The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-28
General Grant, the Republican Party
and tho Prudential Succession.


fidence and harmonious cooperation which
previously existed between the administration
and the ruling chiefs of the republican party.
The general results of those elections dis
closed such unexpected reductions IN the re-
publican vote, from the outlet OF the Hudson
to the head springs of the Mississippi, such a
prevailing spirit of apathy or discord or mu-
tiny in the republican camp, such startling
indications of great impending political re-
action as to be noted among the remarkable
events of the dying year in the late annual
Message of the President to Congress- His
allusion to the subject is very brief, being only
the passing remark that political partisan
shin has almost ceased to exist especially in
the agricultural regions )" but time,
place and circumstances considered, this
is very significant hint from a
republican President to republican Con-
gress 1t has something of the ring of q
declaration of independence from General
Grant, or of a warning that he must no longer
be expected blindly to conduct his administra-
ton in the interests of the republican party,
when political partisanship" has almost
ceased to exist among the people.
This warning of the Message has been fol-
lowed by General Grant with the absolute
abandonment of the radical policy of mill
tary regulation of the local affairs of the recon-
structed Southern States According to the
example of military Intervention in support of
Kellogg in Louisiana, Davis of Texas with
convenient decision from the Supreme Court
of his State in his favor as Governor, had rea-
son to believe that his application to the Pres
ident for q detachment of the United States
army to maintain him in his Office would be
cavalry, regiment of infantry, and a
battery of artillery upon the headquarters
of the presuming posse Of democratic
State officers elect assembled at Austin But
to the CONSERVATION Of Davis. General Grant
advises him to submit to the will Of the people;
law in his behalf, the unfortunate Davis is
fatty told that he has no case and that his re-
quest cannot be granted This is equivalent
to proclamation from the President that he
will pursue no further the proftless and disas-
trous radical policy of armed Intervention in
the settlement Of the contested elections of the
Southern States. Having thus crossed the
Rubicon, General Grant has no further inter-
est in the maintenance Of the Kellogg usurpa-
ton in Louisiana. Mr.. Morton has dropped
the primd facie case of Pinchback as claimant
for seat in the Senate, and if Governor Kel-
logg is not to be tried by new State election
he must, at least hereafter take care of him
self. These Louisiana usurpers are among
the monstrosities and dead weights Of the re-
publican party, of which, in the opinion OF
General Grant, the party cannot be too soon
relieved. He has had enough of them, and
will no more be troubled by them, be the con-
sequences what they may to the 'carpet-bag
gers or to the republican party in the South
ern States.
In this important matter General Grant, in
his quiet way, has assumed the responsibility
of acting upon his own Judgment. as in his
several nominations for Chief Justice. His
emphatic rebuff to Davis, of Texas, was
doubtless as much surprise to the republi-
can magnates of the Senate as was his nomi-
nation of Cushing for ''the highest judicial
ton as Minister to Spain. He does not seek
q conflict with the Senate in its official capa-
city, but be will not recognize the Senate as
party machine. He lost nothing of the popu-
lar confidence from the Senatorial bolt against
him of 1872 and he, perhaps, fears nothing
T. tho4 10
against him for 1876. Whether he contem-
plates third term or the naming of his sue
cessor, or a retirement from the field and
the position of neutral in reference to the.
republican nominating convention of 1876,
we do not know. 1t is apparent,
however, that since the State elections
of last autumn the opinion has
been gaining strength that General Grant
will not be the republican candidate for the
Presidential succession; that the republican
managers are casting about for new man;
that numerous aspirants for the prize in both
houses Of Congress have already been dis
covered that the President comprehends the
situation; that, having fulfilled his engage
ments with his party, and that, as the party
itself is in process of dissolution, he is free to
pursue his own course henceforward, and will
SO pursue it, regardless of party instructions
and solely in view of good record for his adj
ministration in the judgment Of an intelligent
people.
The spirit of Jacksonian independence
manifested by General Grant in the recent
acts 10 which we have adverted may be readily
explained upon this theory; but it may other
wise be accounted for Whether it is his pur-
pose to enter the canvass as candidate for q
third Presidential term, or to withdraw in
1876, and, in retiring, to name his successor,
after the manner of Jackson, or whether
he has determined upon an absolute
retirement from the strife of party
politics, leaving the succession to take
care of itself, after the example of Monroe it
NAV still be the purpose OF General Grant to