The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-06-07
The Philadelphia Candidate.
From Harper's Weekly


ton that the President would be nomi-
mated by the Philadelphia Convention.
1t was assumed by the chief Democratic
papers as q ioregone conclusion, be-
cause, as they alleged he was the strong
est candidate. That was unquestiona-
bly, the feeling among the Republicans.
1t was the conviction which produced
the Missouri call for a meeting at Gin.
cinnati to influence the Convention. 1t
was the same feeling which caused the
Tribune to say that the two Conventions
were wholly distinct, and that those who
were welcome at the one would not be
welcome at the other We presume,
however, that the editor of the Tribune
would not now be displeased if the
Philadelphia Convention should wei
come the Cincinnati candidate. I'm.
doubtedly, it was the general conviction
when the year opened that the Presi-
dent would be renOminated; and in that
expectation the Democratic party was
visibly crumbling. and it was felt that
the reelection of the President would
be the dissolution of that party, and the
elimination of the most baneful organ.
lied element from our politics.
And why was the denomination Of the
President believed to be assured and
why was the Democratic party crumb
ling? Because Of the general success
of the Administration. The people of
the country saw in the President an
honest, simple, patriotic man, patiently
doing his duty. There was foolish
cry of military despotism, and they saw
in the White House one of the plainest
and least ostentatious of American citi.
zens; the military hero of the late war
indeed; but whoever gravely declared
tendency to military methods in Gen.
Grants discharge Of his duties, showed
himself profoundly ignorant of the facts.
If Congress thinks tit to protect limo.
cent citizens from Ku-Klux assassins by
laws which by some persons are consid-
cred TO be unconstitutional, il certainly
does not follow that General Grant in.
clines to be amilitary dictator. Passing
from the President, these people saw
also that national condition which has
become proverb. Confidence restored;
industry active and secure prosperity
every where increasing; taxation re-
duced the debt diminishing; every
citizen conscious that the Government
would defend his liberty; the name of
tn nation respected beyond precedent;
a country in which the scars of the
tercest war were disappearing more
rapidly than ever before in history.
The chief OF civil Administration of
which these things could be truly said
"a chief who as leader of the armies
had preserved the government and
saved civilization upon this continent,
and who had sheathed his sword as
modestly as Washington, was the spon-
taneous choice for the reelection of the
mass of the party which had first cleo.
ted him. Troubles, meanwhile, and
dissatisfaction had arisen. In govern
ment by party they are inevitable.
They have always existed in our politics
never more positively than in the
time of Washington. But the trouble
would not have taken serious form ex.
cept for the fact of the evident disso
luton Of the Democratic party, which
was the browning proof of the success
of the Administration. Under such
circumstances there was possibility of
an alliance between few Republicans
and the mass OF the Democrats, which
might overthrow the Republican party
and take possession of the government.
And this is the enterprise which has
begun at Cincinnati.
This being the situation, the question
is, whether the feeling in regard to the
denomination was false and groundless.
On the contrary, there is no serious
doubt that the President is to-day the
positive preference of Republicans for
reelection. There are those who say
L., l. 81 L., Dc, II
not be elected but those who say so
merely express their own bitter feel
ings, and can name no man who could
be wisely substituted for him. If the
Philadelphia Convention should pass
him by, whom would it namey 1t is
easy to mention honored Republicans
and able men. But we must consider
the situation. If it were gravely pro-
posed to set aside the President, it would
be because it was believed that the Gin
cinnati movement has shown itself to
be menacingly strong, and because it
was felt that it must be propitiated.
Yet If this were the reason, and no
other could be suggested, the argument
for adopting Mr.. Greeley would be IRE.
sistible and his nomination would make
the Philadelphia Convention as ridi-
culous as it has made that at Cincinnati.
Plainly, if Gen. Grant is to be set
aside to reclaim the Cincinnati Repub-
licans, the way to secure the result is to
accept the man whom the Cincinnati
Republicans declare to be their prefer.
ence. If Philadelphia proposes to sur
render its candidate because of the
strength Of Cincinnati, Cincinnati will
certainly not agree to begin again. 1t
will insist that its man is in the field,
that he is a recognized Republican, and
that he is proved to have a stronger in.
dividual support than amy chance Re-
publican who might be named. But il
is useless to speculate; unless we are
wholly deceived the National Republi.
can Convention is as likely to nominate
Gen. Blair as Mr. Greeley. If, then
Gen. Grant should be abandoned, and
some other Republican than Mr.. Gree
ley be nominated, would he withdraw
He has said that if there are two Re
publican tickets and a Democratic
ticket, he will support that which