Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-24
WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON on TIE
IRESTDENCT.

week contains tile 1oll0Wlng article from
the pen of William Lloyd Garrison, in
which. with his accustomed directness
and candor, he expresses his views upon
the political situation. The sagacity Of
this venerable champion of the abolition
of slavery never appeared more clearly
than in this article advocating the renom-
ination of President Grant lie has views
very different from those of Charles Sum-
ner, whose name has appeared in q
strange connection within few days as
4 candidate for the Presidency, but we
trust without his consent and against his
wishes -
The democratic party is in a state of utter
bewllderment as to its possibilities, with ref
erence to the coming Presidential election,
whether in the matter of political success or
of mischievous plotting to divide the republic
can ranks. Its Southern wing is as anti ma
tional and seditious in spirit as ever, though
ready to cooperate with the Northern wing
in any device that may possibly effect the
overthrow of hated loyal administration.
The main point of union between them is,
at all events, to prevent the denomination of
President Grant but, if that cannot be done,
then to defeat his election, if possible, by in
ducing certain dsaffected republicans to
bring into the field against him Mr.. Chase,
Mr.. Trumbnll, Mr.. Sumner, or some other
prominent member of the dominant party, by
the rendng asunder of which there is the on
ly chance of success. This is high praise for
the President, that he has so administered the
affairs of the country as to make himself
more dlstastetul to the rebel, and negro ha-
ting elements, North and South, than any art
fully suggested as rival candidate. This
fact is immensely in his favor, and it is of far
reaching significance. Whatever may have
been his mistakes or hort-comings, the re-
cent State elections prove that his general
policy has been in accordance with the views Of
an overwhelming popular majority and SO
acceptable, indeed, as to make it questionable
with leading democrats whether it will not be
extreme folly for the democratic party to at
tempt any distinct organized resistance at the
next Presidential campaign. OF the twenty
two States that have made their annual trial
of political strength, fifteen are republican
and seven democratic; the former casting one
; hundred and seventy-one electoral votes the
latter tifty-one, including New Hampshire
and New Jersey, which, in all probability,
will change sides next year, thus reducing
the number to thirty -nine No such cheering
result could have been obtained if our nation
al affairs had not been satisfactorily managed,
as whole; and it plainly means that the
people are resolved to extend to President
, Grant second term in Office. For any re-
publicans, therefore, to conspire against him
cannot bring victory to their standard, and
can only end in subscribing the factious pur-
poses of that party whose triumph is to be
dreaded by every friend of freedom and hu-
mainly. Take any shape but that"
1t is idle to say that there are scores of men
/ in no W In a Q fo1
for the Presidency than the present incum-
bent. No doubt there are hundreds who
place this modest estimate upon themselves
But if any one asserts that there is even a
single other man who, put in nomination in
stead of Grant, would poll as large popular
vote, and SC insure the continued ascendency
of Republican rule, let him marshal and pre-
sent his facts, if he can, to sustain his decla-
ration. Peradventure, in this or that locali-
ty, some one might obtain even larger sup
port; but. surveying the whole country, and
reckoning up the sum total on public senti-
ment, what. other man, however gifted or
!. meritorious, can reasonably hope to receive
: so large a portion of the suffrages of the
American people as President Grant:
The newspapers of the country are the most
reliable opponents Of public sentiment. OF
course, all those of Democratic stripe are
bitterly opposed to Grants reelection. OF
the great multitude of Republican Journals,
can half dozen be named that are openly
arrayed against him, or in favor of trying
another candidate? 1t is true the New York
Trbuncis unreconciled to his being again rum
and that paper has very extensive circula-
ton; but seeing that its editor is more than
willing to be the Presidents successor its
opinions on this subject are liable to the sus-
picion of a personal bias.
write as a disinterested locker on--not as
partisan of the Administration and far he
it from me to say that it has committed no
errors, nor laid itself open to rebuke in re-
gard to some Of its appointments, and grave
criticism respecting some of its measures. In
deed, have more than once taken occasion
to testify strongly against the extraordinary
course President Grant has pursued touching
: the annexation of st. Domingo, and, AS
think, the unwarrantable use he has made of
the navy to consummate his scheme. Doubt
y less he deems himself fully justified in what
. he has done; doubtless he considers the ac-
y QUESTION to be desired on national grounds.
But, certainly, the general feeling is that
nothing could be more ill-judged or more un-
P called for; and so clearly is this perceived by
the President himself that, in exact accor-
dance with the avowal made in his Inaugural
Message, he shows his readiness to comply
with the will of the people, not to dictate to
it in any case. Accordingly, in his recent
annual Message to Congress there is not a
line or syllable in reference to his favorite
project.
. On the whole, as pertaining to the best in
terests OF the country, and especially to the
preservation of peace at home and abroad,
think it may be fairly claimed that no admin
istration has exceled his own since the days
of Washington. Toward our hunted and
perishing Indian tribes, how humane and
prasew orthy is the policy he is endeavoring
to enforce 1t will ever rebound to his credit,
though it has made him many enemies, par
ticularly among those who are eager to ex-
terminate the race, for indignant and selfish
purposes. But it has also made him many
friends, whose approval any man may covet.
In peaceful and equitable adjustment of
the grave difficulties existing between Eng
land and the United States, by the approval
of Commission of International Arbitration,
what civilian in the Presidential office could
have shown more interest or acted with more
alacrity As charity covereth multitude
of sins, so this honorable method of avoiding
a bloody, devastating and fruitless war, and