The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-03-01
THE PRESIDENCY.

The aspirants for Presidential honors next
fall bid fair to be unusually numerous. Al
ready, two tickets have been placed in the
field, in the exercise of the right of every
American citizen to run for the Presidency
if he chooses to do so, and be elected if he
can. The Labor Reform Convention, which
met at Columbus, Ohio, has nominated Judge
David Davis, of the United States Supreme
Court, for President, and Governor Joel Par.
ker, of New Jersey, the President, and
Judge Davis has accepted the nomination on
the ground that "the Chief Magistracy of the
republic should neither be sought nor dccli-
ned by any American citizen"
Judge Davis was born in Cecil county, Nd,
in 1916, graduated at Kenyon College, Ohio,
in 1882, studied law in Massachusetts, remov-
cd to Illinois in 1885, and commenced the
practice of his profession. He was the init
mate personal friend Of President Lincoln,
by whom he was appointed to the position
Of Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of
the United States, which position he still
holds.
At the time of his appointment to the Su-
preme Bench he was an avowed Republican,
but of late years his tendencies have been de-
cidedly conservative, and there was consider
able talk of his being an available candidate
for the presidency on the Democratic ticket.
His course on the legal-tender cases. howev-
er-he voted with the majority in May of
last year, holding the legal-tender act to be
constitutional-has served to estrange him
from the Democracy, although he has fire.
quently been mentioned during the past few
months as possible Republican candidate
who would receive the support of the passive
policy" Democrats against General Grant.
Judge Davis is q man of large fortune, and
personally is above reproach But he has
never been regarded as q jurist of command
ing ability.
Governor Joel Parker, the nominee for
Vice President, has been lifelong Demo-
crat but acted with the administration du-
ring the war with the South.
The Temperance party, or as it is called,
the National Prohibition party, also held
their convention at Columbus, and nomina-
ted James Black, of Pennsylvania, for Presi
dent, and John Russell, of Michigan, for
Vice President.
1t is difficult for the wsest and shrcwdest
politicians to foresce the effect of these NOM
nations upon the fortunes of General Grant.
One thing, at least, is clearly evident, which
is that the nomination of Judge Davis has
created no little stir in administration Cir
Giles. General Grant, it is true, is backed up
by the powerful lever Of official patronage,
hut beyond this the number of honest men
who would prefer his reelection is by no
means large. The ticket of the Labor Reform
crs will most likely divert from the support
ofGrant many Republicans who long for the
return ofan era of economy in governmental
affairs, and good fellowship among citizens
of a common country.
The nomination by the Prohibition party
can scarcely effect any appreciable result,
even if their candidates do not strike their
flag before the election The country seems
TO be scarcely ready yet for the question of
prohibition, if indeed it ever will be.
The convention of liberal Republicans will
assemble at Cincinnati this spring, and it is
thought they will nominate Senator Trum-
bull as THERE standard bearer, though some
politicians incline to the belief that they will
endorse the nomination ofDavis and Parker,
thus adding strength TO the opponents of
Grant.
The Democracy will have no unimportant
duty to perform in making their selection of
candidates, and it is to be hoped that their
counsels may be guided by wisdom and mod
Grafton, and that the candidates who may be
chosen as the standard bearers of the party
may be worthy of the position, so that they