The New York herald., 1876-02-09
The Campaign for the Presidency.

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to destroy our interest in what is after all
the crowning question of the year-the cam
paign for the Presidency. Even if we should
all yield TO the evangelists' influence it
would still be necessary to provide for the
| government. Elections must be held, and
the air is full of rumors. This will be a
novel and perplexing canvass. The South
heretofore, at least before the war, dominant
in conventions, is neutral. The Southern
republicans want Grant or the candidate
who comes nearest to him. The democrats
will be satisfied with whoever can
beat Grant The West, still giddy
with imitation and arrogant with the
long possession of power, insists that the
Mississippi Valley is the seat of empire.
Pennsylvania, according to Senator Cam
eron, wants a candidate who will give pro-
lection to that much protected Common
wealth. New England thinks we should
| still decide the issues of the war, and if Mr..
Blaine is to be trusted as the representative
| of his section we are to have an Anderson
| vile canvass, with its war memories. Over
| all we have the shadow of the third term.
1
now overspreads the heavens. The horizon
| of politics is darkened. All issues are in
volved more or less in the one absorbing
! ISSUE and there is not a calculation as to
| Presidential chances in which it is not an
| important and determining factor
1t is natural that with all interests now
| turning to the Presidency New York should
have a voice. General Grant shows his ap
probation of New York by giving two of her
sons portfolios. Why should not the Empire
State aim for the Presidency? Rich as we
are in men worthy of the Office one man
stands out as the natural nominee of the
republican party. We do no injustice to
Morgan or Dix, to Fish or Pierrepont or
Wheeler or any other republicans who have
been or may be named for the Presidency
when we say that whatever honors that party
has to bestow should be awarded to Roscoe
| Conkling George William Curtis would
| have it otherwise; but as the political useful
ness Of Mr.. Curtis consists largely in recon-
| mending impracticable schemes his opposi-
| ton is confirmation of the practical sound
| ness of our position. Roscoe Conkling is
the natural leader of the republican party as
| drilled by Grant. There are older and it may
| be better soldiers, but it is not SO much
| republicanism as Grantism that needs repre-
| sentation. The republican party is as differ
ent from that which won the Lincoln victory
| in 1860 as the army which fought under
Bonaparte at Austerlitz was different from
that which followed Dumouriez. That stu
pendous transformation must be considered
when we speak of republican candidates for
the Presidency. If Seward or Chase or
Sumner could visit the scenes of their fame
they would feel as Rip Van Wrinkle when he
awoke, from his long sleep. The old
party is at an end. Its war cries are
hushed. Its banners are folded. The
old leaders have fallen by the way,
or are driven from the ranks. The
party of ideas and enterprises, which be-
lieved in liberty and secured emancipation
by war; the party which drove Buchanan
| from power, and compelled Lincoln to pro-
claim emancipation and forced johnson to
the verge of impeachment, now lies at the
feet of Grant. 1t is drilled legion not
thinking party. AS the ragged battalions of
Valmy and Jemappes grew into the disci-
plined armies of Marengo and Wagram, SO the
party of Sumner and Chase, which had no
| idea but liberty, and permitted no consider
alton of availability to interfere with that
stern, solemn duty, has become the compact
| organization of Grant.
In no State is it so thoroughly drilled as
| in New York To no man is this result
more due than to Roscoe Conkling. He has
been the Ney of our Napoleon the bravest
of the brave. 1t was Conkling who assailed
Sumner on ST. Domingo, who defended the
| French arms sale from Schurz, who drove
| out Fenton and Trumbull, who made un-
| sparing war upon Greeley, who carried his
| party flag from Manhattan Island to Niagara
Falls in the last great campaign. And if,
| when Centennial Dix was in the field for
Governor, he was cold and pouting it must
be remembered that Centennial Dix
took the liberty of questioning the
| Presidents right to run for a third
term. Therefore the apathy of Conkling
was only delicate, chivalrous courtesy
to his lord. He has never failed in any
emergency. We may question, for in
|
ton would do in the event of a candidature
for the third term. But no one will doubt
for q moment what Roscoe Conkling would
do. He is loyal to every test of loyalty. He
has the fitness for the office. Even his enc
| mics concede that Roscoe Conkling would
make magnificent Presicnnt. He is the
first orator in the Senate. He bears stain
less name. No spot rests upon his es-
cutcheon. In time of universal sus-
picion and reproach even slander itself
has spared him. Rings have been
broken, schemes have been exploded,
grand juries have found indictments, COM