The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-04-12
WHY GRANT IS SUPPORTED.

many VI Jul iCducES Will Teulen-
Der Mr.. Samuel Bowles, the able edi-
tor of the Springfield (Mass,) Repu5-
Hcan, who several months ago made
the tour of California and Oregon in
company with Vice President Colfax.
He is pronounced the ablest Republi-
an editor in New England. Mr..
Bowles has been in Washington of
late, looking over the political field,
and here is what he writes to his pa
per concerning the denomination of
President Grant. Let Radical cheeks
tingls with shame rs they read of the
burning disgrace which this man
Grant is bringing upon their party
The great body of both Houses are
holding themselves in reserve; they
expect, to-day, Grants denomination;
and they see, more or less, the danger
of the division and defeat of the Re-
publican party that that will bring
Many of them, including the most in
tiuential members of the House, as
well as many of the best members of
the Senate. yet silent in the discus
sion, would like to escape that re-
nomination and this sure danger
But to declare this feeling involves
risks to themselves that they are not
willing TO undertake. 1 said to two
leading Congressman: "Why, if you
two gentlemen would simply say
what you believe in regard to the re-
nomination of General Grant, such
declaration would go far to prevent it
and save the party" "And destroy
ourselves" they interrupted, and SO
sileneed me.
Here is the key to the Washington
situation. In the absence of other
candidate or candidates, hopefully
contesting with General Grant the
Republican nomination, there is
spread abroad here, as more or less
throughout the country also, a feeling
that it is treason to question the pro-
priety of his re-Bomination-a treason
to be punished by the opposition of
the Administration and its friends,
not only here, but at home. Under
this feeling we find States instructing
their delegates to vote for Grant, and
we find leading politicians acquiescing
in his denomination, if not openly IA
voring it, who at heart are against it,
and believe that it will open the door
wide to disruption and defeat I
could name States and individuals in
illustration-but of what avail? Every
Congressman here has his rival at
home, eager to take advantage of any
mistake to supplant him. He is kept
in like duress by his anxiety that there
should be no division of his party to
endanger his reelection; and though
he may feel that such division is
threatened by Grants denomination, he
has not the courage to endanger him
self in saying SO, and undertaking to
lead what specifically seems now a
foriorn hope. So he will let the di-
vision come in one way rather than
lead it in another in the hope of avoid
ing it altogether This holds good
alike of Democrats and Republicans.
and keeps the great bulk of both
houses and of both parties quiet and
andemonstratiye, forbids them to be
leaders in any change, and leaves
them in the position OF walters upon
Providence and the people. But if
the Republican members of Congress
were to-day obliged to sign one of
two papers declaring their belief that
the interests of the country and the
party required the denomination of
General Grant or the reverse, such re-
nomination would be no longer pos
sible.