Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-18

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IGeo. WIN. Curtis in Harpet's weekiy.l
ARepublcan asks whether we think Gen
Grant likely to be nominated by the Repub-
licans next year, and whether we think il
would be a wise nomination for the party. 1t
is not worth while to guess about next year
but we think that If the Convention were to
be held next week. General Grant would
probably be nominated. This is a general
opinion and it is due chiefly not 10 a DELHI.
crate preference, but TO the fact that those
who desire the nomination necessarily assert
it to be inevitable. while those who doubt It's
wisdom are silent. Tie party current now
seems. therefore. to set toward it unchecked
But whether it would be wise nomination is
another question, which 1t is not too soon to
consider. There is a very general aud
very just apprehension Of complete Demo
cratic control Of the government, because
there is nothing whatever in the history OF
the Democratic party for more than a. geutr-
alton which inspires hope or confidence. It
is identified with slavery, with rebellion. with
ignorance aud violence. with the most dan
gerous trihiug with the public faith, with
frauds aud terror ia elections, with recklcs,
legislation. and with revolutionary designs
III, prosp. q Of its complete ascendency u-
wolves risks that are to be avoided 10y all rea-
sonable means This feeling has become
constantly stronger as the party power has
increased, and its spirit has become more
plainly visible Without denying individual
patriotism aud character in the Democratic
party. and with no disposition to oXaspcrate
the feelings or prolong the differences grow
ing out Of the war, the genuine conservatism
which is the hope and strength Of the coun-
try is iueXorably opposed TO a Democratic
restoration. The hearty union of that senti-
ment is indispensable to the defeat Of the
- at,l L.. .r.ta.1 ~ no
ton Of General Grant, therefore, will depend
upon the question whether it would tend,
more than any other, 10 unite the opposition
TO Democratic control.
This que stion can be answered moro intel
ligeutly by asking another, namely, whether
the Grant Administration consolidated that
opposition. Facts arc not favorable to this
view There was a remarkable decline in
the Republican majorities in Congress and
in the representation Of the Northern States
between lsC, and ls7G According TO a re-
cent table in the Tribune, from the eight
great Northern States, when General Grant
became President. there were uiuety-thrye
Republicans and twenty-seyen Democrats
when be retired from the Presidency there
Were fifty-eiIht Republicans and eighty-oue
Democrats. Moreover the Republicans bare
~ elected bis successor. Mr.. Hayes failed
to receive the Independent vote, which Is nat
uraly Republican. because it wa, SUPPOSED
that the Influences which had controlled the
Administration of General Grant would con
tinue to control that Of his successor tn,
reasons that produced such astonishing
changes are still operative. The tone the
spirit, the methods, the associations in
word, the general character Of the Grant Al
minstration was repugnant to a large, intelli-
gent, patriotic, and conscientious class of cit
liens whose political sympathes are RepuG-
lican. This is a very irritating class to the
regular politician. Those who compose 1t
are reviled As snivellng prctenders, as i'm
practicable aud visionary fools Of the most
condemned kind. But unhappily they have
a great many votes, and they will not cast
them for regular candidates merely because
they are regular candidates. Now the re-
nomination Of General Grant would signify
to this class, aud to all Republicans who ac-
quiesced in his Administration without hearth
ly supporting it, merely desperate return to
a situation Of which they are not proud The
important question, then, is whether the fear
of Democratic success would reconcile al
these classes to third Grant term. All that
can be said in reply is that they would prob
ably accept it As an alternative. But is il
wise to make nomination which would COM
pei the party constantly 20 explain and de-
fend, and to argue that the candidate had I'M
donbtedly changed his views Of many men
aud things, and that there was 10 reason to
suppose that what had been would be again
The Republican candidate should be ac-
ceptable to every element of the opposition
to the Democracy, but he need not be- the
one Republican who has been most objcC-
tIouable to large body of tina, 0Yro.irinu
There is not a vote that would be cast for Gen
eral Grant which Is not sure for any other
Republican candidate But there are !. great
many votes that would be thrown for a can
didate without his disadvantage Whth would
not Be given TO him. Those who ssiy that
the country needs strong hand "a; the helm
to curb the Southt IN spirit which has not
been Aaf 7lbdued, forget that Genera Grant,
although soldier, would have 10 NOR, con
stitutiougl power than any other Prcsid-nt
The country always needs a strong Executive.
But if il must have General Grant In l>~u
not because he is believed to be a wise mag.
istrgte but because he is strong man. IL
must have him for the same reason III lS,l
aud a. long 10 he lives. II is au argument
which proves too much To say tina; Ia. is
the Ouly candidate who can be elected is the
confession Of despair that We do not share
and to assert that he is the sole distinctive
representative Of Republican principle. is to
insult K publican intelligence. Presidential
nominations are gen, rally made by chance
and management, not by the sentiment Of a
party, and however probable for that reason,
the nomination Of General Grant may be- it
seems likely that it would chill sincere part
Of the opposition to the Democrats, would be
accepted with doubt and regret by another
part. This last part is undoubtedly very ac-
tive aud strong in Conventions, but it is uec-
essarily somewhat controlled in its conduct
by the condition of party opinion II those
only are heard who think that The nomination
of General Grant is desirable, lac will bee nom
mated II those who think that its wisdom
may be questioned express their opinion, the
result is not so certain. The essential qucs-
ton for Republicans is whether, all things
considered, the nomination would best repre-
sent the strength and spirit and purpose of
the Republican party. The probable Demo
cratic spirit is plain, and it would be disas-
trous. The Democratic impulse is TO revise
and repeal, so far rs practicable, all that the
Republicans have done and to reopen all old
questions. Democratic ascendency premises
continual disturbance and excitement, when
the country desires tranquility. To prevent
this aseendency there must be the frankest
counsel to secure the nomination Of a candi-
date not AS mere alternative, but as a rep
resentative of the future as well as the past OF
the Republican party.
"
Presidential calculations.
From the Boston JOurnAll