The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-02-04
President Grant and Vice President Wilson.

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The New York Herald contrasts the wisdom
and policy of these officials in the following
significant manner:
The recent letter of Vice President Wilson
is, considering Its source, the most damaging
arraigrment Of President Grant ever made
What does Mr.. Wilson mean when he says
that the Republican party cannot recover its
lost power and prestige by policy of rewards
and punishments or by party discipline ?"
What does he intend to denounce when he de-
clares in his letter that there are hundreds of
thousands in the Republican party "who can
not be seduced by the Establishments of power
nor be greatly moved by the threats of disci-
pline2" Against whom does he aim his CEN
sure when he declares that "mere politicians,
who think they can govern by the whip of par
ty dicipline will find that they cannot thus
reach and control the independent men who
struck the lash from the hands of the slave
masters nor can we recover what is lost by
the impertinent intermedding Of office-holders
in nominations and elections ?" These side
long shots are aimed at General Grant; they
have no pertinence unless he is their object.
They make it evident that Vice President
Wilson thinks that President Grant is running
the Republican party by his mistaken policy.
The party will be compelled to decide between
these conflicting views. Mr.. Wilson IS faith
full representative of the great mass of repub-
lican voters; General Grant represents the
otfice-holding interest. The salvation Of the
party depends upon which of those conflicting
views prevails in Republican councils. Vice
President Wilson sees that Grantism is destruc-
ton unless General Grant forces his way to
third term by military violence which would
trample down all party distinctions under the
iron hoa1 Of ralantlacc }isu IF frpe
elections are permitted in 1876 the defeat Of
the Republican party is inevitable, unless the
policy of Grant is exchanged for the policy of
Wilson.
We endeavor to keep clear of political Quix-
otism and abstain from making recommends
tions which will never be adopted. But if the
Republican party were powerful enough to
enforce its views, the wisest thing it could do
would be to compel the resignation of Presi-
dent Grant and let Vice President Wilson
succeed to his functions aud powers. With
Mr. Wilson as President, the Republicans
would have fair chance of success in 1875.
If he were President the Southern troubles
would be RENTED to local opinion for settle
ment, and the country would expect fair
Presidential election in 1876. But under Gen.
Grant nobody can anticipate whether the peo-
pie are to elect the next President or whether
President Grant has no respect for the popular
will, aud his readiness to override it by militia
ry force in Louisiana proves that he has no
scruples which stand in the way of his nullify-
ing any elections which contravene his wishes.
If the party which supports him comedies his
right to thwart an election in, louisiana where
will they stop7 If he can reverse the popular
choice in Louisiana he can reverse it iu any
other State and re-elect himself by his military
supremacy over the elections. That large por-
ton of the Republican party represented by
Vice President Wilson would repudiate such
result as heartily as the Democratic party itself
Aside from General Grants office-holding sup
porters the public opinion of the country is
unanimous against his third term pretensions.
1t is public misfortune that Vice President
Wilson is not at the head of the government
for be would insure an honest expression Of
the popular will in the Presidential election,
whereas General Grant, with his tendencies to
Imperialism, would have as little scruple in
overturniug the result of Presidential election
as he has shown in annulling the choice of the
people in Louisiana.