The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-12
rna Next presidential election.

The Next PresloehIaaA GA oS
elsewhere we print statement made up
cut Of the reports In the New York Times,
uatnered by correspondents from all pa,'s
=, the Union, purporting to represent the
condition and tendency OF puoie op."'o"
with regard to the choice most nke's ~ 70
made by the Democratic snd hep"o''sau
/ ,r.r,,e. for the presidential campaign 10
1sso. From these Indications i1LoES taxes
the lead among Democrats ana IRaN'
.c,oncs, Renubiicaus. II the reports from
nj, the states are IS nearly correct as are
those from Virginia, they are quite respect
ab,e. These rightly represent Virginia
Democrats as preferring THURMAN to I'll
DEN, and Virginia Republicans as prefer
ring GRANT TO all others.
II is clear that there will be very ant.
mated campaisn--one that begins carry anu
will grow in excitement as It prosresss:'
The letters in the Times show that there Is
an unusual interest in the qnestloh IL '''
present stage Of the discussion.
Ono great matter that is sure to make the
campaign perhaps the most excited ana 'u-
portant we bave ever had Is the deep anxiety
that Will be engendered in the pubic nina
upon the question OF the bearing the e'ec-
ton may have upon our republican 'nstltu'
tons.
The nation cannot close its eyes to Inc
fact that the laws and policy of the GOV
eminent since the war have tended strong
IL towards increasing official power for Its
own proIongation. A conflict is penang
now between this advancement toward ar
bittary authority aud the rights OF people
and States that are threatened by the steady
encroachmen.s OF this tendency.
That General GRANT before he lett the
presidency had so employed his power as
in effect to usurp the authority OF the Pre-
sident to dictate bis successor cannot be
successfully denied. Should nc be CHOSEN
by the people as the successor OF Mr..
HAYES. it NAV therefore be inferred that the
neopIc will not object TO the establishment
OF the power imperial. Indeed, it "ould
not he illogical TO argue that after what ne
did in order to defeat the Federal election un-
der laws and usagcs OF the land, and to snow
IN the whole milton that he intended not
only to disregard the civil processes of the
Government in that election, but to render
them nugatory by force, therefore he shouio
feel himself instructed by the popular will
TO pursue the policy OF arbitrary power,
and suffer neither interruption nor defeat
to bis plans and purposes.
We have called attention to the interest
ing point OF Mr.. HAYEs's manifestations
with regard to the laws that give to the
President and his officers power over the
elections. Should be determine to bolster
them up without modification the friends OF
General GRANT will derive immense COM
fort and encouragement thcreirom. That
stern military man. should he be elected,
will find an army ready for HIM to handle
and dispose the political affairs Of the coun-
try to suit himself.
AS we are anxious for tue prolonged eX-
istencc OF the Republic in as good manner
as possible, we should deplore the election
OF GRANT; but it would not be Inconsistent
in friend OF the Republic to welcome The
imperial government rather than tolerate
condition Of things which despoiled the
people OF their rights, and established q
vulgar and hateful oppression through
multitude of petty tyrants that could be re-
gardcd with no other feeling than that OF
hate by the people.
1t has been rumored, for the cunning pur-
poses OF base partisans, no doubt, that the
Democrats are so enraged at the name OF
GRANT as President that they will probably
scheme for his assassination. What absur-
dity. There could be no greater mistake.
The Democrats cannot possibly harbor
such an idea. II GRANT shall ever be harm
@ in body it will be from the instigation OF
Radical rivalries, but never from Demo-
enthusiastically not.
The Republicans have been educating
Democrats to look with something of tOlera-
tion upon the approach OF imperialism.
Their simple and truthful view has natural
ly been: II Republicans continue to OPP
press us as they have done, il they rob the
people OF their liberties, what worse can we
expect from an emperor Would he be
worse than the hundreds Of partisans, with
their ruthless expressions?
Thus the Republicans are teaching the
people. 1t is shown in the popular feeling
towards GRANT. II the people were true
Repabiicans-such as We had In 1S00-they
would scout the name OF GRANT from the
political arena, so that he would not dare to
show his face before the multitude. -.
The question as to e!ecting such man as
GRANT should arouse the whole nation, ire
spective OF party; and when we apprehend
that the campaign will be 40 excited one
we base our expectation upon this very
ground.
Important Decision.