The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-20

AAc Lao advantages ior lnuueuclng the cnolce
OF delegates not possessed by any Eastern
opponent of Morton. He alone could carry
the war into Africa and bring discontinue
upon that demagogue in his own domain.
Perhaps the only thing which could reconcile
the right thinking portion of the American
people to the third election of President, is
combination of circumstances which would
make that, the only rescue from further debase-
ment of the currency and national dishonor.
Morton, therefore, with all his craft and
astuteness, is playing shortsighted game.
He is pursuing course which tends to invite
and almost force into the field the only antag-
onist with whom he has no possible chance Of
coping successfully. OF all our public men
President Grant has established the best
record on the currency question. Of all our
public men he has rendered the most signal
and timely service in a critical juncture fraught
with alarming danger. OF all men in the
country he is best entitled to stand as the rep
resentative of anti-infation. If that is to be
the great issue in the Republican National
Convention his claim to the nomination can
be contested on no other ground than the in
expediency Of nominating candidate who
has already held the office two terms. But
if the initiation issue is forced many
citizens will reason precisely ms they would if
we were in the midst of great war, in which
the services of military President could not
safely be dispensed with. Their cry would be,
"Better three terms than imitation Better
three terms than the possibility of President
who would sacrifice the public prosperity and
national honor!"
II, therefore, Morton desires the republican
nomination, o true perception of his own in
terest should lead him to acquiesce in the veto
with as much alacrity and as good grace as
possible. 1t is the strong card of his most
formidable rival, and he ought TO be too wary
to give him an opportunity to play it. If
Morton had but the good sense to say, ''The
known views of the President render any fur
Their expansion of the currency impossible
that has ceased to be practical question, and
will not distract the republican party by
urging impossibilites, this controversy
would die out before another year, and Gene
raj Grant would have no peculiar hold upon
public feeling as a candidate for third term.
We give the ambitious Indiana Senator good
advice it is for himself to decide whether be
will accept it
Political parties in this country are more
likely to be wrecked by the action of their
national conventions than in any other
manner. Candidates rely SO much on the
cohesive strength of party spirit that they
fancy the battle is gained if they can but get
q regular nomination. So Breckenridge and
Douglas judged in 1860, and thereby split and
Frustrated party which embraced great
majority of the voting citizens. Imitation, if
madly pushed, may split the republican party
in 1876, as slavery did the democratic party
in 1860. Even smaller schisms may be fatal to
success. In 1848 the Democratic National
Convention rejected the barnhurner delegates
from this State, and the consequence was that
they went home, organized new party
nominated Martin Van Buren, and Charles
Francis Adams on their national ticket, and
General Dix for Governor of New York, and
thereby defeated General Cass, the regular
democratic candidate. The republican party
will doubtless hold together until 1875, but
unless Morton and his associates are wise
enough to drop the imitation issue it may
meet fate like that which overlook the proud
and over-con6dent democracy in 1860. If the
Western leaders carry the imitation question
into the Congressional elections of this year
their pride will be too much enlisted for aay
retreat afterwards, and although they may not
succeed IN ruling the republican party they
will be pretty sure to ruin it. ..-..