Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-06-25
The PresIdenps Letter.

In concluding his letter the President
says he is not and never has been candi-
date for denomination, and That he would
not accept II If II were offered him, except
under circumstances which would make
Il an imperative duty, but which, he says,
arc not likely to arise. He thus virtually
wilhdraws his name from further consid.
Grafton, and in manner which will com
mend him anew 70 the regard of his coun-
! trymen. The attempt TO represent his let
/ ter as iuconclusivc or unwilling is hope
! less There is nothing more absurd than
| the portrayal OF Gen. Grant as dark, de-
| signing man, nourishing a deadly ambi-
| tion, and resolved TO overthrow our liber.
! tics. Nothing is more conspicuous In him
! than his simple patriotism. lie is hon
cstly faithful to his sense of official duty;
and however we may have differed as TO
the wisdom of any course he has pursued,
or however freely we may have criticised
his conduct, we have never felt or init
mated the least distrust of his honest and
patriotic purpose. There can be no doubt
of the entire sincerity of his remark in
this letter: "The idea thatany man could
elect himself President, or even rcnomi.
nate himself, is prepostcrous 1t is re.
Election upon the intelligence and patriot.
ism of the people to suppose such Thing
possible. Any man can destroy his
chances for the Office, but 10 one can
force An election, or even n nomination."
We think that in this remark he fails to
appreciate the enormous and insidious
power of patronage and Of machine
politics." but we certainly do not suppose
that il is the mask of any foul purpose of
cUerCing the popular will
The treatment of the letter by the Dem
ocratic and Opposition press is natural
and very explCable. Their chief capital
has been denunciation of what they call
| Grantism, the identification of the party
| with the personal fortunes and ambition
of the President. BY one stroke of his
| pen he now Confounds this assumption,
| and, while he puts an end 10 Grantism,
commends Grant to higher favor. This
is very great service, for it
presents to the country the simple
issue, without any re.crvations be-
tween tho spirit, tendency and proba-
bilities Of Republican or Democratic as
tendency. We shall hear much, of course,
of Grants Presidential favoritcs and
Grants candidates and of the continuance
of the Grant policy that this candidate is
Grant under another name, and that that
is Grants worst adviser. Indeed, Gen.
Grant having withdrawn himself honestly
from the canvass, we shall still be told
that we cannot escape him, and that, de-
spite himself and despite the Republican
party, he is still the party and the party
is he
While this folly continues no Rcpubli-
can will fail to see how constantly the
party puriiics and strengthens itself The
pretcnscs that the ofliCe.holdcrs would i'm.
pose the President upon the convention,
that the party would not dare to disclaim
the third term, and that those who sup.
ported it were the real directors of the
party, are now all swept away. And the
spirit which has disposed of them is the
renewed ana rcyiving spirit which sees
that the party was inclining toward some
dangerous courses, and is sensible enough
TO acknowledge il, and to reprove and
correct the tendency. II is impossible for
any fair man to show either that the con-
! tinued dominance of the Republican party
would insure the adoption of courses that
! have been condemned, or that a Demo-
| cratic success would secure an intelligent
and firm administration of the Govern.
mont in the spirit of the amended COnsti-
tuition. The letter of the President is a
very significant political event. 1t re-
moves plain difficulties from the situation,
and cheers every citizen who would re-
gard the passing of the National Govern
mcnt into Democratic hands as national
calamity. Weekly.