The Morning herald., 1876-01-04
GIANTS 0PPONENTN.

As to which would be the strongest can
didate for the Presidency is question that
excites some little discussion among the
opposite party. We do not mean by this
to even hint that Grant has rslinquishsd
his thoughts of the Third Term, for far is
such removed from his mind. Heis gradu-
ally day by day tightening the cords about
himself and his party that will pull in the
direction to bring him to the surface a. the
Thir, Term candidate. 1t is vel. known
that Grant 'squints quietly at Cuba and
holds it in reserve like disputant
does certain arguments to be hurled forth
with all their force when the occasion shall
require it. He is cndeavoring to draw on
a war with Mexico by making certain an
nexations from that country to this and for
which there is no evidence Of good reason.
These things Grant intendsshall subserve
his purpose if he should ..nsed them, to
either be the means Of drifting him into
the popular tide or involving the country
in the throes of war and placing him at the
head Of its army as chieftain. The man
has had position from almost abject pev-
erty by the mere wave Of circumstances.
1t is like putting the bcggar on horseback
anil he will ride to the devil. Grant
knows that out of high position he will at
once sink to insignifcance, and he will re-
tain it no matter At what cost Of personal
honor or at what sacrifices it wrings from
the people. As Mr.. Bayard has said there
are few in his party who dare oppose him,
and those who have done SO, have felt the
weight of the decapita.ins a:c. r2y
There will be strong opposition to
him, though in his own party, and the
Presidential hooks have been cast into the
political sea of Republicanism. Some
tolerab.y large sized fish have been landed,
dissected and discussed by the savans Of
the party. Some have BEEN thrown over
board, but two have been retained and are
now chalked upon the black-bo rd of the
Black Republican party as the subjects for
debate. They are two BIS. Blaine and
Bristow. These names will undoubtedly
be offered in the Republican National
Convention this year as the opponents Of
Ulysses 8. Grant for the Presidential nomi-
nation. Bristow in this connection has
only been spoken Of as political gossip, but
his reforms in the crooked whisky transac-
tions will provo powerful recommends
ton for dim TO bis party. Amid all the
taint Of corruption in the party-Delano,
Babcock, and hints Of Presidential fingers
in the pie, together with hundreds of other
administration pets who have been weighed
and found wanting-the discovery of one
man in this same party who is vested with
the ernine Of Reformer is like an oasis
in the desert. Grants "Let us have
peace,' has been obscured by Bristow's
lightning which strikes daily in some por-
ton Of the West and shows new victim
how crooked is the path that leads the way
that Joyce and Mcdonald have Travelled.
As Col. Joyce said and found out ''an cpl.
demic Of reform seems to have broken
out" Bristow is the hero and he will be
the strongest opposition that Grant will
have in the next Republican National
Convention.
Before Bristow's conspicuity In the way
! al we have mentioned, Blaine was most