The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-07
President Grants Reasons for Seeking
Re-election-What Are the Real
Issues OF the Campaign.

ASsWcb "a tno
In conversation with q HERALD corre-
spondent on Monday last President Grant ex-
planned how it was that he came to be cand-
date in the present election. He was not
anxious, he said, for O second term Of Office !;
but he consented to receive the nomination
because he thought it would be tho best way
of discovering whether majority of his coun-
trymen really believe oil that has been alleged
| against his administration and himself per-
sonally and are willing to aid his enemies in
casting ISLANDERS upon him. The asperities Of
an election campaign he thought would afford
his political opponents and personal enemies
an opportunity and an excuse to say all they
could against him. and these he desired they
should enjoy, although it seems they had
already said enough before he had ever
thought of second term to induce him to ap-
peal to his fellow citizens for endorsement
| The President goes on to state as another rea-
son Of his candidacy that he also desires
to ascertain whether the republican
party is to have its policy sustained or
not; but as airy other nominee Of the
organization could have settled that point as
well as himself, we must conclude that his
real reason for accepting or seeking renomi-
nation was desire to ascertain whether the
people are ready to stand by him now as they
stood by him in 1868.
We think that President Grant scarcely does
justice to himself or to the American people
in this singular explanation. The election OF
President of the United States involves grave
interests, and should not be made simply a
any individual character 1t Is not just or fair
to the electors, who have q responsible duty to
perform and whose votes ought to be con-
trolled by q conscientious consideration Of the
best interests Of the country, to tell them that
they are only called upon to decide by their
ballots in November whether they will aid or
condemn the slanderers of President Grant.
The Presidents character is as dear to the
American people as to himself, and they have
done nothing to assail it. Four years ago
they gave him proof of their respect and
gratitude, and they should not be told that to
elect another candidate to the Presidency
now and to declare in favor Of change
of national policy will be personal condem-
nation of General Grant. Behind the President
stand party whose principles are on trial
and Congress whose acts have an influence
for good or evil on the whole nation, and the
issue cannot, therefore, be regarded as mere
personal one between the President and his
enemies. Besides, if President Grant has
accepted the nomination only for the purpose
Of appealing to the people for second en-
dorsement Of his individual character and SER
vices it is proper that he should place himself
before them now as he stood before them four
years ago. Then, he had declared in favor of
generous and liberal treatment Of the men
who had been in arms against the government,
but had in good faith accepted the results Of
the war; Now, he enforces Of his own will the
arbitrary and offensive bayonet law over the
Southern States and aids in carrying out the
policy Of oppression towards the Southern
Then, he uttered the memorable words, "Let us
have peace" Now, he suffers his closest adj
visers to declare against peace and to counsel
the reopening of oil the wounds Of the war.
Then, he pronounced the negroes incapable
of intelligently exercising the right Of fran
chise. Now, his advocates seek to consolidate |
the negro vote Of the Southern States upon
him, and for that purpose to excite their worst
passions against their old masters.
We submit to President Grant that if the
issue involved in this campaign is really SO mar
row and personal as he seems to suppose, he
should OF once rid himself Of the policy and
the politicians who surround him, and suffer
the people to decide the question upon his
own merits alone. Let him loosen the
military grasp from the throat of
the Southern people, change his Cabinet,
drive from him the counsellors who have led
him into all sorts Of dilemmas and break up
his military corps at the White House. He
will then stand in the position he occupied
when the nation bestowed upon him its high
est honors, four years ago. AT present he is
hidden from view by the men who have
caused his administration to falsify all the
professions he made and all the sentiments he
protested before his election. To accept
him the people must accept Secretary Fish,
who has made us the laughing stock of
foreign nations; Secretary Boutwell,, who has
striven to plunge the Southern States into
as dire confusion as he has brought
upon us financially the Congressional politi-
clans, who have sought to keep alive the hatred
and bitterness Of the war, and whose motto
has been 'Let us have no peace" That the
people are unwilling to do so is already seen
in the vote Of North Carolina, whose white
citizens pronounce by ON enormous majority
against such acceptance. General Grant four
years ago receivedin that State, without effort,
over twelve thousand majority. To-day the
State refuses him its endorsement despite the
most desperate exertions Of his friends to Sc