The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-23
President Grant and Vice President
Wilson.


The remarkable divergence of views between
the two highest functionaries of the govern
ment, elected on the same ticket by the same
political party, arrests public attention and
challenges the thoughtful consideration of the
republican party. The contrast presented by
the conflicting views of these eminent federal
officials may perhaps be accounted for by
corresponding contrast in their political ante
cedents and their relations to public ques-
tons. Mr.. Wilson held respectable rank
among the original founders of the republican
party; General Grant was a pro-slavery demo-
crat up to the time of the civil war, and the
only vote he ever cast in his life was vote for
Buchanan in 1856, when the issue was first
sharply defined between the pro-slavery and
anti-slavery tendencies in our politics. Cap
tain Grant-this was his rank ct that time,
we believe-placed himself in hostility to
the ideas and sentiments in which the foun-
dations were then laid for the triumphant
career Of the republican party In that turn
ing point of our political history Wilson and
Grant stood in opposite political camps, VIII
son being even then conspicuous and rising
obscure voter in some Western town. But the
action of these men in 1856, when the political
caldron boiled over with the heat of partisan
passions, marked the difference in their char
acters Grants sympathies were as freely
given to the upholders of slavery as Wilson's
were to the opposite side. In the great polit-
cal battle of 1860 Grant felt too little interest
in the result to deposit silent vote; but Will
son was strenuous advocate of the election OF
Mr.. Lincoln. When the war broke out in
the following year Captain Grant offered his
services to the government, like hundreds Of
thousands of other democrats who cared
nothing for the slavery question. He went
into the war as democrat and came out OF 1t
as o democrat He made what Senator Sum-
ner denounced as embarrassing report
| on the submissiveness of the South to federal
authority. He accompanied President john
son in his famous tour described at the time
as swinging around the circle" We allude.
to these incidents as proof that General
Grant and Mr.. Wilson stood in opposing
political camps, Mr.. Wilson having the
confidence and General Grant having
party, as things stood at that time.
The republican party afterward thought
it expedient to nominate General Grant
for the Presidency, not because he
held their views, but because he was certain
to b nominated and elected by the demo-
Gratis if their own party did not take him
up. President Grant was not nominated
| - h I'D
tons, but because his military reputation
seemed to insure the success of any party
that made him its candidate. General Grant
is IN exotic in the republican party; be had
no sympathy with its ideas and was adopted
a. its candidate because it was thought that
military prestige might determine the cleo
ton. General Grant was not adopted into
the republican party as q man sharing its
convictions, but as a person Of pliable politi-
cal ideas, who was willing to serve as soldier
Of fortune any cause which might promote
his personal interests. In judging between
him and Vice President Wilson it is impos-
sible to ignore the differences in their po-
litical antecedents. Mr.. Wilson represents
the real sentiments of the party; General
Grant represents political expediency. The
question between Wilson and Grant is simplya
question between honest political convictions,
| long and consistently held, and the trimming
expediencies which aim to make the federal
patronage the controlling force in politics
The policy of Vice President Wilson appeals
to the great mass Of republican voters; the
policy of President Grant addresses itself only
|
dent makes the nobler appeal In COM
parison between the selfish interest of Office
holders and the political convictions OF the
voting masses nobody can dispute that
conscience ought to carry the day
against vulgar political motives The
policy of Vice President Wilson is adj
dressed to the voting multtudes who have
hitherto upheld the republican party; the
policy of President Grant is an appeal to the
ofice-holding interest. The existence of the
republican party is staked on its choice be-
tween the policy of President Grant and the
policy of Vice President Wilson. It is con-
test between the honest republican masses rep
resented by Mr.. Wilson and the ofice-holding
interest represented by General Grant.
The recent letter of Vice President Wilson
is, considering its source, the most damaging
arraignment of President Grant ever made.
What does Mr.. Wilson mean when he says
that the republican party cannot recover it's
lost power and prestige by policy of rewards
and punishments or by party discipline"
What does he intend to denounce when he
declares in his letter that there are hun
dreds of thousands in the republi-
can party ''who cannot be seduced
by the Establishments of power nor be
greatly moved by the threats of disci-
plinea'' Against whom does he aim his CEN
sure when he declares that "mere politicians