The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-09-27
FROM THE CAPITAL.
About Presidents and Candidates
The Third Term-The Missis-
sippi Case-A Cautious Attorney
General.


The Third Term-The Missis-
General.
| Correspondence Of the Star.
WASHINGTON, Sept. "a.
1t is questionable whether the Republican
party Is not little imprudent in its destruc-
| tion Of the availability of General Grant as a
| Presidential candidate by its anti-third term
| resolutions. But political parties are never
prudent The desire Of the faction and to be-
4 come the faction in-the former being always
the most numerous--is apt to dominate the
party counsels. and is one Of the most potent
agencies of party defeat; and the law, t'rule or
ruin," is as absolute between one faction and
/ another as it is between one party and an
other.
Looking through the catalogue Of postulants.
| 1t is hard to find one against whose political
or moral character some objection has
not been urged. The man among those
who have been named, who stands
frmest in this respect, is Bristow, the Secre-
| tary Of tue Treasury; but the question, what is
the measure of his abilities, and to what extent
| is he adapted to the requirements OF Official
| lfef Is one; the means 10 answer which his ca
/ ieer, thus far, does not afford. Taken from
lpriyate life and placed. without experience, in
the most difficult and responsible position in
| the Government, If he proves himself adequate
to the present exigency there will be no occa-
4 sion to doubt him in any post to which he may
| be elevated.
Poor Henry Wilson is refusing absolutely to
be candidate for the G0vernorship of Massa
chusetts, having higher duties to his country
Which 1T is incumbent upon him to discharge.
| Henry, in whose moral constitution 1t is hard
1 urh n M prpt m N ta
| atan or the ninny yhammer, Looks upon himself
as in the direct road to the Presidency, and
really believes that ne Is the most popular man
| in America. His delusion is an innocent one
under the circumstances, and il he will but
| consent to wait until George Francis Train and
Victoria q. Woodhull ana Dan Rice have tried
| their hands at the business, there will proba-
bly, be no objection to allowing him an oppor-
tunity.
| Inc more men see Of Morton the more they
dist ust him. There is nothing In his appear
| ance that is calculated to inspire confidence in
| his character, and nothing in his speeches-by
which he is best known politicalIy-to Indicate
| that he rises above the level Of o professional
politician He without doubt, looks upon him
| self as an eligible candidate, but there are
! probably not aI many Of the same opinion US
| he is inclined to imagine.
Mat. Carpenter is one OF the most presiden-
| tial al-looking men in America. 1t is a great
| pity that extraordinary mental Is so often CO.
| Oruinated with extraordinary physical ability.
| in that respect and take advice for the cor
| lection Of her morals. which are very eXcep-
| tionable.
Blaine is a very sharp politician, with good
executive abilities. and would, wi hout doub
| make q very efficient President lie would
probably take excellent care Of his friends il
he were in office. But, although
nothing came out to implcate him in the cred
It mobilier affair, the world has, in some way
or other, come to suspect that directly or indi-
rectly, lie had hand in it; and 1T is hurting
him. A very BAD thing that credit mob lier for
| all who allowed themselves to get mixed in Its
concerns.
Political phenomena have an under as well
as an upper side; the last being the only one of
which politicians take cugnizance: and hence,
at least half the time, they, unaccountably 10
themselves, fail in their calculations For ex-
| ample. while the Republican party is resolv-
ing that the adj ions Of popular liberty forbid
the election OF any man third time to the
Presidency, the old superstition that the edi-
fee OF The Republic is destined to tumble when
ever man shall be a third time elected is
evaporating. Compelled to look at it, it is seen
to be of the same order OF whimsIcalities with
the Scottish prophecy which oretoid that a
certain bridge should fall when ridden over by
a first born child upon irst-born foal. Our
Republic does not rest upon such ucklish con-
dltions. It may not be wefl-and
man third, or even second time, but that is
not the reason; and it night be profitable, in
| the long run, to dispose Of this bugbeaL, with
which, for go long, foolish people have fright
ened simple people, even at the expense OF Try
ing the experiment From Washington to
G. Giant-both iDcluded-every President hae
been arraigned by The press for designs against
the republic; charged with plans 20 subveit
the Constitution anu metam0fph0se himself
into an Emperor. There is not the slightest
reason to believe that any President ever en-
tertained any such designs. Presidents may
have used their patronage to secure secon 1
nominations and elections: but the no ion tnat
no sooner does PIesidenG get into office than
he b comes inspired with ambition to oVerJuln
the state is simply ridiculous.
1t is very probable that no direct injury has
resulted from the failure OF the President to
comply with the request OF Governor Ames, OF
Mississippi, to send troops into that State for
| The preservation of its peace. Nevertheless,
whether or not the course oI The President was
proper, under the circumstances. Is another
ques lion. The cause Of the Constitution,
which makes il the duty Of the United States 10
protect States again It domestic violence places
the authority to determine whether not
means for such prot ction are required in the
legislation of the state Or-in case the exigency
does not admit of the assembling of that body
in the Governor. The Governor may have acted
| unwisely or precipitatcly IN making the requi-
sition; but it does not follow, even admitting
such to BIZ the fact. that the President did
wisely IN withholding his compliance. The
Official discretion IN the matter seems to be in
the state authorities, not in the President; and.
as for legal pIObems-although enormously,
the Attorney Genel al has been called to figure
in the ca ase-there were none to decide.
1t does not follow because local means proved
sufli, lent to put an end to the disorders, that
the Governor acted unwisely in calling on the
President. No man can measure, beforehand,
The extent.of social conflagration. When a
COW Kicked over petroleum lamp in an
obscure corner OF the city OF Chicago, it was,
perhaps an even chance whether the result
would be the ashes Of a diminutve howell or
| the cinders OF great city; one flare of wind
more or less might have made all the differ
cnce; and if the fire had been confined to the
first he would have been counted fool who
said that the last had been imperiled. In cases
OF fire, war aud dome ,tic violence, little too
much in the way OF pumps, buckets, clubs,
regiments and reserves is just enough; it is
ins urance, safety. success, victory; little too
little is as bad as none; it is defeat, loss,
shame and misfortune.
The propensity of the President to call into
these affairs his Attorney Generals is curious
in person of military EDUCATION, habits and
experiences. II there are any questions with
in the line of his official duty Of a purely ex-
ecutiVe character, these are such questions.
1t is as II, when the Mayor OF an incorporate
town had been called out Of bed at midnight,
by person whose windows were in danger
| from q mob, he should send to the City Ati0r-
ney to inquire whether in his opinion, the cir
cumstances were such as to justify the waking