The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-03

phrase which seems 10 b. in vogue just now
suddenly cries out that the republicans are
getting ready 70 nominate General Grant In
$780, We need hardly say that this ''es-
teened contemporary" is democratic
organ. 1t is a we'll known fact that nobody
knows so much about what the democrats
arc going to do next as the republican
organs; and it is but natural that the DEM
ocratic expositors should be equally well
informed about what the republicans IN
tend. Accordingly we have this vision OF
the Man on Horseback.
We do not believe that the republicans
will willingly renominate General Grant in
1880. In the first place there are too many
old gentlemen in that party who have their
eyes fixed on the White House, and to
whom, at their time OF life, another four
years Of hope deferred is an extremely I'M
pleasant prospect. When Presidential
candidate has got past ifty he does not
willingly see anybody renominated, because
he is getting nervous about his own term.
Then again, except in certain contingencies,
of which we will speak further on, General
Grant might not be a popular candidate.
He was President eight years, and the coun-
try has not yet forgotten the touching con-
fession he made in his last Message that he
was conscious of errors arising out OF the
fact that he was not bred to civil life. All
generous minded men appreciated that and
held him in a large measure blameless but
most men Mt the same time st.w the evil
tendencies of his manner of ruling, and,
without severely blaming him, were glad to
get back to rulers used to civil life and pre-
ferring civil methods of governing.
Finally, it is but fair TO say that there is
no reason to believe that General Grant
would accept another nomination. There
is not the least doubt that he accepted the
first very unwillingly,'n nor that he laid down
his office ut the end OF the second term with
a great sense of relief and strong desire to
rest from the cares and burdens he had
borne Tor SO many years.
There is one contingency, and one only,
we will say to our esteemed contem-
porary," in which we incline to believe that
all the obstacles we have mentioned to Gen
eral Grants denomination may be over
come If the democratic leaders should SO
misconduct themselves as to give the peo-
pie fright; if by their silly investigation
and apparent determination to keep the
country in turmoil and set the example
which has been SO fatal in Mexico Of IN
settling tho declared results Of q Pres
idential election, and if by their alliance
with the imitation and other wild and
ignorant Communistic clements in the
country they should happen to thoroughly
and deeply alarm the intelligent and prop
crty owning classes Of the country, in that
case we can very easily believe that the
republicans, who know that General Grant
is at bottom trusted as a strong and deter
mined man, about whose policy there would
not be tho least doubt, though his methods
might not be the wisest, would ronominatc
him as the man most certain to be elected,
and We will add our belief that in such a
case he would undoubtedly be elected.
What we wish, therefore, to point out to
IN esteemed contemporary" and to the
democrats generally is that General Grant,
who is for some reasons the most formidable
candidate the republicans can nominate in
folly OF the democrats. The democratic
party ought to behave ITSELF 1t ought TO
remember that it has not yet regained the
confidence Of the country 1t cannot afford
to give its opponents odds. Thereare many
reasons why the country would be the better
for change of party in the federal admin
istration; but those who see this ever so
plainly still think they would like to see a
change for the better and not for the worse
The multitude of independent voters have
undoubtedly had strong leanings toward
the democratic party Of lnte. The fact
that the House Of Representatives is demo-
or tic, that so many Governors and
State Legislatures are democratic, and that
the Senate will be democratic, though by a
small majority, in 1879, is proof that the
tendency has been in this direction. But
we ask any intelligent democrat whether the
action Of his party in the present Congrets
has strengthened that tendency? Has it not,
on tho contrary, checked and weakened it?
We do not pretend to say that the rcpub-
licans have been much more sensible than
their opponents in the last tedious and I'M
profitable eight months. But we do say
that for party which is yet essentially in
the minority, which can attain to power
only by inspiring confidence in its con-
servatiye and intelligent spirit, tho demo-
Gratis have in this Congress flung away more
chances than they can afford to lose.
They have Numbered far oftcner than
they have acted wisely or judiciously.
They have constantly submitted them
selves to tho leadership Of their
least able and judicious men. They have
allowed their party, the old party of hard
money, to be dragged at the heels Of wild
inha.ionsts; they have failed to adopt re-
medal legislation calculated to restore the
country To nrnsnoritY. oven whom IL wns IN