Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-02-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.

There is very intense desire among
the leading Republicans to nominate
Grant. They are doing all in their
power 10 secure this. They will not
fail. 1t is useless to disguise the fact
that Grant will be nominated. Among
other reasons for his nomination the
Republicans say he is the only man
that can carry New York. They adj
nit that no other man among the Re
publicans can carry that State. The
Washington Republican says that
only Grant or Conkling can carry New
York. and that the latter will not be a
candidate for the nomination. The
Republicans who urge Grant give
other reasons for his nomination, to
the effect that she is the only man
named on the Republican side who
can assuredly be elected against any
candidate the Democrats may be
pleased to nominate" The Republic
can. which has urged Grants nomi-
nation, evidently believes that unless
he is put at the head of the ticket,
there is no salvation for the Radical
party. This admission is at least
true as regards the belief of the
Grant managers and the Republican,
the stalwart of all the stalwart Radi-
cal organs favors his nomination first,
as necessary to the preservation Of The
country, and for the following addi-
tiOnal reasons:
Second. That General Grant is the
only man named on the Republican
side who can assuredly be elected
against any candidate the Democrats
may be pleased to nominate.
Third. That he can carry the State
of New York, the pivotal State of the
ensuing battle. But two men living
to-day can carry hal State against the
Democratic party next fall. One of
these is Roscoe Conkling, who will
not be a candidate under any circum-
stances, and the other is General
Ulysses S. Grant.
Fourth. That General Grant can
carry New Jersey and Connecticut,
both doubtful States with any other
Republican candidate.
Fifth. That General Grant can carry
the States of Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Louisiana, Florida,
and perhaps Alabama and Mississippi,
1ole Of which can be secured with
auy other Republican name.
These are the prominent reasons
which lead the friends of General
Grant to desire and labor unremit-
tingly for his nomination at Chicago.
To them they are ample to challenge
their honorable efforts and most faith
full devotion until the determination
Of the nominating convention is
reached. They love their country
they desire to see it saved from future
peril-and they know thattbis end can
only be reached by saving the nation
from Democratic control, and they are
strongly and unalterably confirmed in
the belief that General Grant is the
only man that can lead the Republi-
a hosts to victory against any Demo
cratic Goliath they may usher to the
country as their standard bearer in
this contest. This is their hope. and
for this consummation they will pray
and labor until the convention shall
either defeat or consummate their
wishes.
There is in all this much hope and
comfort for the Democrats who will
nominate Seymour and Hendricks.
The sensational kilograms relative
to the Panama Isthmus canal scheme
have accomplished their purpose-de-
ception. 1t is not surprising, then,
that the LEDGER and other papers
should seriously speak about the mat
ter, though it is gratifying that the
LEDGER takes a sensible view of the
subject, and gave some judicious ad-
vice in its editorial last Tuesday.
There is no danger nor fear of a for
eign war. Mr.. Bayard said something
about war when he made his financial
resolution speech. There may be
some connection between the interests
of Wall street spectators and the
apprehensions Of statesmen. This has
no reference to Mr.. Bayard. whose
character has always been above re-
proach. The country is safe, and the
Monroe doctrine will hardly evoke a
spirit of war. The United States are
not prepared for war, either on land
or sea. We have no navy. nor are
our harbors in a state Of protection if
~assailed by foreign feet. According
to the report made last year by an
army engineer, but two of our many
s%ea-cOast towns can be safe from a
foreign feet. The only protection is
in t0rpedoes, and this is more mag
mary than real. for these instruments
can be searched for and their locality
ascertained. Upon the whole, the
maintenance of the Monroe doctrine
is not in question. Should this doc
trine be assailed, then the government
would either have to defend it by pre-
pairing for war, or by taking $50, 0O0i in
demnity, as in the Virginius outrage by
the Spanish authorities.
SALTUs MoHRGAN.
FOLDS BOUNTIFUL TABLE.