, 1876-02-12
The Pr9fOrian Guard,

1t Is interesting TO observe the plots and
/ counterpIOts of the minor republican caudi-
dates for the Presidential nomination but
the motive of the interest is pure curiosity.
I They fit about the coveted bait like mi.,.
nows for whose tiny mouths the morsel is
too large, while the monarch OF the food,
tanning his fins to the shelter Of the White
House, bides his own time to dart upon the
prize with a sudden and successful lunge.
! Thus the manGuvres of Senator Morton in
the Republican National Committee, TO di-
-ert the place of the Convention from the
seaboard TO the Mississippi Valley, and tho
| combat of the rival leaders OF he party in
New York for the control OF what they call
! the Central Committee" " Of this city, are
only the play of gudgeons. Even the combi-
nation which is now forming here of disin-
teresteG republicans with dissatisfied demo-
crais to promote the chances of Secretary
Bristow is Only school of minnows rein
forced by that liberal republican soul pin
which inyades every pool IN quest OF office.
All this agitation Is too late. President
Grant holds the republican nomination at
his mercy the united vote of the Southern
delegates, is within his control be needs
only to secure II few Northern delegates, and
of them he can have surplus without the
| asking. The suggestion, therefore, that the
democrats have gained an important advan-
| tage by the early specification OF the day for
the Republican convention is moOnshine. 1t
is founded on the fact that by fixing later
| day for their own convention they will be
able to adapt their nomination TO the republic
| can nomination aud avail themselves Of the
weak points of their enemy. But it is just
as this day as it ever will be that Ulysses
| S. Grant will be reuomiaated for President
at Cincinnati on Wednesday, June II, 1876,
if he wishes, and we challenge the prOduc-
| ton of any evidence that his wish Is not fixed
and firm The only advantage of the demo-
craIs is tie possibility that this desire will be
voluntarily relinquished, snd how great the
chance of that Is any one who has studied
Grants biography can easily compute.
Grant possessed stubborn will from
childhood, and history teaches hat it is a
safe rule TO explore the youth of men of
! strong Will bat narrow intellectual acquire
menta for the germs of all the elements Of
| their character, since their Discrimination to
seek or receive new ideas from reading or
conversation helps to develop their innate or
early tendencies. We read, therefore, with
| much interest, in Mr.. Dana's excellent BIO
graphy Of General Grant, that ha q" became
| accustomed 10 harness norses while he was
yet 50 small that he could not put the bride
or collar on without climbing into the man
| ger, and that "long Before Ulysses had
reached his twelfth year he could ride horses
at full speed, standing upon their backs and
balancing himself by the bride reins." Mr..
| Dana relates that even at that age " he sue
ceedud in riding the trained trick pony of Il
| circus company in spite OF the pony and
ring masters efforts 10 dismount him, aided
by monkey which fastened itself upon his
head and shoulders" " His quiet and gen
tie disposition, Mr.. Dana adds % together
with remarkable degree of frmness, rem
| dered him peculiarly successful in controlling
horses and breaking them TO the saddle
Although, in 1868, when this biography
was first published, its author was too prone
| 10 praise his herO-a fault for which ample
atonemeut has rfnce been made-yet We
probably may treat this anecdote Of the trick
pony as veraciOus. Grant Is now riding The
republican party In a similar way The
party itself is skittish, It's former leaders have
made desperate efforts TO dismouut the young
political equestrian, and a whole wilderness
| of monkeys, in the shape OF republican news
uauTrS. have fastened their trcth and claws
| upon his head aud shoulders but he keeps
| his seat, and the pony o5eys his spurs and
rein. and will continue to obey till the skill
fuI rider voluntarily quits the saddle. Re.
!
of o1r analysis of Grants character, we find
| it seid that nothing is more remarkable than
the easy simplicity with which be does the
most extraordinary things. Eight years
ago, when the people first elevated this sim
pie soldier TO tue Presidency, not soul III
| The United States conceived that political
chief ain more intense and absolute in his
nzrsouality than even General Andrew
| yscks,n h.i arisen-a chieftain who could
expel from his party half Of It's tEusty leaders
within the next four years, and Thea be re-
elected by vastly increased majority, and
who during the succeeding four years could
~ distract the leaders that remained that
none Of hem could hinder his third nomi-
,,on Morton and Blaine, Morgan and
Couklinr, Brisiow and Hayes, Wasburne
and Adams, might by grand combination.
n.rhaps, accomplish to-day what Sumner
sra Trumbull and Cox and Schurz vaiuiy
sourht III rS7l and 1872, before they finally
forsook their party; but such a combination
il impossible III the nature Of men and
things. 1t would require degree Of disin-
,ar4sIelness VII h Is extinct in public life,
and which Gran. hes largely helped to e1-
rinyuish.-N J Herald.
CONGRESSIONAL. REFoRMAIIoN.-By the
Washington dispatches of he 25th 1t Is an
,ouuoed that the House committee on ap.
,ronri.rions is actively at work considering
the legislative, iadIcial and executive appro-
briation bill, which Indicates thas the Houss
viii at en- early date be fairly engaged upon
ali the appropriation bills, and not, as ha;
hen he custom, leave final legislation there
- 70 the hurry and confusion of the las'