The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1875-07-10

GENERAL GRANT. ss5s
The Third Term-Presideatial Success
sion.
EMERSON BENTLEY.
The question, who shall be Grants
successor, is vital one to the Repub-
lican party. The wires are being laid
by experienced schemers to oppose
Objectionable and further the aspira-
tons of favorite candidates. Politi-
cal centres are sending their missives
TO the country cross roads. The
clique is preparing to control the eau
Gus, dictate to the State convention
and capture the national one. This
is the usual mode of operation. If
we have q favorite we must follow
their footsteps, and meet them at
each successive step. Just now it is
proper to appeal to, tho people en-
masse to influence their choice.
If the perpetuity of firm admins
tratlon of government, the continued
ascendancy Of sound principles of
law and liberty, and justice to the
creditors Of the nation, should depend
upon the availability Of one man, the
question of Presidential succession
becomes q matter for profound con-
sideration. Wendell Phillips, whose
utterances have often been of pro-
phetic character, gives it as his opin-
ion that General Grant is the only
man the Republicans can elect for
President in 1876. He does not stand
alone in this view.
The popularity Of President Grant
exceeds that Of any other leader of
the Republican party. This is an un-
questioned fact. His fidelity to Of
fetal trusts is generally admitted; to
his party, it Is acknowledged with
gratitude. His executive ability, ju-
dicious exercise Of the veto, and
ready acknowledgment of the will
Of the majority when expressed
through the proper channel, have
created for him confidence within and
without party lines. The petty as
saults upon his personal character
the arrows of malice and disloyalty-
have fallen harmless aud shivercd to
atoms. -tr-
With reference to contending par
ties, what issue Of 1868 and 1872, may
with security be called dead to-day :?
1t may be true that more calmness
aud prudence is exercised, and there
are fewer outbursts of sectionalism,
disloyalty, or bad blood but is there
any cessation of opposition to the leg
islation Of the war, the uutramheled
exercise of suffrage by the blacks, or
speedy payment of the national debt I
Do we not hear on every side the
word Unconstitutional" applied to
the settlements Of the war; "tyran-
nical," applied to the lawful exercise
of Federal authority to protect citi-
zenship; and imitation" instead Of
specie payment Can we delude
ourselves with the belief that all
these expressions are meaningless
or harmless I Will not all that is
unconstitutional be overthrow !;
all that is "tyrannical" be avoided
on the acquisition Of power BY the
Democracy What is liberty with
out law, or law without the power to
enforce it, What is to become of
any and all settlements of the war, if
the Confederates execute the will Of
the Union, become the judge and jury
and impose their own penalties I Is
not the passage of1a Southern State
from the hands Of the National Union
party always followed by constitu-
tional convention, q revision and en-
croachment upon the letter and
spirit of the terms Of reconstruction I
Is no significance to bo attached to
that fact I Arc the advocates of the
States rights doctrines to como from
battle fields of defeat to victory at
the ballot-box1 These questions are
uppermost in thoughtful minds to-
day, and can not be dispelled.
It is not statesmanship to continue
unnecessarily old agitations, but when
the policy and utterances Of political
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