The New York herald., 1875-08-18
Presidential PrOspects-Where Is the
Man!

An ingenious ana aDle contemporary, III
speculating upon the prospects of the next
Presidency, argues that the democratic party
will, unless its majority in the House COM
NIT some unexpected blunder, elect the next
President. 1t contends, furthermore, that In
the great political revolutions of the last half
century an unknown man has been the sue
cessful candidate. Jackson, it says, was a
new man, politically considered. The un-
known James X. Polk was nominated against
Van Buren, In 1852 Franklin Pierce, with
State fame was nominated at Baltimore.
In 1860 Abraham Lincoln, who was scarcely
mentioned in public affairs antecedent to the
Chicago Convention, was nominated as the
republican candidate. 1t argues therefore,
that as we are upon the threshold Of another
great political revolution, the tendency of the
democrats will be to nominate some new
unknown man, and thus repeat that lesson
of history which was taught in the nomi-
nation of Pierce, Polk and Lincoln. We
do not accept the historical deduction
of our contemporary as altogether sound.
Andrew Jackson was by no means a new
man when nominated to the Presidency. In
fact, he was the most conspicuous American
of his time. He was the hero of the battle of
New Orleans and of other successful cam
paigns in the Southern States. His nomi-
nation was triumph of the popular belief
in his honesty and courage over the am
bitions and intrigues of statesmen as able as
Webster and Calhoun and Adams and Clay
The nomination of Mr.. Polk was a negative
event and simply meant the defeat of Van
Buren and Cass. The nomination of Pierce
was the defeat of Cass and Buchanan The
nomination of Mr.. Lincoln was the defeat of
Seward. In oil Of these controversies there
was strong man either to be beaten or to be
nominated. When weak and unknown men
have been taken it has only been as the
weapon to beat down some powerful an
tagonist whose ability or influence was dis
trusted.
In the republican party we have only one
man who can be honestly claimed to have
national reputation as candidate for the
Presidency. That is Ulysses S. Grant The
republican party has been SO thoroughly
under the shadow of the administration that
The influence of the White House has pre-
vented any healthy growth among leading
republicans. There is no leader outside of
the President who can even pretend to
national influence Take Mr.. Blaine, Mr.
Conkling, Mr.. Washburne, Mr.. Morton, Mr.
Wilson, Mr.. Sherman or General Hayes.
They have little more than local strength.
They are known in their own States. Beyond
this they have the merest shadow of follow
ing. Blaine and Wilson will be apt to de-
stroy each other in New England, as
Conkling and Morgan will destroy each
other in New York. Hayes and Sher-
man are antagonists in Ohio. Morton
is so thoroughly overburdened with in
fation follies that he could not carry a
single Eastern State. Not one of these
men has any special strength in the
South. There is large negro vote, with
out which the republican party would have
no existence in any Southern State. But
these voters care more for button on
General Grants uniform than forall the other
leaders of the republican party combined. |
This is to be attributed largely to the |
timidity Of the republican leaders, There are |
many statesmen in that party who would make
worthy Presidents, and in whose exaltation
the country would take pride. But they can
not expect to be man and dwarf at the same
time, to stunt themselves with Presidential
patronage, to shiver and tremble under the
shadows of the powerful discipline of the
military organization at the White House,
and to possess likewise the lusty vigor
of free and independent craftsmanship.
Therefore, when We look at Conkling and
Blaine and Morgan and Wilson and Morton
and Sherman and Hayes, instead of seeing
the true leaders of the party men worthy to
succeed the Websters and Calhouns and
Clays of the past, we find group of
;tunted growth, without strength or sub
stance, or worthy of national consideration.
whether we like it or not
General Grant is to-day the controlling mind
of the republican party. 1t would be as mad
20 ignore this fact as it would be for a sailor
20 insist that the breeze was coming from the
south when everybody knew it blew directly
rom the northeast. This is the cardinal
act in the next campaign for the Presidency.
If republicans can find some obscure man, as
unknown as Pierce or Polk, to overthrow
Grant, then we shall have a canvass like that
Of Buchanan in 1857. But consider the re-
sponsibility of overthrowing President
Grant The republican party is so controlled
now that the Convention must nominate its
next candidate for the Presidency in obe-
dience to the Presidential will, or, in incur
ring his displeasure, rush upon disaster.
President Grant can either make himself the
republican candidate or name his preference.
AS to the democracy, we do not see that
they are in much better position. They
have many promising candidates; more, per-
haps than the republicans. The party that