Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-03-24
SAlM BOIHLES ON GRlNT.

SAN BOIVLE,S on GRANT.
Sam Bowles writes from Washing
ton, TO his newspaper, the Springfield
Republican, his impression Of the Re
publican party and of Grant and his
future course:
The opening of Congress in Decem
Der found the Republican members ask.
ing each other, pWhcrewithal shall wc
be saved r. The close in March dis.
missed them with the conviction that
they are lost Certainly, the session
has increased the division and dcepened
the decentralization. There is real
and radical difference Of opinion in the
Republican party, not only upon men,
but upon measures, even upon princi-
plcs. All attempts TO heal this differ,
encc, to smother it, are failures and
its legitimate progress to its legitimate
results is beginning to be accepted by
the wisest leaders ON both sides. DIFF
ferenccs between currency and tariff,
even between economy and extrava-
gance in administration, might be toll
Grated or postponed in the presence OF
union upon more pressing issue but
the difference upon the more pressing
issuc---that of dealing with the South
ern question-has come to be greater
than any others; and, coupled with o
sharp difference over the head OF the
Administration, as the representative
Of the side Of that issue, has come to be
inexorable and stringent
For it is not to be escaped that the
policy of Gen. Grant with the Southern
States, and the manner in which he
has illustrated it, is the rock upon
which the Republican party is splitting
There are shades Of difference with him
but nearly all the strong men of-tht
party here--strong intellectually and
neutrality-suspicious. both the policy and
the manner OF Its enforcement vii.
son, the MONTHS, Wadlelgh, Ferry, ai
least u third, possibly hall, OF the Eas.
tern Republican Senators are against
both; 30 IN the House, Blame, Dawes
5arheld, roland ana even the two
iioars, w iliard, hawley--the forty Des'
fepuphcans oil the house-are more
ir-reconciled to tho Administration on
TINS question than either their speeches
or their votes nave yet Indicated. Ihe
cabinet even, might be entered ioi
protestants'
Nothing is more obvious here now
than the increased realization and con
iession OF this third-term. ambition
Since December the Presidents strange
ambition finds many more open advo-
Gates, much more open recognition
among Republicans than it did then
The names that could be given in au-
thority for the Presidents purpose
would almost carry convincing weight
with the country. ] think at least
fifty of the most prominent Republican
Congressman now confess it--aIl Of
them with sadness, most of them with
Indignation. The cabinet and the Su.
premc Court both furnish supporters
Of the theory. The Democrats all be
lieve in il; and, moreover, they believe
that so far as the Republican nomina.
ton is concerned the President will
win On the other hand, most of the
strenuous supporters of General Grant
and his Southern policy either embrace
or accept the theory, or will not com.
nit themselves upon it. A few, like
Senator Jones, of Nevada, and Howe
of Wisconsin, are infdcls. They affect
at least, TO believe that he has no third.
term purpose, and they are against il
II he has. So somc Of his personal
friends out Of politics. But the great
bulk of the Grant men, pure and sim.
pie, either advocate his reelection,
accept it as possible contingency, OF
dodge IL painful question. General
Butler, the accepted leader ofthe Prosi
dental policy in the House for the past
month, has not doubted General Grants
third-tcrm ambition these two years
and has already given significanttokcn
OF his Willingness to support it. While
among the rings and Jobbers and lob
bDyists, temporary or permanent resi-
dents IN the District, the contractor
and sntler following ofthe White House
and the departments, and all that crowd
OF cuttle-fsh that circle around power,
and many of his personal advisers have
found too congcnial associations, pro
testations are growing louder that he
Is ihe only man who can save the
ooa"s,, ~, "nulnu nv party anu.,,ncnlselvcs' !,