The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-13
an OLD CANDIDATE WITH DEAD ISSUES
Wanted-A Leader in Harmony
With the Times.
an OPPORTUNITY WITHOUT THE MAN.
Substitute for the Burnside
Army Bill.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON JAM IL, 1879.
THE REPUBLICAN, OUTLOOK FOR 1SS0-yIEws OF
A PROMINENT REPUBLICAN,.
IF the republican party had a leader. said very
prominent republican here the other day in CONVEX
sation lit might regard itself certain of victory in
1880 But il should be leader who would lead,
who would march forward instead of backward.
The notion that General Grant is the best
man for the party is absurd. His nomna-
ton would signify to the country simply
that the party does not mean to move forward that
it has nothing to offer; that in fact it is like the
Western quack doctor, who was unable to cure any
disease except fits, and who, when he was called to
treat fever patient, insisted throwing him into
commissions the first step toward curing him OF
fever This is so clear that. unless the repub-
lican party means to go out of business, have no
idea that it will nominate Grant next year.
A LEADER WANTED
osTalk about General Grant would drop at
once the party could hear the voice Of sensible
leader but it is just like the democratic party
in state of great Generalization and it has fault
which the democrats have MOTT never promotes its
prominent or ablest In this it is the old WING
party over again, which refused the Presidency to
Webster just the republicans refused 1t to Seward
To-day every natural leader of the party knows that
he has against him all the rest and all are so busy in
preventing the rise Of their rivals that they find their
own fortunes blocked. They all spoil horn but
which of them can make spoon
AN OPPORTUNITY
"And yet party without leaders would seem to
offer a tempting opportunity to a man capable of
leadership" suggested your correspondent
That is very true" was the reply but he would
have an ugly fight on his hands, which not everybody
cares for. What is wanted is that the party shall
m fbe hal becO a m
chine an army very powerful one, grant you;
but it has lost the habit Of communicating with the
people at large and it is depending for it's
cess, not on the value or popularity OF its ideas,
but on the plumbers of its opponents.
HAYES Foley.
The prominent republicans, with few timid ex-
eeptons all at loggerheads with their administra-
ton. They spend their strength, in so far they
can, preventing the President from carrying into
effect his policy. and yet that policy has firm pos
session of the popular heart and if the President to-
day is not the most popular man in the country it is
because hampered by hostile party magnates he has
not been able to give full effect to the intentions with
which he began. II the party had in 1877
cordially adopted the policy announced in the in
augural Message and supported the President in
making II effective j. would to-day have hold ON
the popular mind which would enable it to count on
succession of terms because those ideas which the
President announced. and which make up what is
called his policy. believed in by the people
Wherever they have fallen into doubtful acceptance
or contempt it is only because he has not been
allowed to carry them into practice"
GRANT AND THE OLD PLATroRM
''what Is remarkable to me- continued this prom.
inent republican, lis to see that mon undoubtedly
ambitious for the Presidency hesitate to act upon
these facts. the party is to adhere to its old plat
form, and, as is commonly said. go 70 the country
next year with sound money and the Southern ques-
ton its banners. il does not require q wise man
to see that General Grant must have the nomina-
ton. On that platform he is stronger than
Conklng or Blame Sherman or Washburne or
rumors which have been circulating that the New
York and Maine Senator'S have Withdrawn from the
CONTEXT. They clear headed men. and well
enough that if there is to be change in the
party's policy Grant follows logically twice two
makes four. But with new policy. such as it ought
70 present adequate to the wants and the situation
the country, Grant is impossible. and the man
who placed himself at the head of this new
policy would naturally be nominated. See
via. an opportunity is presented. The President
il not a candidate for reelection, and the who
should displace Grant would strike down at the
Same time all his other rivals. for they all in
the same boat with Grant"
This the end of long conversation with a
prominent republican, who would undoubtedly
like to lead his party into new paths. but who,
like all his rivals suffers Il dare not wait upon
would. -