The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-12-13
Political Lenders.


The late election suggests several thoughts
upon political leadership in this country.
The Democratic politicians who managed the
state Convention of their party IN Now
iork after the Cincinnati nomination were
resolved to secure the adoption of the Gin
cinnati candidate at Baltimore, because they
were sure that the Republican secession
would swell the Democratic vote into vast
majority. They reasoned that if such men
as Senators Sumner, Trumbul and Schurz
were willing To leave the party, they must
necessarily lead to an army of followers with
them; and that IL politicians like Mr.. Fem
ton, Mr.. Hutchings, Mr.. Mcclure and Mr..
Cochrane were ready to cooperate with
Democrats, il was because they were sure of
the disintegration OF the party. We were
constantly told that Gen. Grant was the only
man who would divide the Republicans, and
the only one who could not be elected.
Doubtless the gentlemen whom we have
named believed much OF what was said. Mr.
Sumner thought that Massachusetts, the
great Rcpubl can State, would follow him,
Mr.. Trumbull supposed that he could divert
Illinois, and Mr. Schurz imagined that he
could control the German vote. On the
other hand, the Democrats made the same
mistake. II the Cincinnati candidate were
regularly" nominated, and if the men who
are called the leaders of the party-Mr.
Bayard-openly supported him, the whole
party would follow, and the result was GER
tain. All these gentlemen have been undo
celyed, and it has been made evident that in
the old English sense there are no party
leaders in this count Y. I'M English history
when few great Wings or Tories had been
secured, the vote was virtually polled But
this is not the fact in this country, and it IS
curious that shrewd politicians do not learn
Wabctar hi nm To U
inaton "not tit to be made" but he found
himself marching alone. Mr.. Seward turned
to Andrew Johnson, and prophesed forty
thousand majority for him in New York,
but New York gave thirty thousand ma
jority against him, and Mr.. Seward was po-
litically dead. Mr. Chase said the war was
over, and toyed with Tammany-and Mr..
Chase disappeared
Despite all these familiar instances the
Democratic managers insisted upon suppos
ing that the detection of Mr.. Sumner and
others meant dissolution of the Republican
party. But they were dOubly mis- taken. First,
in supposing that many Republicans would
follow the seceders into the Democratic lines,
and second, in supposng that the Democrats
would follow them in supporting lifelong
enemy of the Democratic party. In the IA
miliar phrase, party may be sold, but II
cannot be delivered. All these calculators
forgot that an intelligent people decides for
Itself. Party ties with US are strong, but
they are not invncible. 1t is because We
use parties as means and not as ends that we
prove our capacity to govern ourselves. We
honor men who maintain ably principles
that we approve. But we do not therefore
adopt all the measures that they recommend
The Republican party acknowledged, tor in
stance, the great service Of Mr.. Sumner IN
the long auti-s!@very debate of the last
twenty years; nat it was not therefore will
ing TO commit the cause of equal rights 10
ex-rebels and Copperheads because he al.
vised it. And had he accepted the Demo-
cratic nomina ion for Governor Of Massa-
chusetts, although the State was probably
prouder of him than of any of her living
sons, she would have defeated him by sew
enty thousand majority.
The Democratic managers who saw certain
conspicuous leaders leave the Republican
lines did not see tina. for every one of them
hundreds of thousands of Republicans Just
as sincere ana intelligent they, but not
prominent nor known, clung all the moro
closely to the parry, and strOye all the more
Zealously TO defeat the cause which the Sc
ceders espOused. The LIBERIA! orators were
constantly voclferatlng that it was TIE SOL
dierS, and not Gen. Grant, who suppressed
the rebellion: out they lever thought of ap-
plying their argument to the political situa-
Jion, and reasoning that il WAS the Repuol-
can rank and file, not a General here and
there, who were really important. This same
disposition to regard persons more than ten
denotes and principles was evident through
out the campaign. The coalition insisted al
ways upon personal argument. Mr.. Sum
ner's letter TO the Colored voters was devoted
to proving that Mr.. Greeley was a better
Republican than Gen. Grant, until, perceiv-
ing that such an argument was useless, he
added that the Democrats were now as good
Republicans as the Republicans themselves.
The coalition tried to make an issue between
Grant and Greeley. The country knew that
the contest was one of the principle. and
probabilities.
Henceforth the number of votes alienated
by "leaders" viii not be reckoned in proper
ton u the ability OF those leaders or their
conspicuous service. 1t will probably be
hereafter remembered that the most trusted
"leader," who, miscalculating the situation
would withstand the party instinct and I'M
peril the party principle and purp Sc, will
be promptly discarded by his associates
For they are associates, and not followers
The great mass of the Republicans refuses
to accompany Messrs. Sumner, Trumbul
and Schurz, and the best part OF the Demo
Gratis spurncd the Leadership" that attempt
ed the coaltion.-Harpcr'S Weekly.