Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-03-25
The New Hampshire Election and
the Presidency.

the Presidency.
The Washington correspondent of the
Boston Glob: thus discusses the political
situation:
1t is chiefly with reference to its innu-
ence on the Presidency that l desire to
speak Of the New Hampshire election.
That it had had and will have marked
effect is already evidenced here; and it is
liable to have one effect which may bring
disaster to the Republican party. As |
wrote you, the downfall of Belknap with
its consequent exposure of rottenness in
high places, acted as q spur to the reform
element in the party, and there was an al
most universal determination to throw
aside all personal ambitions or even per-
sonal claims by right of succession and
unite in nominating for President the
pureSt and fitteSt man within the Repub-
lican ranks. To that extent had this feel
ing grown that Blaine himself had even
given out to his intimates that he was
willing to waive his claim for the time for
the good Of the party. Now there is dam
ger that the Republican victory and the
Republican gains in New Hampshire will
be construed, as so strong an endorse
ment of the party as party, so strong an
expression of continued and mistaken
confidence in the organization, and the
partizan element will go to the front
again, and the nomination, which would
have gone to Bristow, win now 20 to
Blaine, who, if he is nominated, will
handicap the party with the fact that
through all the corruptions of this adj
ministration he has held the third, and in
some respects the most influential place
in the Government, and has allowed them
to go unnoticed and unrebuked. The
same thing is in considerable sense true
of Conkling and Morton; and as l have
said week ago, neither Of them would
probably have secured the nomination. l
mention this danger because the signs of
1T already appear here. 1t is marvellous
how almost inStantaneouSly the effect of
political cause is noticeable here in Con-
greSs, which is in some sort the nations
political pulse, whose quickening or
slowing up indicates with considerable
accuracy the condition Of health of either
party. ContariwiSc, the lesson of New
hampshire is having Il beneficial effect on
the Democracy. They had grown conf
dent to arrogancy over the success and
promise OF their investigations, and
would not believe that their unwiSe utter
anceS on the question of the war would
materially affect results anywhere. Now
they realize that they will exert great
and an unfavorable influence to their
cause all through the North, and that it
will be necessary for them to go before
the country with the recommendation of
some new position and promising merit
than that of being good exhibitors of
other peoples failings. The result win
b? that they will be less confident, less ar
rosant, and more careful, and the begin
ming Of this result is also already notice
able here.
A new Democratic movement, and quite
a strong one, is already under way, look
ing to the nomination by the Democrats.
either Of ,eudge Davis, now of the Su-
preme Bench, or of General Hancock.
The former although formerly Repab-
lican, has for some years been q staunch
Democrat, and has the merit of possess
ing Thomas Jeffcrsons two good requis.
ties, capability and honesty. Further, his
record is untarnished and untarnishable,
and he Is not so bad Bourbon that he
would most likely make very good can
Gidatc, and would doubtless draw more
votes than any of the old party hacks,
with the possible exception of Thurman.
For Hancock it is claimed that he is also
honest and capable, is also not Bourbon,
and that his nomination would at once
gag the assertion, out of which the Re
publican managers expect to make much
capital, that the Democracy is hostile to
the Union soldier. He would also check,
If not checkmatc the Soldiers National
Association movement, and if our coun-
try were not so sick Of a military Prcsi-
dent, he would stand q good chance fol-
the nomination, and may get it as it is.
For the second place, there is much men.
ton Of of Ex-Governor Castor, who has
already been mentioned by many and OBJ
jected to by none.