The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-13

England fOr consequential damages in the
matter Of the privateers, as showing that the
rule might be made to work both ways. But
we are rather inclined to think that its pur-
port is to array the German element against
Grant in the Presidential election.
Tho Anti.Grant Republicans md Their
Change Of Base-Mr. CoIfax Declares
for General Grant.
Inc antl-Grant, or, as they style themselves,
the independent reform republicans, of Mis-
souri,, recently held State Convention, from
which call was issued for a national conven-
ton of these independent or anti Grant repub-
licans, to meet in Cincinnati on the 9th Of
May next. The object of this call was to
bring out. the republican malcontents and to
commit them in q new party movement against
General Grant in advance of the regular
Philadelphia Republican Convention, which
meets on the 9Th of June. The discovery,
however, has been made that this independ-
ent Cincinnati movement hangs fire. Such
anti Grant republicans as Senators Sumner,
Fenton, Trumbull and Logan do not respond,
and the venerable Mr.. Greeley avoids the
concern as covering free trade coalition
which he never can support-never, never!
Therefore the engineers of this Cincinnati con-
vention have agreed to postpone it till the
goth Of June, Tin order that they may accept
the Philadelphia nomination, if it be man on
whom they can unite"
Now for the real meaning of this change of
base. These men understand that if General
Grant is nominated at Philadelphia their inde-
pendent Cincinnati concern will collapse, like
the Independent Tyler Convention Of 1874, or
the independent Fremont and Cochrane Con-
vention Of 1864, or the Andy Johnson new
party Convention of 1866. These anti-Grant
managers, every man of them a disappointed
,ofice-seeker, know this, and they have there
fore, resolved to fight Grant, not at Cincin-
natl, but in the regular Philadelphia Conven-
tion. If they can and do defeat him there
they will abandon their project of new
reform party and whistle the hopeful passive
democracy ''down the wind" Clearly so
for what is the game of these so-called reform
republicans2 1t is the public plumber
Only this and nothing more.
They have failed to get their rights under
General Grant in Cabinet positions, foreign
missions, custom hotses and post offices, and
as they despair of any new chance without
change in the White House, and as their only
chance for change in 1878 lies in the defeat
Of Grant at Philadelphia, they have resolved
to bring all their guns to bear upon that Con-
Sention. If they fail at Philadelphia they will
still have two strings to their bow They can
bolt or sell out to the administration, ''as may
be deemed most expedient."
We expect to have some developments of
the tactics Of these reform republicans in the
approaching March election in New Hamp-
shire and April election in Connecticut. Their
tactics will be to help the democrats, under the
idea that the success of the democrats in New
Hampshire and Connecticut will weaken Grant
Mt Philadelphia. But while we think it quite
possible that one or two thousand republican
Cuerillas may turn the scale In New Hamp-
shire and in Connecticut we have no doubt
that every vote of those States whatever may
be the results Of these coming elections, will
be given for Grant at Philadelphia. Indeed,
before us, General Grant will be unanimously
nominated on the first ballot for another Presi-
Dental term. ,@efs.
Meantime these reform republicans, in losing
Vice President Colfax, have lost their chosen
instrument for knocking General Grant in the
head in the Philadelphia Convention. In the
letter to his Indiana friends, which we publish
this morning, Mr.. Colfax goes for General
Grant against all corners, and he begs that his
(Colfax's) name may not be mentioned by
any one in our State Convention in opposition
to General Grant, whom l believe to be the
first choice of very large majority of the
republicans of the United States" This is in
reply to telegram from Indianapolis announc-
Ing concerted effort in progress to secure for
Mr.. Colfax the republican nomination for Pres
fdent He is not disappointed office-seeker
he is satisfied with General Grant; there is no
White House film over his eyes like that which
enabled the venerable Mr.. Greeley to ''see
men like trees walking" In short, Mr..
Oolfax speaks the general voice of the repub-
Iican party, while the disappointed Office
seekers speak only for themselves Their
grievances, we admit, are sore and heavy;
but as such things must be. what do they
signifyp In the estimation of the honest
masses Of the people they go for nothing.
SIMMERING DowN.--The London journals
on the Alabama claims are beginning to sim
mer down. They advocate moderate course
on the part Of the British government.