National Republican., 1880-05-22
A REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

substantially settled now Under all lnul-
cations there is no hook left upon which to
hang q doubt us to whom will be awarded
that important trust and responsibility. AS
THE REPUBLICAN has insisted for months,
General ULYSSES S. GRANT will be declared
the nominee of the republican party before
the first regular roll-call of the states shall
have been concluded. His strength will be-
come so manifest before this duty shall have
been half performed that one loud acclaim
will declare him the choice of the convention
and the party which it represents. This is
the present outlook, and this the conviction
that is rapidly settling down upon the pub
lie mind. We cannot see any possibility
for this question to take any other shape,
though this end will not be reached if the
enemies OF General GRANT can by the in
PRODUCTION of surprising methods and agen-
cies possibly prevent it.
There has been much in this preliminary
canvass to bring regret to every sincere re-
publican mind in the country. We refer to
the methods that have been resorted to to
advance personal interests at the expense
of propriety, right aud justice. General
GRANTS name was presented early, and in
response to what appeared to be the public
wish, but it has in no degree been pressed
upon the country through extraneous or
illegitimate methods or agencies. THE RE-
PUBLICAN has contended from the initia-
ton of this primary canvass for presiden-
tial candidate, that if the people wanted
General GRANT they would have him, and
if they should not want him, there is no
power on earth TO push him upon the party,
for in such controversies the public will is
seldom defeated in accomplishing its pur-
poses. With this abiding faith we have
steadfastly followed what we have deter
mined in our judgment to be the wish of
the American people. Every day has
brought fresh conviction that we have not
mistaken the current Of republican feeling
and opinion, though we confess that we had
not calculated upon the very singular, ille-
Ultimate and indefensible methods that
have been arrayed against it, We had not
anticipated an array of the official power Of
the administration in favor of any candi-
date, for such use of it could not be
made withou. an open and shameless viola
ton of the rules of civil service that had
been laid down as the chart for its naviga-
ton. Such departure has taken place.
The administration has publicly submitted
to a qualification of its own principles and
rules and in the interest Of one of its own
cabinet ministers. This is among the things
that bring regret TO the canvass. The
official power of the administration has
been used without reserve in the southern
states where the republican sentiment is
overwhelmingly in favor of General GRANT
Every republican convention that has been
held has been beset by the power oil
federal official interference, to prevent
if possible, fair and Just expression
of republican sentiment in regard to can.
didate for the presidency. There is scarcely
hardihood enough anywhere to deny the
truth and justice of this allegation, for all
history justifes it. 1t is clearly understood
and the prostitution of the official power Of
the administration for such purposes in the
light of its professions brings shame TO its
record and memory. We speak somewhat
strongly on this point, for we are con,
strained TO deal frankly with an admins,
tratiOn for whose existence we are in some
degree responsible, our best efforts, though
humble, having been arrayed in its behalf
But the fact that the chief corner of Tho
especial article of administrative faith hai
beon treated with contempt by those whC
were in honor bound TO protect it from
being spat upon by its profcssed deyotee!
stands out upon ihe page of history. Al
this has been done TO defeat what
seemed 10 be the popular wish
the nomination Of General GRANT. II hay
ing utterly failed in itspurpose, none should
regret more than those who have contrib,
uted TO bring distrust and contempt upon
the ciyil-seryice laws and rules of the ad
mnislration, that such improprieties, moi
to say iuiquities, should have been INDUCED
against the manifest wish Of the people
While the administration branch of the op
position 20 General GRANT confined itsel
TO official interference with the canvass i
refrained from assaulting him as a states
man. q warrior and q man. This stands t,
its~credil to offset its violation Of its owl
theories and principles in the interest 0
personal ambition.
Tn: assaults upon the popular wish ant
the record of General GRANT have been ia
different in another quarter. They hav
been ollensiyely obtrusiye in every sense
They have violated the amenities of part,
relation aud fellowship, insomuch as the,
have invaded the states in which othe
candidates are resident for the pur
pose of undermining their home pop
ularily They have been marked wit
the distortion and Misrepresentation o
fact. They have concentrated their ammu
milton within the magazine Of bureaus O
correspondence which have assailed th
integrity, the craftsmanship, and even tn
loyalty Of General GRANT by burlesquin
him with the Coming Crown" They hNy
in every possible way belittled the measur