Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-05
Plotting to ssBeat General Gran,.'


Somebody describes Judge Davis, Of Illinois,
as a republican" which is about as correct as
it would be to describe Andrew johnson as a
republican. He acted with the republican party
after Mr. Lincoln was nominated, and received
from Mr.. Lincoln the position he now holds in
the supreme court of the United States; but
some years have passed since his relation TO the
republican party became that of a dissenting
outsider. We believe it disappeared 10 that
mighty "swing round the circle" by which the
johnson administration was immortalized At
any rate, he was long ago mentioned as an
eligible candidate for the new departure demo-
Gratis and has been one of the stock possibilities
of the passive" gentlemen Of the democratic
persuasion, not without good reason. That he
belongs to that crowd has at no time been doubt
full; and it now appears distinctly in his recent
" expressed opinion that "the only way to de-
feat Gen. Grant is by combination of disaf-
fecied republicans and the democratic party"
1t is noteworthy that the passivists" and
all who work with them to get up for "disafected
republicans the nice little play of " The Spider
TO the Fly" assume as absolutely certain that
their business in the coming presidential cleo
ll0u VIII NOuSAsl Vi II uCspSAatS SllNlNaNoI ~
cheat Gen. Grant" We must all wait until
next summer to know certainly who will be the
republican candidate for the presidency. It
may be Gen Grant, and it may be somebody
else but these passive" intriguers and their
friends have already settled the question. They
are perfectly sure he will be nominated, which
means, of course, that they believe the republic
can party will prefer him to any other man.
Perhaps the result in convention will be as they
predict. There are other good republicans
who are eminentiy qualified for the office, but
Judge Davis and the other 'passive" people
keep his name before the country and do not
allow us TO think of anybody else. We suppose
they think the republican party has not failed
to appreciate in a proper manner the thorough
ness with which Gen. Grant deals with kuklux-
ism, nor overlooked his reform of our indian
policy or his efforts TO reform the civil service,
or his earnest support of the policy of protect
ing American industry. Be the explanation
what it may, they certainly have reasons for
saying constantly that Gen. Grant will be the
next republican candidate for the presidency.
Now, to cheat Gen. Grant" is not the very
worst thing that can be done, provided beating
him does not beat the republican party. Gen.
Grant as an individual is one thing; but Gen.
Grant formally put before the people by the re-
publican party as its candidate for the presiden-
cy, is something very different. 1t is the re-
publican party which the plotting "passivists"
are so eager to beat, and, TO reach this result,
they would nominate Gen. Grant himself, by
reclamation, if they could persuade him to be
sufficiently "disaffected" to act with them.
Some of their helpers in getting up the arrange
ment by which those poor flies, "disaffected re-
publcans," are to be made food for the demo-
cratic spider, say in every variety of tone adapt
ed TO their purpose, that republican" nom
mated for support by tie democratic party, will
be Just as much a republican as the nominee of
the republican party. They suppose somebody
viii believe this, we dare say; and doubtless,
they will next maintain that to belong to the
democratic party is precisely the same as to be
q republican. Most people understand the
difference. In fact, it is so well understood,
hatJudge Davis himself fears that the plot he
fayors would not be successful; or, rather, he is
"not at III sanguine that such a combination is
possible" He does well to be mot at all san
guine," for the difference between light and
darkness is very generally understood.
The selection of a republican candidate for
the presidency may be safely left to the republic
can national convention which will meet in
Philadelphia, next summer. The opposing
nominee, no matter who he may be or how he
may be nominated, will necessarily be the dem
ocratic candidate. So far as concerns this ques-
zion, our chief interest is not the man who may
be put in nomination. We propose to support
the republican party, and oppose all endeavors
TO defeat this party and bring back political
supremacy to the men and the spirit now repre-
serted by kukuxism, and by persistent SYM
pathy with the conquered slave power.
The time has not come when it will
be safe to place the government iof
the country in such hands. Therefore,
while it is to us comparatively matter of in-
difference whether this or the other competent
man shall get the republican nomination or fail
to get it, we hold it to be matter of the high
est importance 10 the country that the republic
can candidate should be elected. And he will
be elected. The so called "disaffected republi-
cans are not numerous, and very few if any of
them are disaffected with the republican party
itself. They may oppose individuals; but they
are not ready to strike the party to desert its
aims.