Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-03-04
THE RE-NOMINATIQN.
Want Of Harmony Among the Republicans.

Want Of Harmony Among the Republicans.
There is now very little doubt that
General Grant will be nominated at
Chicago. The Republican cenven-
tions of several large states have in
structed their delegates to vote for
him, and the prestige thus impaired,
makes his selection almost a foregone
conclusion. But his denomination
will not secure a third term for the
General. After that, he must be re-
elected.
At the same time these conventions
have revealed great dissentiens. They
have shown, also, that Hayes admin
istration has not been satisfactory,
and that to the stalwarts it has been
little better than an interregnum.
Under it-thanks to the democra-
cy-they have seen their southern
policy disappear, the strength of their
army melt away, the civil service re-
formed, the rights of voters respected,
and elected governors and legislators
inducted into office. They are tired
OF it, and long for Grants restora-
ton, because with that, will come
their own. From his first victories,
the stalwarts favored him. In return,
he embraced their views, aud impart-
ed practicability to their aims. But
new they clamor for stronger govern
ment for one stronger than Hayes ,
or Washington's, or Jackson's, or
Lincoln's, or even than Grants; for
one that can perpetuate itself. They
are tired of elections held every
fourth year. 1t makes their term OF
office too short.
1t is worthy Of notice, however, that
nearly half of the Republican party
dlssents from such views; that that
portion of it remembers that when
General Grant was first brought for
ward for the chief magistracy, the
Republican party had overwhelming
majorities in congress and among the
people; that his administration did
not strengthen or perpetuate that pop
ularity; that he was a disappoint-
ment; that owing to his methods,
radicalism lost influence, and that it
does not appear how he is going to
restore it to favor. They urge, also,
that all the apprehensions felt, when
third term was proposed in 1875,
of peril to free institutions to be in
cured by departure from the princi-
pie of two presidential terms, engraft-
ed by tradition on our organic law,
still threaten that whatever dangers
were before US then, are before us
now, and still warn us of the conse-
quence of abandoning the counsels of
the past; that it is as much the testl-
1nony Of the experience Of our fathers,
and the republics that preceded them,
as ever, that liberty can be perpetu-
ated by no other means than frequent
surrender of authority; that on this
point there has been and can be no
change of sentiment; that if the
friends of third term are clamorous,
its opponents are unmoved, and that
if the rolls of its advocates and de-
nouncers could be again called, there
would he wonderful similarity in the
names of them.
From all this, it is evident that the
denomination of General Grant will
not secure republican harmony. The
instructions impaired, thus far, to
delegates have been given by what
is known in politics as the machine.
In neither New York mol Pennsylva-
mia, was any consideration shown to
the opponents of third term by the
stalwarts. In Pennsylvania they were
ruthlessly overrldden by Cameron,
and in New York at the dictation OF
Conklng they Jared quite as badly.
Still, with the friends of Mr.. Blaine,
they made strong stand, and were
overruIed by such slim majorities, as
awaken doubts everywhere IN repub-
lican circles as to the propriety of the
course pursued.