Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-14

in the national convention, or to overwhelm him
with adverse ballots Mr.. Wilkes scheme is
much easier and surer one than either of these;
it involves less labor and no expense; it will, if
it succeeds, forestall the formal methods by
which the people have been accustomed TO eX-
press their political preferences and deprive the
president makers of all their opportunities to do
anything in Grants behalf. This great result,
to find some way of attaining which veteran
politicians have pondered aud schemcd and
plotted, Mr.. George Wilkes undertakes to ac-
complish by a set of resolutions, or, more cor
rcctly, by single resolution, with liberal
equipment of prcambles, nine in ALL
The author Of this brilliant device is frank
enough to admit that the idea did not occur to
him Mt home The excitement of foreign travel
was needed 10 stimulate his brain to such fer
tihty. During his recent soiourn in Paris"
the thought was conceived. Paris, while Mr.,
Wilkes was there, was immensely productive of
resolutions Probably his observation of their
remarkable vigor and effect led him to the opin-
ion that an influence OF such potency which
had been expected to arrest the Germans on the
frontiers of France, and to turn back their ar
mics when encampcd around Paris, ought to be
put TO some use in this country, 1t is true that
these resolutions did not effect in France all
that was anticipated; but that was not
their fault; they were wonderfully enthusiastic
and grandiloquent, but those stupid Germans
did not understand French very well, and were
dull, matter-oi-fact fellows, brutally indifferent
TO the most sublime rhetoric. Mr. Wilkes does
not expect to find such obtuscness among his
own eounuymcn. To balk the readers Gu
rosity no longer this admirable device consists
in series Of nine preambleS, reciting in la
bored phrase the familiar arguments in favor
of what Mr.. Wilkes calls the zone term prin-
ciple and ntroducinga single resolution, which,
with true Partisan bombast, takes the form of
a pledge "to inscribe that principle upon ur
banners"
The editor Of the gentleman's newspaper
takes worthy pride in the authorship of this
resolution; but the use which he proposes TO
make of il, is quite as novel and ingenious as
its construction. This beggarly fragment Of
resolution, with its intolerable deal Of preamble,
is to be introduced gin every variety of public
meeting, which admits of the experiment, that
shall be held previous to the meeting Of the next
presidential convention" This will "wind up
by 4 windlass, as it were, the public expression
Of the country on this subject and knot it firm
~ into an authoritative declaration, that would
render Grant practically ineligible, and prevent
him from even getting into a convention"
This is really admirable. The scheme
Includes of course, the adoption of the
resolution by "eyery variety of public meeting"
If this programme could be carried ont there
would be a serious obstacle in the way of Gen
eral Grants denomination, no less serious than
the expressed determination Of great majority
of the people not to have him for theirpresident
for another term. But suppose the people
should refuse to adopt the resolution. Does
Mr.. Wilkes expect to compel them to it? They
will do very much as they like, in spite of
George W. and his resolutions. If they adopt
it, it will be because they had made up their
minds on this subject, and his labors are need
less; if not, whichis much more likely, they are
useless.