Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-09-05
Drift ocniscmssion

| do not think, said Alex III. Ste
phens the other day to an interviewer,
there is enough Of data on the Presi-
Dental question for a sensible man to
form rational speculation. The witty
Judge Dooly, of Georgia, said: If
there is anything God does not fore
know, it is the verdict of petit jury,
and | can speak the same terms of
Presidential candidates. Who thought
of Mr.. Hayes two days before he was
nominated2 ? No one. | could better
tell you after the nominations were
made who would be elected. Indeed,
for thirty years l have never missed in
my prophecy. | began with Polk,
although | was Clay man. Ringsters
and political thimble-riggers set up
the nominations, but it is the vote of
the people which decides the great
question in the end John Sherman
is certainly a candidate, but of General
Grant would not speak. | have my
personal opinion Of him, which is a
very high one, but | do not care to
speak of him as a candidate. / do not
know that he is willing to be one. In
fact, all talk about candidates is and
must be for a while the vaguest and
widest speculation. Itwould be folly
for the leaders to put up man now,
to be shot at for a year, during which
time he would certainly be hit great
er or less number of times. | really
have nothing to say Of the Presiden-
tial campaign. | do not know whether
Mr.. Tilden will come into the field
again or not | should say he is not
as strong now as he was before. OF
course | have views on this subject,
and very decided ones, too but it
would be of no advantage to the party
or to the country for me to set them
forth now"
New York Herald The Republican
leaders do not mean to surrender the
authority they have held for twenty
years if they can help it; that is only
human nature and all their actions
show their vigorous grasp and ardent
love of political predominance. We
DO not blame them for being human,
but they ought to be careful not to
alarm the country with such sinister
threats as are involved in the reasons
they give for insisting on Grant,
There is a profound and Just belief
among Americans that we owed the
rebellion to the unscrupulous love OF
power and political predominance
which had grown up among the Demo
cratic leaders, and if these had been
accustomed at more frequent intervals
TO a period In g minority we might
have been spared a bloody and costly
war. But sensible people do not for.
get that the Republicans have in their
turn had long lease Of possession in
Washington. The country has not
failed TO observe the naughty, intoler-
ant, domipeering spirit Of the Repub-
lican leaders al the capital during the
last winter and spring, and it will not
be safe-it will be very unsafe indeed
for these to 60 any further in show
ing the American people that they are
seeking excuses for resisting the popu-
lar will If that should next year elect
to dspose them, and in preparing the
way and the means for an act OF
usurpation. Il tbst once gets into
the heads Of the voters they will sweep
the Republicans from power, aud they
ought to do so. We cannot afford to
keep servants in the house who refuse
to 20 out, and begin to barricade
themselves iasi9e,