The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-20
Preparing Tor shs Campaign Of 1679-Ness
Departure or tho Democracy.

/ General Grant made the frs. important move
ment with the aid of Senator Morton and other
| faithful adherents of the administration, at
that significant gathering at the National
Hotel. Washington. This apparently impro-
vised but carefully prepared meeting was the
opening Of the contest. 1t was warning to all
the republican aspirants for the Presidency and
factious leaders of the party that they must
give way to General Grant, the man who
stands head and shoulders above every other
candidate Oh that side for the nomination.
speeches delivered there were designed to
clear the track more effectually and to fix both
the candidacy of General Grant and the plat
form of The party. This was an astute move
ment, and shows that the President was wise
in selecting Mr.. Morton as his chief man in
this business. For some time before, and at
the time of the Washington meeting referred
to, there was disposition on the part Of
some of the republican leaders aud Presiden-
tial aspirants to kick ont of the administration
party traces: but this had the effect of quieting
them. 1t is proving as effectual as Rareys
ton, Geary and the rest have been brought
down, and if they kick at oil it is only in
feeble way. The Republican State Conven-
ton of Pennsylvania, which was held at Har-
risburg Friday last, threw overheard all
other candidates, and emphatically renomi-
mated General Grant as an honored leader of
the party and "a proper standard bearer of
the republican party in 1872"
We take it for granted, then, that the other
republican State Conventions will follow that of
Pennsylvania, and that the President will be
renominated. lie is, undoubtedly, the strong
est man Of the party. The military reputation
which carried him to the White House still
adds lustre to his name. Though he failed in
his st. Domingo scheme he may regain popu-
larity on the Joint Commission treaty, should
the Senate ratify it. Though he inaugurated
the unpopular Ku Klux coercive policy and
invested himself, through the acquiescence of
the party 10 Congress, with dangerous arbi-
trary power, nc may use this power so pru-
IDENTITY 10 merit popular commentator.
Even the enormous burden of taxation the
people are made to bear and the extravagant
expenditures of the government may be partly
excused, on account of the liquidation of
large portion OF the debt; or, at least, he may
be able to SHIFT the responsibility of burden
some taxation upon the shoulders of Con-
gress. Then, he can justly plead that
the revenue has been more faithfully col
lec.ed than under the previous administration.
In mt IF VII M hold
the first aud most prominent position in the
radical party. Nor would it be an easy mat
ter Tor the democrats to defeat him. for in ad-
dition to the elements Of popularity he may
claim he has at his command as President the
enormous patronage OF the government and
an army of office-holders to bear upon the
election. Though we hold, as we have main
tanned all along, that one term in the Presi-
dental chair is best for the country, and should
satisfy any man. yet in view of the towering
position Of General Grant, and the exigencies
OF the party, he may be reelected, and the
d,mocrats may have to wait till 1876.
Still the democrats are laying good foun-
dation for close, if not successful contest
in 1872. The declaration of the democratic
Coogr. ssmen at the end Of the late session
was pretty good platform 1t was a more
popular and taking one than that of the
President and Senator Morton. 1t took
broader ground on the questions Of con-
stitutional and local self-governmcnt, as
opposed to the centralizing and quasi
military policy Of the administration and
the radicals; on an approach to free trade or
revenue tariff only, on reduction of taxation,
on more liberal course toward the south and
on other public measures. In this declaration.
too, the democrats had the vantage ground of
attack. The mistakes, corruption and bad
policy of the dominant party gave them a
fruitful theme. The radicals felt this counter
blast to their winter campaign manifesto.
Senator Morton and the other administration
orators who opened the campaign in the West
arraigned the democrats for not being sufi-
GENTLY explicit on the amendments to the con-
stitution, although the declaration of the de-
mocratic Congressman appeared to cover the
ground very we'll but il is evident now that
the democrats are not going to lay behind on
this political issue. They are resolved not to
let their position be equiyocal any longer, or
to give their opponents any advantage on the
issues settled by the war, including the rights
and political equality Of the negroes under the
amendments to the constitution.
The most important movement in this
direction is that Of the convention held
at Dayton, Ohio, for The purpose Of
appointing delegates to the State Con-
vention-from place and under auspices
where such movement might have been
least expected-from the home and under
the management Of G. L. ValIandigham. This
was gathering as the report expresses ii, of
leading professional and solid business men of
Tho city and caunIx and NJ Xalla ndixIaax.a