The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-01-19
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.


PRESIDENTIAL PROSPECTS--HeW THIRD
TERM STANDS A CHANCE
THE UNION SOLDIER
CLAP-TRAP.
WASHINGTON, 7
Jan. 8, 1857
EDITOR DEMOCRAT
just now the greatest interest in
political circles here attaches te
representations concerning the ap
preaching Presidential contest. III
fact every movement on the politica
checker board at this time in Con
gress and out, has President making
for its objective point. It il conce
ded by those politicians wholook be
low the surface indications that il
nothing transpires to damage theil
prospects The chances of the Demo
cratic party for success next year are
about two to one. The reasons fol
this opinion are based upon a mum.
Der of solid facts and substantial con.
siderations. One is, that in the his.
tory of our Government no political
party has retained possession Of the
Legislative, Executive and Judicial
Departments Of the Government for
a longer period than four Presiden-
tial terms. The people weary, ordi-
narily, in far less than sixteen years
of the same men or class Of men in
the same roles, and make a change il
only for the sake Of a change. This
is particularly true il things have
been going wrong, if business is de
pressed, and the country is suffering
from commercial distress. For sew
eral years the people Of this nation
have been weighed down by a load OF
evils brought upon them by bad leg
islation and corrupt administration
of public affairs. 1t is needless to
particularize the misdeeds of the
present Administration, concerning
which new developments are daily
being made. Grants Southern ssout-
rages;;" his persistency in keeping
corrupt men in office; the prodigate
expenditure ofpublic money, and the
manner in which the business inter
ests of the country have been subor
dinated to political schemes are
among the things that have contrib
uted to the present unsettled and dis
tressed condition of affairs.
Speculation as to candidates would
spin this letter to infinity. To-day
Grant leads all competitors for the
Republican nomination. He will
have the united Southern delegation
and lack only 46votes Of enough. -
1t will take united Northern vote
to defeat him, and that not one sol
the now prominent candidates car
get. Bristow is the strongest man
in the party witt, the people, but be
is practically out ofthe race, simply
because none Of the politicians are
for him. Morton has some strength
in the ''5loody shirt" element, but
his second choice is Grant. Conk-
ling expects to get the New York
delegation, though some knowing,
ones say he won't. Anyhow he is
for Grant, and will throw his strength
for tlsird-term if he can, after..hc finds
his own chance worthless. Anti
third-term resolutions may bepassed
in State Conventions to prevent del
egations going soiidly for if, but in
spite of this there will be now and
then scattering vote for Grant in
some of them, and with such lieu
tenants as Morton and Conkling to
aid him the game won't be up till it
is played out. If Grant cannot be
nominated it is pretty certain that he
will be able to say who shall; and
when he names the man it won't be
Blaine, nor is it likely 10 be Bristow.
Blaine's chances are growing beau
tifully less every day, His tactics
in the House as leader Of the minor
ity disappoint the expectations of his
friends. His cowardice in general,
and littleness in the aUnion soldier"
lunacy, are simply assinine. A ma
jority Of his own side of the House
disapprove his amendment on Thurs
day to the amnesty oath" except
ing JEFF Davis from its provisions
It is said that the real reason that
nothing more is heard Of Blaine's
great financial speech is that Morton
and some Of the other indationists,
q f4o. aaa:an a.. H.