Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-02-27
The Question Of the Day.

repetition of his former expressions. Let US
give fair and candid consideration TO his
main points
(a) Wedo not suppose that Grant is OBJ
noxious above all others to the Indie
pendents" Many Of them, and we have
supposed most of them, would prefer Grant to
Blaine-who may lie the only alternative TO
Grant in the convention We are not in the
habit of sneerins at the Independents But
it is certainly a question how far men whose
boast is that they owe no party allegiance,
and who, if any choice they see fit to de-
mand were made at Chicago, would still
hold themselves perfectly free 10 support the
Democratic nominee for President, can be
allowed to dictate terms and candidates to
the Republican party. This Is not saying
that the preferences and even the prejudices
of the Independent voters are not to have
their fair share Of consideration
% Times have indeed changed in the
South. In the States mentioned by our cor
respondent popular government has been
overthrown The rule of the majority no
more exists there than in Russia or TGrhey.
If popular government has been in like man
ner overthrown in Massachusetts, then the
vote of - in that State affords no basis Tor
calculation now. With a free election we
have supposed that tie men who voted lot
Grant in - would vote for him now, II
nominated, together with many others who
were Greeley men in - but who are now
outspoken Grant men.
(c) Men who bolted Cornell might votefor
Grant in view of the graver Importance OF
| the National election and of the iaore critl-
cal emergency now presented. George
| William Curtis, editor of Hdrper'S Weekly,
had no hesitation in announcing his refusal
to support Cornell both before and alter his
nomination lie has been strongly urged to
announce similar refusal to support Grant
He does not want Grant hut he declines 10
say that he will not support him. If Grant
is nominated We think Hdrper's UeetLg will
support him as against any Democrat.
| Id Ger Grant ras friend of civil ser
vice reform. He did try to suppress the
whiskey ring. lie did not prevent massacres
| in the South. nor could any man have pre-
vented them, i'll his place. The diSsltisfac
tions, jealousies, soreheads and criticisms
which arc apt to pile up in the second term
of every President, in the North, and the
shotgun and tissue ballot policies in the
South, have cost the party many States and
| given us our Confederate Congress. The
same result would probably have Eappcnedun-
der President Hayes if he had been in Grants
place, or under any other man. If the .rnwi
ers and boilers are proud Of their work they
can keep on and give the country over whol-
ly to Democratic control for the next twenty
years. But on them. and not IN President
Grant or on the firm and true supporters of
Republican principles must rest the rcSpoasi-
bility for such calamity.
(e.) We can hardly be expectedto argue the
questions of General Grants probable mo-
tives with so bitter Granl-haier as our cor
respondent Such extreme prejudice Will
make friends rather than foes for the Gen
cral. If he goes abroad, says x. Y. L." it
is all for policy II he comes back 1t is to
further his chances If he is silent it is crafty
silence If he speaks, whatever he SAYS, it
is because he wants to lie President. Ii he
were to announce to-day that he would in no
case accept the Chicago nomination, our cor
respondent would insist that it was all part
of the game, and meant to help on his
chances there is no modesty about him
nothing but policy! The fair-minded people
of this country cannot be made to adopt this
estimate of the man, whose moieSiy, reiuc-
tance to assert personal claims to Office or
honor. and incapacity for .fHesSe and IN
trigue, are among his most marked qualities.
Gen. Grant has his faults, for he is mortal
lie has sometimes been imposed upon in his
choice of men for important places. So have
some other men. Secretary Schurz is an
honest man; but his favoritc and most trust
ed subordinate, the late Commissioner Of In
dian Affairs, has turned out to ne 4 scoun-
drel. Gen. Grant has been sometimes too
slow to believe any evil OF those who had
once won his confidence; but he has probably
learned some wisdom in that respect, by ex-
periencr. Our correspondent cannot meG-
ton Il thing that Belknap. Babcock and
Shepard are doing to secure Gen. Grants nom
ination. On the other hlnl, pretty distinct
intimations are given that they have ceased TO
be influential with Gen. Grant. Ii is not
true that the good men all had to leave his
cabinet. Belknap had to leave. Mr. Jewell
left, and his friends who know most about
the reasons why, aIe, we believe, best con-
tent to keep quiet about them. Hamilton
Fish, one of the purest and best Of the Sec
retaries Of State, WAS Gen. Grants trusted
counsellor for eight Years. Mr.. Chandler,
one of the honestcst and most efficient Secre-
taries that the Department of the Interior
has known, did not have 10 leave. ror other
good men. Our correspondent needs eau
tion to keep truth on his side a little more
closely.