New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-22
CIV me RE FLECTEDP

Within the past fortnight q former member
of President Grants Cabinet in conversation
with n New England Republican concerning
the Presidential nomination, said he believed
the nomination of the ex-Presdent would be
extremely hazardous and unwise When asked
why he had not been appointed n delegate to
Chicago he said he supposed he could have
been if he had desired. "But," said he, "with
any relations with Grant, ! should, of course,
"expeCt to vote for his nomination. / could
anot, under the circumstances, do anything
@else. | don't think he ought to be nominated,
"and / am very glad to be free from the en-
barrassmcnt which | should feel as dele
"gate." lie went on TO say that no man could
he moro friendly to the ex-President than HIM
self he liked him personally, and, of course,
believed he would give the country a good adj
ministratiOn, if elected He opposed his candi-
dacy solely on the ground that he did not be-
lievc he could be elected.
This is no doubt the view of thousands of
Republicans who supported all tho measures of
his administration, and who have been, through
all, thorough believers in his integrity and
capacity They may be .classed, in fact as
among his personal adhcrents. But they are
not blinded to the actual facts which come under
their daily personal observation by their devO-
ton to his fortunes. They can see in the gem
eIal drift Of public sentiment, in the every day
talk Of the people, in the current comment upon
the situation, and the free criticism of the
methods of the thTd-torm managers, that his
nomination would impcnl Republican success
and damage his own fame. Every considera-
ton of prudent fOrcthOught for the ex-
President himself, for the party and for
the country, is opposed to his nomination;
and nothing fnvOrs it except the stubborn
persistence Of two or three men who, having
set their hearts, and to some extent Tsked their
political fortunes on the event, are determined
to carry it through, whatever may come of it.
We are not talking at random in this matter.
THE TRIBUNE has been very careful in all the
controversy to keep always in view the great
necessity-nOt Oh account of any individual, or
even of the party, but for the cOuntry's sake
of Republican success. 1t has carefully avoided
urging any personal objections to the cx-Prcs-
dents candidacy, or reViYing old differences
concerning the personnel or the policy of his
former administrations. 1t has always recog-
nized tho possibility of his being nominated
and realized the need, in such an emergency, Of
uniting, so far as possible, all the conservative
clements of the country against the National
disaster of Democratic supremacy. 1t will
have nothing to take back, nothing to apologize
for or explain, in the event of his nomination.
Having done what it could in every reasonable
and proper way, up to that point, to influence
the party to wiser course, it can consistently
90 forward, with nothing to repent Of in its
past, and urge the better choice in what re-
mains. The present question is of the selection
of candidates; the next will be Of the choice
betw cen parties.
But we do not conceal from OurselvesIiie fact