The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-29
zeal OF an inspired reformer. took the field for
the republican candidates in the elections of


zeal OF an inspired reformer, took the field for
the republican candidates in the elections of
last year.
In his great effort at becoming the Governor
Of Massachusetts two years ago General
Butler travelled from county to county and
from town to town stirring up the Seven
Shoppers Of the ancient Commonwealth Is they
had never been startled before, and at length
he 80 alarmed the old Puritan conservatives
that throughout the State, drums beating and
colors flying, they were leagued as band of
brothers for his defeat The Convention met
the battle was fought, Butler was defeated,
and, frankly accepting the situation, it WAS
thought he would trouble the straitlaced
Pharisees of the republican party no more as
candidate for Governor, or that he would at
least wait until called for in that capacity. But
they were mistaken in their man. Taking
time by the forelock, General Butler is
out and up again for Governor and for
the republican nomination in the Septem-
Der Convention; and great is the excite
ment thereby created among the orthodox,
and dreadful are their apprehensions of
the consequences. They do not admire him,
and they are afraid ofhim. They say that he is
an interruptions politician, an audacious dema-
gogue, and that, having advocated "Old Thad
Stevens greenback plan" for the redemption
of the national debt and having eulogizsd the
Credit Mobilier speculation as good thing,
and having volunteered as the leading de-
fender of the ''back-pay determination" they
recoil from the thoughtof the possibility of his
becoming the Governor of proud old Massa-
chusetts. Nevertheless, they fear that Butler
is the coming man. inasmuch as they have
been given to understand that he is the candi-
date of General Grant; and we presume the
Republic will survive even should Butler be
successful
This Massachusetts excitement over General
Butler however, will show how small mat
ter will serve for tempest in teapot, in
a season like the present, when no great
national issues are directly before the
people. The issues of 1872 have served
their purpose-the issues for 1876 will be
shaped by intervening measures and events at
Washington, and from present indications the
succession will be provided for by the admin
stration. The republicans evidently SO I'M
derstand it, from Maine to Texas and from
New York to California /; and the opposition
elements are universally acting upon the con-
viction that whether General Grant or new
man will be the republican candidate in '76,
his platform will be the measures and prin-
ciples of Grant administration. Nor will the
friends of Speaker Blaine or Senator Conk-
ling or Senator Morton or Secretary Fish, or
any supposed available republican for the
succession, dare to suggest his claims until
General Grant shall have spoken upon the
question of third term.
Accordingly, while the republican press is
silent upon this subject, the present movements
of the opposition forces of all sections and fac
tons ere harmonious in their opposition to the
administration, though otherwise they are all
adrift. From time to time some new de-
parture for the democratic party is thrown
upon the winds, but only to be blown away.
One of the most thoroughgoing was pro-
mulgated the other day from meeting of the
democrats of Allen county, Ohio, and il was .
proposition for new opposition party with q
new name broad enough to cover all the oppo-
sition forces of the Union. But this proposal
meets with the same overwhelming objections
as the motion to establish the democracy
squarely upon the platform of free trade. 1t
will not do. The new opposition move
ment recently inaugurated in New Orleans
on the basis Of the most liberal con-
cessions in civil and political rights to
the blacks, on the other hand, can hardly
fail of great successes if in good faith generally
adopted throughout the Southan carried into
universal practice. From the simple an
nouncemsnt of the overture much good has
evidently resulted in harmonizing the two
races in Louisiana The political situation in
Virginia is somewhat perple1ing, inasmuch as
the veteran old-line whig and democrat, ex-
Governor Wise, announces his readiness to
take the nomination as candidate for
Governor Of either the administration
or the opposition party, provided they
give him only one competitor. In summing
up our conclusions from this review of
our political field they may all be reduced to
the brief statement that, while the admins
tration and the republican party are resting
upon their oars, and while the opposition
elements are adrift and still vainly casting
about for a new departure, the whole shaping
OF the fight for the succession on both sides
depends upon the question, Is General Grant
to be again the republican candidate?
The War the Nuisances.
The Board of Health seem to be content