New-York tribune., 1876-01-20
WHAT ARE TIE TOTERS ABOUT'


There are millions OF Republican voters, but
what are they doing How comes 1t, II they
have really the attachment they once had TO
the principles and purposes Of the party, that
they do not Indignantly kick out the managers
who propose to destroy it by an odious third
term nomination, and by not less odious
mode of conducting campaign They wait
with a patience that looks strangely like in
difference, leaving desperate schemers to
abuse the organization as much as they dare,
and ready to repeat at the polls the crushing
defeats of 1874, if the party does not purify
itself. But why arc they mdifferentf Why
do they not realize that it can purify itself
only when they take it vigorously in hand and
purify it 7 Is it because they feel that the
organization has survived its usefulness, and
ought to be replaced by something better and
pnrcr7 We think not. The great majority of
Republican voters still have strong attach
ment to tho organization, and feel that it
could be made splendidly useful yet. But
why do they not so to work in earnest to make
it useful
OF the millions of Republican voters, proba-
bly, not one in ten believes that Gen. Grant
ought to be renominatcd. And yet, so strange
is the condition of this party that the millions
are gravcly asking each other "Can Grants
"nomination be prevented ~ For they have
learned that the machinery of the organization
in many Of the States, and especially at the
South, is entirely in the hands of his creatures,
and that it can elect to party convention
such delegates IA he pleases. From States
which will thus be represented only by his
tools, i'm which the Republican party has no
chance of success, and has apparently no higher
ambition than to retain share of the Federal
Offices, viii como nearly half the delegates in
National Convention. Moreover, thoughtful Re
pnblicans have seen with astonishmenta a strange
alliance of fanatic with jobbcr-that while the
convicted whisky thief in his prison cell
swear, BY Grant, the hot-hcaded Bishop in his
church meeting prlys for Grant BabcOck anh
Shepherd Casey. Dcano, and 50 My Son JOhn'
are professedly ~ anxious about the Bible in
the schools rs Bishop Haven, Bishop Simpson,
or tie chaplain of any secret lodge of anti
Romani,ts. Men ask each other whether this
unnatural union. if its very existence Is not
enough 20 turn the stomach of any snccrc
adhercnt Of any church, may not prove strong
enough to command the few additional votes
in convention which mere tools of Grant may
lack of u majority.
Is this the Republican party which absolutely
doe, not know whether it il free 10 nominate
n candidate Of its cloiccl Are these Rcpnbli
cans who propose to thrust aside al tho pledges
and principle, OF the party and all honest efforts
for reform by Il crusade against RomanlSm and
for Grant and :hc unscrupulous set who use
him. T. these do not deserve the nnmc which
WIS 80 honorable when worn by Lincoln, what
nm, those who III by Inactive white this nause-
ous dose is prepared for them They can re-
Crsr to swallow IT, or to vote for Grant if
nominated. il i, true but when men make no
effort to prevent q nomination which they do
not mean to support, and which they know
would result in anaihating defeat of the party,
do they care enough for the party to be called
Republicans
II !, peri .,tly easy for these millions of Re-
publicans voters t. put m end 10 the scandal
ou, intrigue for the nomination of Grant, if
thcy choose. But they can do it in one way
only. Ii they, or any considerable part of
them, mako it Known that they 10 not intend
TO ycte fer GI1nt if nominate Il, that will end
the business Men who sincerely want to pro-
tcct the school ten will look for II candi-
date who can hc elected. JobberS, and even
Grant. on.cc-holdrie. will begin tn look about
for some man whose selection would not be
followed by sure defeat. liut ~ long ~ Re-
publcau voters by the million leave party
managers Ia believe that they will vote the
party ticket, they are very likely to find that
they have no voice in making the ticket, and