The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-05-13
The Rumored withdrawal OF Grant

No better evidence could be had OF the
strength of the Liberal Republican move
ment. and OF the Generalization OF the Ad-
ministration wing OF the Republican party
than is furnished by the statement OF the
Washington correspondent OF The News
that q senatorial caucus has decided that
President Grant must be withdrawa as
candidate for denomination by the Philadel.
phia Convention. When the nomination OF
Greeley and Brown was announced, the
Grant faction derided the Cincinnati Con-
vention as ludicrous failure. Their official
caricaturist, taking the same tack, describes
the Cincinnati gathering as a mountain
which brought forth mouse. But already
the smile is souring Oh the Radical lip. The
enthusiasm with which the nominations
| were received, and the hold which they at
once obtained upon both Democrats and
Republicans, have opened the eyes OF Grant
| and his followers. Nay, these last are 30
dismayed that they desire to cast their Ia
| yorite aside and take up candidate who
will be less Objectionable to the country.
They commit blunder in thinking that the
withdrawal Of President Grant will deprive
the Liberal Republican movement OF its
power, by removing what, they suppose, was
the cause which brought it into being. That
movement is not aimed against an individ-
uaf. 1t has for its object the defeat OF the
usurping faction who deny Amnesty to the
South, who violate the plainest provisions OF
ths Constitution, who fill the government
Offices with their relatives and political
tools, who oppose Civil Service Reform, who
foster sectional differences and encourage
rebellious ieeling-who, in word, conduct
the government as though the sole purpose
of it's formation was to enable a brutal and
corrupt clique to tyrannize over a whole
people. Any one Of the available supporters
OF President Grant, or any member OF the
official Ring, would be as revolving to the
nation as the smoky Caesar himself. The
nomination OF Wilson or Norton or WASH
burne would not extricate the Radicals from
their dilemma, and it would take from them
part OF the immense influence which
President can exert to secure his own re-
nomination and election. AS an obedient
pupil OF the Congressional Conklings and
Buffers, President Grant ought to work un-
tiringly fer the party candidate, whoever he
might be. This, however, would not be in
keeping with the temper and habits OF the
President. A caucus may persuade him to
withdraw, or his own delegates may vote
against him, but he will not work for any
other man one-half as hard as he certainly
would work for Grant. This Is known 10
the Radical leaders, and is good reason for
watching their movements suspiciously, and
for taking all their declarations with several
grains OF salt.
The willy Radicals may believe that even
rumor OF the withdrawal Of President
Grant from the field will check the revul-
sion OF sentiment in favor OF Mr.. Greeley.
There is something in that. At the rate 1t
which it is now progressing, the Liberal
Republican movement will be 30 powerful in
the course OF week or two, that the De-
mocracy will hardly dare to make a part7
nomination, and the election of Greeley and
Brown will be reasonably certain. Blu. the
retirement Of Grant, and the panic in the
Radical ranks, might work harm in two
ways There would be less motive for con-
tinued proselytizing, and the Bourbon De-
mocracy, the saline statuary Of the party,
| would be encouraged to insist upon
straight ticket. This may be what the
Grant senators are endeavoring to accomp.
lish. They certainly crave Democratic
nomination; and if they fight the Radicals
upon the ground which the Radicals select,
the Democrats deserve to be beaten. The
withdrawal Of President Grant would bode
no good to the Democracy. A less obnox-
ious candidate might be found, and the re-
mote chances OF Democratic victory be
made still more distant. The Grant faction,
with or without Grant, cannot defeat Gree
ley and Brown If the Democrats abstain from
making party nomination. If they do
make such nomination, the Radical can
didate, whoever he may be, will. be elected.
This is the situation.
Various rumors are afoat as to the Radj-
cal who may be considered available il Grant
withdraws from the field. The names OF Will
son Of Massachusetts, Blaine of Maine, Nor
ton OF Indiana, and Wasbburne, OF Illinois,
are most prominent, but in some quarters it is
suggested that the Philadelphia Convention
will boldly grapple with the opposition and
nominate Adams or Greeley. This is not
likely to happen, but the merits OF Mr.. Gree
ley are not determined by the fact OF bis
nomination by this or thar convention. If
it 10 be the candidate OF the Liberal Reform
ers, he is fit TO be the candidate OF any polit-
ical party.