The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-27

and remains to be tested by the October cleo
tons. No authoritative voice has spoken on
the subject and we can only base oul
opinions upon the apparent tendency of senti-
ment among moneyed and business circles
Our best judgment leads us to believe that such
is the present situation of the canvass; yet il
must be remembered that the features of this
remarkable campaign have changed more than
once since the commencement of the contest,
and may change again. An ably conducted
democratic contemporary, whose duty it is to
support Mr.. Greeley, endeavored yesterday to
find some other explanation Of the reaction in
the Greeley cause than that we have given,
and its editorial was well constructed and en-
titled to consideration as On effective political
argument 1t is undoubtedly true that high
pressure rate of speed cannot be kept up un-
ceasingly in political movement, and that in
politics, as in the weather and in the business
Of Wall street, there must come season of
lassitude and dulness Nevertheless, we attrib-
ute the Greeley stagnation mainly to the
settling back of the moneyed interests Of the
| country against change of administration in
a period of peace and prosperity !; and we
| deem it likely, unless there should be
a condensation in this direction, that the
republicans, by the aid of the financial and
commercial classes may carry their candidate
to victory despite the political issues of the
campaign. At the same time we repeat that the
doubt and uncertainty that still hang over the
result are due to the men and the policy Presi-
dent Grant now represents and we are more
than ever convinced that if the President would
rid himself of both and stand once more before
the people as he stood in 1868, upon the sound
platform of his personal record, Independent
of partisan policy, his triumph in November
would be no longer doubtful.
1t is our duty to state facts, however unpala-
table they may be to the politicians; and we
warn the President of the dangers in his path
in order that he may avoid them in time. The
HERALD is an independent journal, and cares
no more for Grant than for Greeley, and
no more for either of them than for
any other reputable citizen of the United
States. We have supported General Grant
as the head of the national administration
chosen by the people, just as we shall always
be found on the side of the government Of the
country, under whatever party, in all its proper
acts We have criticised the present admins
tration as we shall criticise all others, fear
lessly and We hope justly. We advise the
President to renounce the reconstruction pol
icy of Congress, as he has the power to do, by
suspending the operation Of the Ku Klux law
and taking the iron hand from the throat of
the South, because we believe the large ma
jority Of the people desire to see the Southern
States restored to self-government, peace es-
tablished all over the land and the bitter men,
cries Of the war buried forever. We counsel
him to repudiate Boutwell's policy of negro
hate and revenge, because we know that it is
fraught with danger in the future and startles
the conservative principles of all responsible
citizens Party journals are unable to I'M
derstand this position. If they support an
administration they must support it as parti-
sans in all things good and evil alike.
If they oppose President they must
oppose him as the representative of
rival party and must see no good in any
Grant that the uncertainty and doubt that sur
round the present contest are due to the un-
popularity of the republican policy and to the
belief that the republican party is the secret
enemy of reform. He is experienced enough
as soldier to know that the army now at his
back is not the army he led in the campaign
of 1868; that the standard under which he
now fights is not the standard that marshalled
him to victory four years ago. Let him change
his division commanders and alter his plan
of battle, and the result will be no longer
doubtful. Let him fight it out on the partisan
line, and while he may remain in possession
of the field it will only be after hard contest
and through the uncertain fortune of war; In
the one case triumph would be certain; in the
other defeat and q rout are by no means i'm
possible.
Shall We Have an Efficient City