The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-09

ing of the horrors Of Andersonville will
intensity that element. There. were two
great war Governors, as dear to the sol.
diers as any of our leading Generals;
they were John A. Andrew Of Massachu.
sets. and Oliver P. Morton of Indiana.
Through the entire West the candidacy
of Morton will arouse the soldiers to en-.
thusiasm, and with their help will sweep
Indiana and Ohio as prairie fire.
Some extreme specie resumptionists
think Morton is not sufficiently advanced
on the question of finance. AS the months
roll on, the radicalism Of the campaign
will become more pronounced absorbing
other issues, and eastern Republicans
will find that it is politically unwise to
take any ultra financial grounds, and
that moderate man. opposed to infa-
ton, like Morton, will most meet the
views of the great majority of the Ameri-
can people, especially people in the South,
West and Pennsylvania.
As far as leap judge Iowa and Mime
sofa are doubtful as between Morton and
Blaine, while Nebraska and Kansas lean
more towards the former than the latter,
as I unexpectedly find do also California,
Oregon and Nevada. To sum up,I think,
Morton can rely upon the South, Indiana,
Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin,,
leaving the other States divided or un-
certain. This would bring him within
twenty-one votes of majority of the
convention.
Blaine's strength, outside of New Eng
land, from which on late ballots he will
receive unanimous support, is a very
uncertain quantity. Even Morton's
enemies admit that he is stateman,
which is more than the majority Of
Blaine's friends claim in his behalf. That
he is the incarnation of readiness, mag.
nifcent political gladiator, all agree. For
twelve years he has been in Congress, yet
his name is identified with no great meas
ure-either as author or special advocate.
Practically he is on trial before the Re.
publicans Of the nation, and his
jury is wonderfully prepossessed
in his favor. All admit
his smartness, his eloquence, his magne-
tism, his audacity, his power over men,
out to the question, ''what has he done 2"
there is not a ready answer even in the
mouths of his friends.
His present position is full Of peril. As
leader in the House he must take the
floor on nearly every measure, no matter
how trivial, and familiarity breeds con.
tempt. If success tempts his impctuous
nature beyond the limits Of prudence,
and this his friends fear, he may realize
the uncertainty of popular favor.
In the recent great amnesty debate he
carried himself proudly, if not prudently,
and made great deal of Republican cap.
ital, but did not advance his own inter-
ests thereby. He has arrayed against
himself the amnestical feeling Of the
party, and greatly weakened himself in
Pennsylvania, where, next to New En-
gland, he had the most promise of
strength. He also thereby hurt himself
in the South, for through
party necessity, he drove the
colored members, against their better
judgment, to vote against amnesty, when
it was so important for them to show to
the country spirit of charity.
Having favored last session the same
amnesty bill that he now so zealeusly
opposes, his sincerit, is greatly question.
ed. 1t is said that he is shrewd enough
to see that the Republicans can only win
upon a radical platform, and knowing
that the South charges the failure of the
''iorce BIZ to his peculiar rulings when
in the chair, which rulings so delayed it
that the Senate had not time to act upon
it, he assumes his present position with
regard to amnesty and JEFF. Davis TO
restore him to the confidence of Southern
Republicans. 1t is freely stated that he
hopes by so doing to secure an advantage
over Grant, who favors a universal
amnesty.
He is shrewd manipulation and we'll
understands the value of printers ink,
as is evidenced by the frequent wine and
dinner parties given by him to members
of the press. Tot that same shrewdncss
many attribute his proposed constitutional
amendment relative to the school ques-
ton. Realizing that Grants Des Moines
speech had touched the Protestant heart,
and perchance fearing that the Catholi-
cism of his family would prove an impede
ment to his success, he fastened to secure
an advantage over his rival by publishing
his proposed amendment in the news
papers before the assembling of Congress.
II he escape the peculiar perils of his
high position and can hold New England
and Pennsylvania il the convention, his
battle will then have just fairly COM
menced. To secure Pennsylvania he
must lean more towards high tariff than
will be acceptable to the West or South.
If he attempts to mass the East for him
on the currency question, he will weaken
himself in every other section.
AS between these two prominent can
didates, the silent power of the Admins
tration will tell for Morton more than for
Rlaine