The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-01
The Campaign for the Presideney-Ths
Opening shots.

OF Delaware, which enllvened the Senate on
Thursday, has more than ordinary signif-
canoe as illustrating the tenor and object of
the campaign for the Presidency. Mr..
Boutwell, and Mr.. Bayard are, perhaps, the
best types of their parties now in the Senate.
Mr.. Boutwell,, although a narrow-minded
Secretary of the Treasury is, nevertheless,
an honest and we'll meaning man, who re-
tired from his office with the esteem Of all
parties, which we fear can be said for very
few of those who have had seats in the
Cabinet of Grant Mr.. Bayard is a man who,
bearing an honored and illustrious name,
has won universal respect. He is prom
inent candidate for the Presidency-the
most prominent, all things considered, now
before the democratic party. Therefore a
debate between Bayard and Boutwell, on
national politics cannot but make deep
impression upon the country at this time.
Senator Bayard, in discussing the resolu-
ton of Senator Morton i'll reference to Mis-
sissippi, said that tens of millions of dol
lars had been spent in the South by the De-
partment of Justice in '.the nefarious design
of manufacturing evidence" against the
Southern people, and that the 'troubles" in
the South were the work of detectives who
had been sent there for that purpose Fur
thermore, under the operation of the laws in
the South in the trials of what are called the
''Ku Klux cases." fines had been 'wrung
from the people" which Congress would be
asked to pay. Mr.. Boutwell, sprang at the
Senator in a speech of more than usual as
perity, and denying that any such sum as
stem millions" had been spent in the South,
said that whatever was expended had been
made necessary 'by the acts of the
party to which Senator Bayard belonged,
by their intimidation of colored people
and other such deeds of violence" Sem
ator Morton came into the debate with
an ingenious intimation that perhaps
Senator Bayard intended to fight the
next campaign for the Presidency upon
the issue of paying the Ku Klux
fines-"ines," continued the Senator, with
the adroitness of Mephistopheles, (which
will be refunded when the democrats get
control Of the government" To all Of which
the Senator from Delaware protested that he
and all his family had ever been loyal to the
Union, and that whoever limited to the con-
trary said sin his throat lie.'
We cannot but regret this debate on
account of its effect upon the democratic
party. Senator Bayard can add no honor to
his name by protesting that he and his
honored ancestors have always been loyal to
the Union. That is time wasted just as
much as if he were to defend the loyalty of
Hamilton and Washington. No such issue
will ever, we trust, find place in an
American Congress- But it was o mistake to
invite the republicans to o discussion Of the
Southern question. 1t is fighting the repub-
icans on their own ground. Whether right
or wrong it would be proftless to inquire;
but it is certain that in the minds Of the
great majority of the people of the North
and West the Southern question and the
Union are identical We saw that in the
election in New Hampshire. We may
censure the demagogery Of the Ander-
sonville speech Of Mr.. Blaine, but we
see that, after all, that consummate and
adroit politician knew his cue and spoke
to the hearts of the people who are to elect
We may deplore that as fine an intellect as
that of Morton should be debased to the
''bloody shirt" business. But the masses
who follow Morton see in that unsavory en-
blem something more than theme for ridi-
cule. Even when Sheridan wrote his dread
full ''bandit despatch" there were not more
than three prominent republicans in this
L. ~
ing the unanimous censure of the press,
could be found to disapprove of it. For ten
years, ever since the close of the war, there
have been Herculean efforts to educate the
minds of the Northern people into the belief
that there is really peace in the South and
that troubles are the effect of demagogues and
knaves. But the effort has been fruitless Hor-
ace Greeley, with all of his influence over the
republican party, the moment he attempted
the task, failed, and in the failure wrought
his own ruin. Therefore we may lay it
down as a political axiom, which should not
for moment be forgotten by the leaders of
the democratic party, that the generation
which fought the war for the Union will not
consent to the accession to power Of any
party or any leader who took part against
the Union, or who would consent to re-
vival of the issues upon which it was fought
and won. We understand and dcplore the
facility with which bad men have attained
power under the guise of Union men suffer-
ing for the 'cause" We admit everything
that Senator Bayard may say about ''North-
ern vandalism" in the South. But the fact
lies clear and irremovable that upon any
such issue as that which the honorable SEN
ator challenged the Senator from Massa-
chusetts he and his party will be beaten as
severely as Mr.. Greeley was beaten in 1872.
Above all, what is the use of having such
an issue, or of allowing ingenious debaters