Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-06-12
TEE E,EHo O.r THE CONTEST.

The Baltimore american, a leading
Republican paper, says editofiaIly IN its
issue OF Saturday last, as follows
"No matter what may be the result OF
the ballot at Chicago-whether once
again, as at Cincinnati, personal IN
trigues shall defeat the preference OF the
overwhelming majority of Republican
voters fer James G. Blanche VIII
stand as the man to whom the country
owes an immense debt Of gratitude. and
the Republican party It's salvation.
When rumors spread about that Gener-
al Grants trip around the world was
part of plan to nurse ANA keep alive
his fame, so as to present him again as
presidential candidate, it was general
ly treated by the masses Of the Repnb-
lean party as a slur, SANDER and a de-,
famation. The Republican press denied
and denounced the story as ali lmpu;a,
ton upon the honesty aud sincerity OF
the party platforms OF 1875. The Amer
lean was Que ofthese papers. We hon
estly believed what General Grant III
his letter 10 General Harry White de
clared-that he did not desire to rc-en
ter the presidential office; that he would
no. be candidate again-and we treat
ed the agitation of the subject as an at
tack and calumny upon the Republican
party from It's enemies. We could not
believe that there existed in this coun-
try Bonapartist faction with whom
personal loyalty had taken the place OF
patriotism. 1t seemed incredible TO Us
that the oldest tradition of our govern
mcnt, fortified by the precepts Of the
fathers and by the recognition of every
political party, should be d!srcgarded;
that after twosuch terms, another should
lie proposed; that the man who lad
brought the Republican party almostto
ruin-who had reduced it from an over
wheImug majority to weak minority
in the Uousco Representatives-shoud
be again proposed as candidate;
When the scheme was first developed
it was received with Armament al! III
credulity, and the shock o. surprise
seems, indeed, never to have lett the
majority of the Republican leaders.
They have gone about as if in daze,
while the Grant leaders have been brag-
ging and clustering. The danger to
the party was felt aud shudder over.
a painful anxiety was manifested to
know whether it was indeed so. lie
ports that the General was going TO ac-
cept the presidency of an inter-ocoanic
canal company were eagerly caught at
and dwelt upon Bat still, as the inta-
nous conspiracy against the lndopcnd
ence of the party was unwound they
shuddcred, but made no sign. While
the axe was being sharpcncd which was
to cut down the Republican party as
bloody sacrifice to selfish ambition OF a
few desperate schcmers, they trembed
and cursed but dared not move.
Various candidates for the presidency
thought that their chances lay in amod
est and defcrental attitude towards tie
third term conspirators. They conduct
cd their canyasses without prejudice to
Grant, they would not oppose him, but
desired the compliment OF being pre-
sentcd to the convention with as strong
support as possible, with the hope that
if the consrirators concluded that it
would be incIpcdient 10 carry out their
plans they would regard them with IA
vor. The one exception to this course
of conduct was James G. Blaine. His
canvass is the only one thai preserved
the free characteristics Of the American
people "Thc indomitable will and cour-
age never to submit or yield" was man
Tested by him alone. His was the au-
dacity to attack Grantism in its vital
centre. He confronted the bosses in
their own provinces. The fight against
the third-term in New York, Penusyl
wanna anc Illinois was what defeated ii,
and this was made by Blaine. lie has
saved the party; he las demonstrated
its vigor, independence, and vitality; he
has INDICATED the free traditions Of the
American people, and whoever may be
the choice Of the convention, the crown
Of highest honor rests upon the head Of
James q. Blaine.