The New York herald., 1879-02-26
A General Political Survey.


Our special correspondent in Washing
ton, who is an acute and experienced OBJ
server, and has perhaps better opportunities
of intercourse with politicians OF all shades
than any other journalist at the national
capital, sends us his impressions OF the
| political situation as modified by the
events of the session and as likely to be
affected by the views of parties and the as
pirations of candidates. We do not claim
for our correspondent nor would n man Of
his sense and sagacity think of claiming for
himself the gift of prophecy. He merely
states the situation as it exists to-day. and
points out the present tendencies of party
action. But politics nre like q kaleidoscope,
especially at period when the whirling
and cddying waters have not yet taken the
strong set which betokens their permanent
direction. The main streams Of political
tendency into which all the lesser streams
will flow and be absorbed can as yet be only
conjectured, but not marked out with the
certainty of photographic survey.
It is impossible to doubt that our CORE
spondent is entirely correct in the estimate
he has formed of the rising hopes Of
the republican party. That party has
become a unit in it's policy, having
no longer any Emergencies of opinion
on the more important questions, and
particularly the currency question and the
Southern question. Our correspondent
makes it plain that there will be no jarring
sentiments to disturb the harmony of the
Republican National Convention on points
OF party policy, and that the only contests
in that body will be personal contests re-
lating to candidates. Whether Grant or
Blaine or Sherman or some other man gets
the nomination it is already certain that all
the candidates will seek it on substantially
the same basis Of political principle. Our
correspondent does not overrate the i'm
portance of this advantage, and he cor
rectly attributes to it the great ac-
cession Of confidence among the re-
publican leaders. There is no stronger
bond of unity, there is no more
hopeful prognostic Of success, in
political party than complete and decided
unanimity on great public questions. The
| republican party has attained this uaanim-
| ity and has consolidated its views since the
| meeting Of Congress; and it is not surpris-
| ing that its half despondent mood has been
replaced by tone of confident hope. Our
correspondent is probably not in error in
supposing that this revival of party conf
dence weakens the chances Of General
Grant for the republican nomination. If
the party believes that it can succeed with
any good candidate the nomination Of
Grant will not be accepted rs political
necessity. he consequence is that Blaine
stock is rising and has become buoyant, as
was shown forth in the large batch Of
Washington interviews which we printed
on Monday.
Our correspondents estimate of demo-
cratic prospects are very suggestive. whether
we accept or reject his Interpretation of the
facts. The democratic dissension and dis
traction which he SO forcibly depicts no
doubt betoken squally weather for the
democratic canvass but we incline to
think that out of this very chaos there will
arise q certain kind of order. In con-
sequence of these dissensions and this
confusion worse confounded" it will be
found impossible to concentrate the demo-
cratic choice upon Bayard, or Thurman, or
Hendricks, and Mr.. Tilden will have the
great advantage of playing off his rivals
against one another. and OF presenting the
only issue in which democratic harmony is
possible. That he was elected in 1876 and
cheated out Of the Office is a point on which
all democrats agree, and the party, rs a
whole, can hardly be said to agree on any
thing else. The jarring elements of the
party could more easily be united on him
than on anybody else. Anybody who sup
poses that Mr.. Tilden is looking out TO,
some other candidate, like General Nc
Clellan, in case he should fail, mis-.
conceives the character Of the man. Mr..
Tilden is for himself first last and always.
He is entirely confident of his own success,
and it is not in his nature to be jackal
for some other candidate. He is Indifferent
who is nominated if he is not, and he has
such undoubting confidence of his own sue.
cess that no question has arisen or can arise
in his mind as to how he will dispose of his
strength in the event Of failure.