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


debate on the sale Of arms has degenerated
into q mere political discussion, and the
leaders of the different parties are marking
ont their plan of campaign. There will
probably be several days of continuous debate
before the vote is TAKEN and the result of the
discussion will be to clearly define the lines of
action in the Presidential canvass.
If any of the republican leaders inimical to
President Grant have entertained the idea that
he will not be renominated at Philadelphia in
June recent events must dispel the i'm
preston. Every State in which the republic
can party has spoken at all has pronounced
unequivocally in his favor. The Southern
States will support him in body, with the
exception of Louisiana. There may be oppo-
sition in New England, but we question
whether it will have emphasis enough to affect
the vote of single State. There will be
close contest in Pennsylvania, but the friends
of Governor Curtin are divided on the
issue, and the vast personal strength and con-
summate political tact Of General Cameron
will make the organization sure for Grant If
Colonel Mcclure had seen any opportunity of
defeating Grant inside of the party he would
never have gone outside to accept q nomina-
ton from band of rowing political adven-
turers, who cared nothing for principle and
simply strove to win. We shall have sharp
contest in New York. Mr.. Greeley has one
| leg out Of the party traces, and he may take
courage from Trumbulls speech to 60 out alto
gether; but Mr. Greeley and his fol-
lowers will be disciplined as effec-
lively In the coming Convention as
they were disciplined by Mr.. Conkling at
| Syracuse We have no idea that Mr.. Fenton
will bolt the nomination. He is not boiling
man, and he has never taken any position in
opposition to the President from which he
could not be coaxed to recede. So that in
any event we may feel sure that there will be
delegation from New York that will vote for
Grant.
How far will the attitude of Mr.. Trumbull
affect the public opinion of the republican
party? Mr.. Trumbull has been on the verge
of the party ever since impeachment. He is
now serving his third term in the Senate For
two terms he was rigid, imperious partisan.
cipline, or more prompt to punish desertion;
but for three years he has been breathing the
incense of the Presidency, and he has yielded
to the sweet, delicious influence. 1t Is the old
story over again. We saw it In the case
of Mr.. Chase, who was an extreme radical
in the winter and candidate for the demo-
cratic nomination in the spring. We have
seen 1t in the instances of Mr.. Sumner, Judge
Davis, Judge Field, Gratz Brown, Secretary
Cox and Mr.. Greeley. The moment men be-
gan to discuss the propriety of running any of
these men for the Presidency as q new party
candidate they began to be critical and cap
tious with the old party. Mr.. Trumbull is a
more timid man than any of the others we
name. Except when under the inau-
ence of anger, or prejudice, he has
always been shy and coquettish. and
shrinking from responsibilities. Never a
man of the people, he has lived cold, re-
served, studious life, making none of the mis-
takes which are invariably made by men of
rare and commanding natures As Presi-
dent he would be as obstinate as Andrew
johnson, with more decorum and reserve and
culture in his manifestations of obstinacy. He
has simply made himself the reputation of
being respectable and proper. We cannot
any great act of craftsmanship, with any speech
| or declaration that has entered into history He
served the party like partisan, accepted it's
honors and dignities, and would probably
have drfted along into another term, some
times criticising, sometimes scolding, but inva-
riably voting with the party when the time
came. Now the loftier ambition has come to
him; he sees that he will scarcely be named
| in a convention that will inevitably nominate
| Grant, and, like Chase and Blair and the others,
| he seeks elevation from the men with whom he
has been at war since he began his career.
| The effect of this speech will be to consol-
date the elements of opposition to Grant; but
we do not see that it will secure Mr.. Trumbull
the nomination for the Presidency, even from
the anxious gathering which proposes to
meet at Cincinnati. Mr.. Trumbull has COM
mitted himself. He is no longer man to be
sought, for the anti Grant leaders have him
In possession. This nomination will be offered
to some doubling Senator, and we may expect
to see Logan and one or two others becoming
heady under the incense which will be breathed
upon them. But the speech of Mr.. Trnmbull
is conspicuous as showing the poverty of him
self and friends. A close reasoner, and
skilled in all the resources Of debate, he has
not advanced an argument which will be en-.
tertained by the country for we might as
well say to these men, what time will con.
clusively demonstrate, that no President,
especially one who has done so wisely az
Grant, can be defeated by common tavern
ISLANDERS; and upon sitting Trumbull'a
careful declarations down to their