The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-19

! Tne Presidential Centest-General Grant,
tho Opposition Elements and the APP
proaching Outside Party Conventions.
From day to day, as we approach the active
field work of the Presidential campaign, the
shaping of the political elements Of the coun-
try, administration and opposition, still more
sharply than on the day preceding, foreshadows
the denomination and the reelection of Cen
eral Grant. Since the time of Monroe we have
had no candidate for second Presidential
term whose prospects at this early stage Of the
canvass have been better than the prospects
of General Grant for triumphant endorse
ment by the people. In 1868, beyond his
great achievements as soldier In the cause
of the Union. the country knew nothing OF
this quiet, modest, unpretending man. In
grateful recognition Of his incalculable SER
vices as q soldier he was advanced by the
people to the head of the government. Now,
in the work of retrenchment and reform, and
of reconstruction In the cause of equal rights,
harmony and peace, at home and abroad he
has given us the proofs Of practical states
manship which has won for him and his ad-
ministration the general approval and conf
dence of the country To look at him and to
talk with him ninety-nine men perhaps out
of hundred would suppose him to be pos
sessed of none of the gifts Of the first class
soldier or statesman; and yet his achieve
ments in the field and in the cabinet for prac-
tical work stamp him as one Of the most re-
markably gifted men of the age. Best of all,
| he has established character for good, hard
common sense, honesty Of purpose and devo-
ton to the public interests which cannot be
shaken with the great body of the people
Whence, then, this extraordinary hue and
cry against the military despotism and mani
fold corruptions of General Grants admins
tration? Whence these remarkable disafec-
lions Of such men as the Summers, the Fentons,
the Greeleys, the Trumbulls, the Gratz
Browns. and oil these anti Grant republicans2
1t is only the old story of over ambitious poll
ticians and disappointed Office beggars seeking
their small revenges. From Washington, who
was the best abused man Of his tire, we have
had the same groupings out, more or less,
under every administration to this day. There
was formidable company Of boilers from Cen
eral Jackson during his first term, and such
an array of opposition elements in the outset
against his re-slection-national republicans.
anti-Masons and Southern nullif1ers, Calhoun
at the head OF them-that they threatened the
humiliation of ''Old Hickory and the democ-
racy; but the result was the humiliation Of
these discordant and incongruous opposition
| nj Iafo IN No1h t,,,, frOu vvh IA
never recovered. From Jackson down to Lin
coin we had no President equal to the diff
culties to be overcome In order to command
reelection. Van Buren, was cut out in con-
vention of his friends by the application OF
| the two thirds rule as an ultimatum from the
Southern oigarchy, in consequence of his op-
position to the scheme of a war with Mexico
involved in the Southern scheme of the annex
alton of Texas. Harrison, Polk, Taylor,
Pierce and Buchanan were mere temporary
expedients and compromises among the party
managers; and the great revolutionary storm
which began to thicken and darken the sky
over the amiable Polk burst with all its fury
upon the head of poor old Buchanan, and tore
to pieces and swept away the old democratic
party.
The war of the rebellion and the necessities
of the Union cause made the reelection Of
Lincoln necessity to the republican party.
And yet there was powerful array Of boilers
against him as candidate for another term !;
and particularly conspicuous among these men
was Chief Justice Chase, as an active rival
republican candidate. The anti-Lincoln re-
publican movement, however, finally took the
shape of an Independent new party In q
national convention at Cleveland, which nom-
mated the independent Presidential ticket of
General John G. Fremont and General John
} Cochrane. But with the denomination of
Lincoln by the regular republican conven-
ton Fremont and Cochrane withdrew from
the fight, Chase capitulated, Greeley fell into
| line and worked like faithful omnibus horse
to the end of the campaign, and the anti-Lin-
coin republican party mysteriously disap-
peared. Naturally enough, however, after
his second election, Lincoln was as much
annoyed by the demands and complaints and
impracticable crotchets Of Greeley as he had
been before. At last, however, 10 being
humored with the special diplomatic mission
of peacemaker on the part of the United
States, with George Sanders and others or
the part of the so-called Confederate States,
at Niagara Falls, Mr.. Greeley was pacified
and became great admirer of Lincoln, unit
1t leaked out that this extraordinary diplo
matte mission was only one Of "Old Abe's'
practical jokes
So 'here we are again, Mr.. Merryman, ant
what horse will you ride now9" 1t is the same
old circus with its side shows, though the pro
gramme is changed. Mr.. Sumner now takes
| the nlace which was occunied nv Calhoun In