the country.
| This, however. was not the judgment o
the most observing: and since the date VI
mention the horoscope has become NOR
troubled and involved, and the face o
Caesar is not SO clear within the njuration
The new fire which SO suddenly broke forti
in this city in september had served thu
great purpose, not only of awakening thu
people to a sense Of their own power, but o.
inspiring them with sentiment of patriotic
duty which was to sweep the land. These
epidemics of the mind never burn them
selves out within a narrow circle. They fol
low the furze of political corruption wher
ever it may lead: and thus the fall OF
Tweed in New York not only set the train OF
reform running in a variety OF directions
hut created vent which let forth the
flames directly under the seat Of General
Grant in Washington.
The resolution Of Mr.. Trumbull for a
committee Of investigation against the cor
ruptions Of the national administration,
| was the point at which the fire took and
the blind sycophancy of Caesars satellites
! TO prevent its spread, served instantly to
bring into combination the elements which,
till that moment, had been hesitating
against coalition. In degree as the courtiers
| fought to screen their master, the honest
Senators grew in strength of purpose, and
after sharp battle during which they
| successfully exposed the incautiOus servilitv
OF their opponents), they drove them into
| an ignOminiOus surrender. The honest
press of the country, even that of the pre-
| viously Grant Republicans Except in few
| lamentable instances) came promptly to
the rescue of reform, and denounced the
shameful vassalage which had been, exhib-
tied on the floor of the Senate. to the for
tunes of Spectator ana despot.
Then came. and came too late. the whin-
ing offer of the utmost terms: and supple
menting that, followed, but with sudden
ness which was to the last degree suspicious,
a message from the President himself. THIS
was sent forward under the banner of civil
service reform, but every one knew it to
be a mere device. and it failed to retrieve
tue fortunes of the field. In this first Skin
mish therefore, the Grant forces. under the
leadership OF Conkling and Morton. were
not only severely beaten and Inundated.
but served. by their clumsy method of re-
treat to yield fixed lines and distin-
guished lead to a Republican opposition
through the country.
Thus stood the field on Tuesday last
when. surveying it calmly, and finding the
details of the fight wei! opened. Mr. Sum
ner came forward and launched the grand
text OF the campaign, IN giving notice that
at an early day he would offer joint reso-
luton, providing that no person who has
once filled the office of President of the
United States shall hold the same again -
1t IS upon this theme, SO dear to the peo-
pie OF the nIted States for many wears. SO
sacred by the Endorsement OF jefferson
Clay. Jackson and other sages of the repub-
lie. so necessary now. under the fearful i1l-
crease OF Presidential power, will the next
campaign he fought. That Will le the in
spring impulse over which the ground
swell OF popular sentiment will heave. While
the actual demolition of the personal posi-
ton OF our Specializing President will be eft
Republicans, who already stand victors over
the covering leaders of the administration
And this plan OF the campaign Will as GER
talnly succeed as truth ana Justice are Ger
tain to succeed. when championtd ny the
people. against fraud and error.
In the first place. the adoption of the one
term principle IS the necessary initiative 10
form can not begin until the corrupt;nor
motive OF the President. to put all sorts of
men Ill office Who will serve his reelection. |
Is disposed OF by the roots. In the next
place, the peop.e are not only III favor of |
civil service reform. but universally in |
favor of the one-term principle. arti o1,uor- |
tunities will soon be afforded t. them TO |
express this preference. which vii! prac- |
tlcally render General Grant ineligible.
The Democratic party will. as we have rea-
son to believe adopt his principles en-
masse. 1t was the favorite doctrine of
jackson. as it was of Jefferson; and even
the most stubborn of its leaders are willing
to admit that they can stand with advan.
tage, a little more of jackson and Jefferson
III their modern platform. One term was
also the .tavorite principle of Henry CLAY.
and 1t was likewise the sole campaign text
upon which General Harrison was elected.
Thus we tind it Endorsed by the historic an
probation of both parties. while there can
be no better proof of its universal and I'M
popularity with the people, than
that almost every Presidential candidate
las contributed his recognition of that fact.
by pledging himself, in advance of his cleo
lion, not to be a candidate second time.
This pledge was given by Ulysses 5. Grant;
and 1t now remains to be seen whether the
'eople are willing to forego their hereditary
wish, in order to give him and his family
another lease of power.
There is one other element which we must
lot overlook, IN counting up the force of the
'ne-term principle. as applied to the miserlv
ana speculatlng man who now occupies the
hair of State-and that is the labor ele-
nent which, after years of comparative
ethargy, is now working to the front with
III the sounds and symptoms of an earth
quake. These workingmen do not believe
n kings. They are of the opinion that orr
POLITICAL structure was fashioned in servile
of monarchy when we broke loose
rom Great Britain, and that it was an
buse OF the first idea of repubiicani>m to
tut single man at the head of the State.
hey regard that man as a king. call him
IS. he is more than king: for. as such. we
ee supple Senators bend down before him,
nd behold him gain votes and change ma
)rltles. even III pursuance of his personal |
ates and pleasures. by the donation of
or OF foreign posts. More
han king. for he has more power:
nd worse than king, because, I'M
SIS he be checked by the one :
erin principle. the natural notive of ,
king to be upright and leave good name
nth his people, Is overborne by the presi-
entail craving to be reelected. at the ex-
ense OF every sacrifice Of conscience and of t
onor. These are the opinions OF the labor {
len, who are now coming 70 the front: who
elleve, moreover as do the entire of the In
,rnatlonale. that the true depository OF the |
xecutlve power of republic is a commit 5
,e OF persons like those at the head of the c
wlss Confederation, which has been I
odel OF quiet. frugal and sagacious gov t
'nment ever since it was established. And t
, think We. I
We have thus grouped hastily together h