The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-21
The Presidency-The Aspect OF tho
Canvass.


many strange and bizarre features of politi-
cal interest. In the first place, the political
conscience of the country remained dead
ened on account of the evident design of the
President and his friends to secure third
term. This question, which began as an APP
partition and was SO treated until the evil
dence became SO strong that there could be
no doubt prevented that preliminary discus
sion of men and principles which always
precedes canvass. In past times there was
nothing SO interesting in the progress of an
administration as the shaping Of its policy
either for the succession or to name sue
cessor. In the natural course of events the
second term of Grant would not have been
under way before we should have had in the
republican ranks that generous and open
discussion as to the succession which would
have cleared the skies politically and made
the determination of the result an easy and
almost q foregone conclusion.
But with the apparition of the third term
the republican party seemed never to take
up the Presidency without feeling as one in
panic. Devotion to Grant was made test
of loyalty. Wherever the party machinery
was strongest there was it expressed with the
most enthusiasm. Even as bold a man as
Conkling, when questioned as to his views
on third term, would not answer the ques-
ton, but allowed the opinion to 60 forth
that in the event of the nomination Of the
President he would feel bound by his party
fealty to support him. Other leaders, like
Blaine and Morton, would say nothing, TAX
ing refuge in their dignity and exclusiveness.
The fact that not one of the leading members
OF the party would say word to make it i'm
possible for him to give the President rs
hearty support third as second time only
made this question of C@sarism more and
more prominent. Consequently the party
came to the verge Of the canvass without ex-
pressing an opinion. Beyond q vague sense
of uneasiness in the minds of the honest
masses of the party lest there might be
precedent which would bring ruin upon the
Republic and in time transform our institu-
tions even as those of Rome and France were
transformed, the movement against third
term never took root 1t was living until the
infamy'of Belknap, coming swiftly upon the
disclosures in the case Of Babcock, and the
departments of the government, made a third
term impossible. This was only few days
ago, comparatively speaking. The party sud-
denly awoke to the fact that the canvass for
the Presidency was impending, and that there
was no one to lead it. Grant being suddenly
stricken down by his own friends no one
was left behind him. Then came tumultu-
GUS discussion, men hurrying hither and
thither seeking q leader. Blaine busy in
the East and West, strong as Speaker and as
leader of the popular branch of the gov
ernment adroit, able, amiable and untir-
ing, he had carried Iowa and Maine, with q
reserved strength in Virginia and elsewhere.
Morton, the ablest and boldest of the ex-
treme radicals, had run the West by his
heresies on the currency and the negroes Of
the South by his fervor in their behalf Ohio
showed State pride in naming her Governor
Hayes, while Pennsylvania, under the lead
of Cameron, had given a complimentary
vote to Hartranft, which was simply sug-
gestion in behalf of his nomination to the
Cabinet should the republicans win. The
feeling against corruption surrounded Bris-
tow, who assumed a sudden sentimental
prominence as one not afraid Of the thieves
young and bold man who carried with him
for the moment the hearts of the young
men who admired pluck and Of the old men
who wanted reform.
All this time the party had no leader. 1t
was only o scramble, as is well expressed by
the Sun in an able article elsewhere printed.
1t was then that the HERALD, giving voice to
the honest Judgment of the true party men,
pointed out to the leaders in New York that
to be logical they should nominate Roscoe
Conkling. There were twenty candidates,
but Conkling had more merit than all of
them combined as party leader, and much
more claim to the consideration of Grant as
the one man in the Senate who never failed
in his devotion to the administration. There
but the sense of New York was in favor of
Conkling Pennsylvania came into line in
his favor as q second choice, which, with
General Hartranft means really the first
choice. From that moment Conkling's
strength has advanced. New Jersey will
support him, and SO will the South, after
Morton. and the Pacific States As the can
vass now looks Conkling is therefore the ia
vorite. All the tides of victory run toward
his keel. When we say that Conkling is q
Grant man we exhaust our resources of con-
domination. He does not lie, neither does
he steal. He never runs away from friend
or an enemy. Even in o time of universal
defamation of character no one has whis-
pered suggestion against the honor and
purity of Conkling. If he is Grant man
what are all Of the other candidates Which
of them has ever said a word against Grant?
On this record they are equal. The party is
Grant party. 1t is weak as he is weak, and
strong as he is strong. No man can be NOM