The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-24

Tho PRESIDENTIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS MOVE.
ments of tho Labor Reformers-The Tenn
perance Men, the Outside Republicans,
and the Democratic Party.
We are on the verge of another Presidential
contest, and from the active agitation already
commenced among the conflicting sections
and outside factions, and between the two
great political parties of the country, the bat
tie will be hotly and fiercely contested. Such,
indeed, are the processes of transformation
going on, from old issues to new issues, and
such are the discords and confusion among the
clashing reformers and new departure leaders.
clques and factions of the day, such are the
demoralizations of the democratic party and
such are the dissensions in the republican
camp, that we cannot resist the impression
that if General Grant were to be suddenly cut
off it would be difficult to estimate the disas-
trous consequences. If Bismarck is a neces-
sity to the consolidation of the German en-
pire; If Theirs, at present, is the only safe
guard against another threatened Jacobin
French revolution; so, from all the political
movements around us, is General Grant, at this
crisis, our only security against political con-
fusion, financial convulsiOn, collapse of the
national debt and credit, and universal bank
ruptcy.
And yet there is manifestly league of hos
tile forces in process Of formation against
General Grant which promises an opposition
campaign of unexampled bitterness, ferocity
ON uoto a
political party of labor reformers have in
national convention declared their principles
and their ticket for the succession. Their
platform, which is of India rubber, may be
stretched or shortened by the democracy to
suit their purposes, while the labor reform
ernor Parker, of New Jersey, has the look of
prec0ncerted arrangement with the anti Grant
republicans and the democratic party. We
are rather inclined to think, however, that the
leaders of these labor reformers in this ticket
are in the market for q good bid from the
democratic convention, and that they will be
apt to get it. They must not be COMPOUNDED
with the trades unions of the country; for the
labor reformers are purely political organiza-
ton, and their only visible strength, as far as
developed, lies in q few thousand votes in
each of the States of Massachusetts nd New
Hampshire. But as some seventeen States
were represented in this Columbus Conven-
ton the party may be considered as an organ
ization In at least seventeen States. Assum-
ing that hundred thousand votes can be
commanded by this labor reform movement,
surely the democrats will fish for it; for,
being short of fish, Everything is q sh which
comes into their net"
Next, on the same day with the labor re-
-Washington's Birthday-and in the
same city-Columbus, Ohio-the radical tenn
perance men, in what they style National
Prohibition Convention, defined their position
as political party. There were one hun
dred and ninety-four delegates present from
nine States The convention adopted
a platform embracing many liberal crotch
cts; but its two distinguishing planks
are the absolute prohibition of grog-
shops and liquor selling, except upon doc
tors prescription, and equal suffrage to all
races and colors and to both sexes. Cold
water and woman suffrage are the temperance
party platform, and their Presidential ticket is
James Black, of Pennsylvania, and John Rus
sell, of Michigan. Among the other names
submitted were Judge Davis, Chief Justice
Chase, General Butler, Gerritt Smith and
Horace Greeley. We are sorry the Conven-
ton did not adopt Mr.. Greeley for President,
for his nomination would have made him a
happy man, and in its support he would have
soon become o tower of strength to the tenn
perance cause. We suppose it was Mr.. Gree
ley's hostility to woman suffrage that settled
him, and that General Buffers peculiar tenn
perance notions were not acceptable, though
he is sound as cocoanut on woman's rights.
Having no other feelings but those of scorn
and contempt for the servile submission of the
republican and democratic parties to the rum
sellers, and boldly taking the field for liquor
prohibition and womens rights, it is not likely
that this temperance party, on any terms
which can be offered, will coalesce with the
Stree and easy" democracy. But, on the
other hand, if these temperance teetotallers
make vigorous fight they may take perhaps,
as many as fifty thousand votes from the repub-
lcans, which otherwise would be cast for
General Grant. We say republicans, for il
would be as difficult to find temperance
democrat who would desert his party to sup
port temperance party ticket as it would be
to find woolly headed Indian or a white
crow. Hence this liquor prohibition and
woman's rights Presidential party in proper
ton to its strength will be a loss to the repub-
T, licans and gain to the democrats.
| And now we come to the Cincinnati liberal,
reform, anti-Grant republican National Con-
vention, appointed for the goth of June next
In connection, no doubt, with this movement
| the Democratic State Central Committee Of
Ohio held meetinn ON the 22d. at COlumDus