The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-05

Emo Eofvy II tmS UAeAu-Ahc hS."sA"
istration and Democratic Partics-
Questions NJ Issue and the Pros
poet.
The first great and decided movement in the
Presidential campaign has been made. The
action of the Cincinnati Convention has sud-
denly aroused the public mind and has pro-
duced something like an electrical effect. Few
had anticipated such result The gathering
of a sort Of mass meeting of disaffected re-
publicans and republican reformers from all
parts Of the country was watched with more
curiosity than serious thought. There was
hardly more than a general impression that
the improvised Cincinnati assemblage might
make considerable diversion in the republi-
can party, and that if a union could be formed
with the still powerful democratic party there
would be chance of defeating General Grant.
This was about all that was expected This
was the hope of nearly all opposed to
the administration and the reelection of the
President Though the democrats took no
part directly in the Cincinnati Convention,
they stood looking and waiting anxiously for
result they could endorse and with which they
could cooperate. But this mass meeting
assumed the proportions of an important and
Independent convention. It was conducted
admirably and with great ability Every hour
after the delegates arrived and the proceedings
commenced it showed more and more strength
of character and purpose. Rarely has any
national political convention exhibited as much
ability and harmony or ever finished its work
with more promptness, spirit and unanimity.
In the principles and objects proclaimed, in
the judicious choice of candidates for Presi-
dent and Vice President, and from the manner
in which these have been accepted by the pub
lie, this Cincinnati gathering appears to have
given birth all at once to new and formidable
party. This party has the advantage, too, Of
being first in the field.
This movement places both the administra-
ton and democratic parties in a quandary.
We see that in the tone of the press and ex-
pressions of partisan politicians The Grant
people, or those who pretend to be the friends
of the President, the offce-holders, the admin
istration Congressman and the administration
newspapers, affect to laugh at the nomination
of Horace Greeley, though any shrewd OBJ
server can see that it is forced and melan-
choly laugh. The weak administration organ
in this city, particularly, is very uneasy, while
to be perfectly composed and salts
fed. AS the old saying goes, none are SO blind
as those who will not see. A political revolu-
ton has just been inaugurated, and these ram
pant partisans are either too dull to perceive it
or wilfully shut their eyes. With the demo-
Gratis it is different. They have sagacity
enough to comprehend the Importance of the
movement and the nomination of Greeley and
Brown. But they are embarrassed. Willing
to go for and make some sacrifices to defeat
General Grant and to change the personnel and
policy of the government, they find it hard to
accept Horace Greeley, who has been through
life their bitter opponent, and whose views on
the economical questions Of the tariff, free
trade and protection are opposed to theirs.
Though the Cincinnati platform has
been made as non-committal and as ac-
commodating as possible on these questions,
leaving them, in fact, to the decision Of the
people and their representatives in Congress,
and though the question of protection is not
likely to come up in any decided practical
shape while the necessity for raising large
revenue exists, the democrats do not like to
put in jeopardy the old free trade dogma of
their organization. In short, though Horace
Greeley is a popular and an available candi-
date to run against General Grant, the demo-
Gratis are disappointed. They wanted the Gin
cinnati Convention to nominate man whose
views are more in accord with their own.
Nor do many of the old leaders like to
abandon virtually their organization by going
with this new party Of liberal republicans.
As consequence some of the democratic pa
pers and leaders have opened their batteries
against the nomination of Mr.. Greeley. Others,
less rigid, are on the fence. Both of these
classes Of democrats are from the North.
The Southern democrats generally, as we I'M
derstand at present. are in favor of
Greeley. He has been the earnest
advocate of universal amnesty, Of raising the
South from her depressed condition, Of pro-
noting emigration to that section. of blotting
out the sad memories of our civil war; of pro-
noting kindly feeling and harmony between
the two sections, and had the magnanimity to
be bail for jeff Davis. The Southerners, con-
sequently, are willing to forget his anti-slavery
hostility before the war, recognize him now as
one of the best friends Of the South, and
would gladly give him their votes with the hope
of defeating General Grant and the party
which has kent them crushed tn the earth
Such, then, is the position of the different
parties with regard to the Cincinnati movement
and the nominee. There is, however, indie
pendent of these parties, the great American
public to be considered. While we are aware
that the influence of party organization is