The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-04-17
The Revival Of Grantlsm-The Democrat
Ie Party Forcing the Issue ~ BIindiJ

The Revival Of GrantlSm-The Democrat
Ie Party Forcing the Issue ~ nilndly
~ Ever.
Utica, n. r., Herald.
There has been a brief lull in the in.
tense partisan feeling at Washington,
pending the consideration Of the army
bill In the Senate. It Is too much to ex.
pect, however, that the debate in that
body, which begins this week, will be
pitched in key at all different from that
which markedthe House discussion. Yet
we think II will be enerally agreed thatthis
bitterness and sectionaliSm Is altogether
fictitious; that II Is due solely TO the col.
lisiOn Of parties OF Washington, and Is In
no way responsive to or expressive Of any
sentiment Of the country at large.
But the country has not listened un-
moved to q discussion which 1t neither
prompted nor approves. The signs OF o
positive influence from Washington upon
public opinion are already ominous; and
the most ominous OF all signs Is this grow.
ing feeling In favor OF the denomination Of
Ux.president Grant by the Republican
party, to which the New York Times has
directed attention. Such an outcome Of
the revival OF sectional discussion Is en-.
tirely logical. General Grant, both IN his
military and civil career, Is the very en-.
bodinent Of the spirit OF sectionalisni. His
name can not be separated from the war
and all that grew out OF the war; and II
there Is to be a return to those things, the
return 10 Grant and oil that name implies
in national government, Is the natural
and inevitable sequence. People do not
stop to reason about such things. They
Jump at conclusions which are OF the sur
face, as this one Ia. They are neither TO be
blamed nor restrained.
The feeling which would force the re.
nomination OF Grant would be strong
enough to re.elect kim. His reelection
would mean that the South will continue
indefinitely 10 be In antagonism 10 the
rest Of the Union, continue to be the lead.
Ing issue in politics, continue to be asource
Of repressive legislation and harsh govern.
ment. Thus 1t Is the very thing Of which
the South has most bitterly complained
ever since the war, that the South Is again
forcing into our politics In It's ~intensest
form.
For the South can not disclaim nor
escape the responsibility for the pending
contest in Congress. 1t Is a fact that the
Democratic majority in both branches OF
Congress Is controlled by q majority OF
Southern Representatives and Senators.
1t Is therefore a fact that they control the
action and the attitude Of the Democratic
party In Congress. It is inevitable, under
such circumstances, that the North should
look upon the contest as a revival OF the
old struggle between the two sections.
Practically 1t Is such q revival. The Dem.
ocratiC party ceases to be an important
factor in the matter. The party has lost
its identity for the moment, in the Solid
South which controls 1t, dictates in its
CauCuses, and seeks through its agency to
grasp the government. Protest as loudly
as they may against this view OF the stu.
alton, it is the one which presents itseli
In the first and simplest analysis, and II
Is the one which will control the North,
ern judgment.
Thus the South rushes from scylba upon
%Charybdis. 1t insists upon the repeal Of
certain provisions OF existing law-provi,
sions which the North regards as a part O.
the work OF reconstruction, provisions
which have been long upon the statute
books, and from the continued existence
OF which the South can not urge that It Il
in any way a sufferer to-day. It is not or
the strength Of any abuse Of the law il
reference to the army, or OF the election
law, that their repeal is insisted upon
The Administration now intrusted with
the execution Of these laws has been con,
spiCuous for its disposition not to abuse
. the power with which they clothe it. Tha
can not be said OF the last administration
of Grant, norris it likely to be true OF hi
next one, If this contest results in his hay
ing another.
. As the South sows, 80 will she reap
: Whatever opinion OF her she forces thu
North to take, that opinion will be radi
cally carried out In her political attitude
Every day that this contest In Congress
~continues-a contest for which the Soutl
alone must take the responsibility-tht
probability Of the denomination Of Gran
grows stronger. The denomination o
t Grant means the perpetutation of section
alism, and the fierce revival OF all the an,
tagonisms which date from the war. W.
believe the North will regret this quite a.
much as the South will certainly have oc
casion to regret it. The prospect is not {
i, pleasant one TO look forward to. But it il
Just now, and for a very plain reason We
have %endeavored TO show forth, the ont
most likely to be realized.
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:. DInhtherIA.