Litchfield enquirer., 1879-04-17
Is 30!

A hcpuDIlCdu dSkS WuetQ6Ea we LllQk GeQ- eral Grant likely to be nominated by the Re- publicans next year, and whether we think it would be wise nomination for the party It 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 proba- ply be nominated. This is general opinion, and it is due chiefly not to a deliberate prefer ence but to the fact that those wh0 desire the nomination necessarily assert it to be inevita- ble, while those who doubt it's wisdom are si-. lent. The party current now seems there-- fore, to set toward it unchecked But whether it would be a wise nomination is another uues. tion, which it is not too soon to consider
 There is very general and very just appre- hension of complete Democratic control of the government, becaute there is nothing whatev- CT in the history of the Democratic party for more than a generation which inspires hope or confidence It is identified with slavery, with rebellion, with ignorance and violence, with the most dangerous trifling with the public ialtn, Wlth fta~a and terror in elections, with reckless Legislation, and wash revolutionary de- signs. The prospect of it's complete ascenden- cy involves risks that are to be avoided by all reasonable means. This feeling has become constantly stronger as the party power has in- creased, and it's spirit has become more plain ly visible Without denying individual pat riotism and character in the Democratic party, and with no disposition to eXasperate the feel ings or prolong the differences growing out of the war, the genuine conservatism which is the strength and hope of the country is inexorablY opposed to a Democratic restoration. The hearty union of that sentiment is indispensa- ble to the defeat of the Democrats and the wisdom of the nomination of General Grant, therefore, will depend upon the question whether it would tend, more than any other, to unite the opposition to Democratic control.
 This question can be answered more intelli- gently by asking another namely whether the Grant Administration consolidated that oppo- sition. Facts are not favorable of this view. There was remarkable decline III the Repub- ican ma jorities in Congress and in the repre- seDtation of the Northern States between 1868 and 1876. According to recent table in the Tribune, from the eight great Northern States, when General Grant became President, there were ninety-three Republicans and twenty seven Democrats when he retired from the Presidency there were fifty-eight Republicans and eighty one Democrats. Moreover, the Republicans barely elected his successor. MT. Hayes failed to receive the independent vote, which is naturally Republican, because it was supposed that the influences which had con- trOlled the Administration of General Grant would continue to control that of his success sor. The reasons that produced such aston ishlng changes are still operative. The tone, the spirit, the methods, the associations g word, the general character of the Grant Ad ministration was unquestionably repugnant te a lhrge, intelligent, patriotic, and conscien tious class of citizens whose political sympa thies are Republican. This is very irritat ing class to the regular politician. Those who compose it are reviled as snivelling pretenders inn otic hlo on1 vicioporu fnnlc of fhf most condemned kind. But unhappily they have great many votes, and they will mol cast them for regular candidates merely be cause they are regular candidates Now the renomination of General Grant would signify to this class, and to all Republicans who ac quiesced in his Administration, without hearti ly supporting it, merely desperate return tc situation of which they are not proud. The important question, then, is whether the fear of Democratic success would reconcile all these classes to third Grant term. All that car be said in reply is that they would probably accept it as an alternative. But is it wise tC make nomination which would compel the party constantly to explain and defend, and te argue that the candidate had undoubtedly changed his views of many men and things and that there was no reason to suppose that what had been would be again
 The Republican candidate should be accept, able to every element of the opposition to the Democracy, but he need not be the one Re publican who has been most objectionable to a large body of that opposition. There is not 8 vote that would be cast for General Grant which is not sure for any other Republican candidate. But there are a great many votes that would be thrown for candidate without his disadvantages which would not be given to him. Those who say that the country needs a strong hand at the helm to curb the South ern spirit, which has not been half subdued forget that General Grant, although soldier would have no more constitutional power thar any other President. The country always needs strong Executive. But if it must have General Grant in 1880, not because he is be- lieved to be wise magistrate, but because he is strong man, it must have him for the same reason in 1884, and as long as he lives. It is an argument which proves too much. Te say that he is the only candidate who can be elected is the confession of despair that we dc not share; and to assert that he is the sole distinctive representative of Republican princi- pies is to insult Republican intelligence. Pres idential nominations are generally made by chance and management, not by the sentiment of party, and however probable, for that reason, the nomination of General Grant may be, it seems likely that it would chill sincere part OI the opposition IO Iue DeulOCraIS, WOulu be accepted with doubt and regret by another part, and would be really welcome only to g third part. This last part is undoubtedly very active and strsng in Conventions, but it is necessarily somewhat controlled in it's conduct by the condition of party opinion. If those only are heard who think that the nomination of General Grant is desirable, he will be nomi mated. If those who think that it's wisdom may be questioned express their opinion, tht result IS not 80 certain. The essential ques tion for Republicans is whether all thing considered, the nomination would best repre- sent the strength and spirit and purpose of tn
 Republican party. The probable Democrati spirit is plain, and it would be disastrous. Tn Democratic impulse is to revise and repeal, s' far as practicable, all that the Republican have done, and to reopen all old questions Democratic ascendency promises continual dis turbance and excitement, when the country desires tranquility. To prevent this ascend ency there must be the frankest counsel to se cure the nomination of candidate not as { mere alternative, but as representative o1 the future as we'll as the past of the Republi can arty.-Harpers Weekly.
 THE COLORADO BONANZA. The question is often asked, Is the mineral wealth of Leadvill' really as great as had been claimed, or are th' oll # ~l ok<l