Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1880-03-20
THE NORTHERN RIFLE CLUBS.

at work to secure Il heptlDllcttl q
in the coming campaign, +
and the ambitious purposes OF ,
the wealthy citizens who are {
generally understood to be in
favor of Grant. 1t is unnecessary
IN this connection torepeat our
opinions upon these points. But
is still remains for us to make a
few observations as to why
Grant will probably receive the
nomination, and why certain
prepon derating forces in tie Re-
publican party will probably
concentrate upon Grant as the
strongest man in the party.
There can be little question
as to Grants strength in spite
of his unpopularity with Ger
man Republicans and the OPP
position of radical journals. 1t
might be supposed that he is
strong simply because others
are weak,-Blaine is even now
being denounced as a corrupt
and ambitious man by Eastern
iournals,--because Conkling
has made more enemies than
any Republican leader ever did.
But these facts do not fully il
Illuminate the great mystery OF
Grantism. 1t is very evident,
of course, that the Republicans
must nominate the strongest
man they can find at a juncture
so critical as at the present;
> vet the reasons for choosing
Grant may not generally be ia
miliar.
Ethan Allen, in a recent in
terview, made some startling
> observations in opposition to
Grants nomination. He re-
marked that the Republicans
g wanted a ''strong man" not so
much because a strong man
F., would be less liable to be count
= ed out as because he would in
i, sist upon being counted in
p The Republican party is just
now in the position of a bully
who has taken advantage OF q
stout antagonist by assaultine
T. him in cowardly manner from
~ behind; and who breads he fu
q ture results Of the unmanly &C
% ton which gained him a brie
If advantage. In short the part.
|. who counted in Hayes arr
J. quaking with apprehension tina
-: the Democracy will turn tn
+ tables shortly and count in I
l Democratic President by mail
;; force. Therefore they want t
in nominate a strong man, VIII
d will insist upon being counted
~ in under any possible circum
- stances. This brings us bac]
IS to the question of where Grant
strength is supposed to lie. l
l. lies with the old military wa
~ party of the North and West.
at When t e enc rnOus armle
ly called into existence by the wa
" were officially disbanded b.
m the general government, the
became invisible indeed but nc
, impalpable. The armies re
10 manned secretly organized, lon
al after the uniforms had vanisl
W. ed. Immense societies wei
rs. formed with secret political mo
70 tives, known only to the leat
Nv ers. These societies have tt
III day branches in nearly all t..
lie principal cities of the Mort
to and West, and periodical reul
ch ions upon which considerabl
r. money is expended. They al
organized in regulrr parliamel
tary fashion; they have volun
nous records, considerab]
funds, and large political intll
Us ence. TO the average Obser,
;ly er they appear the natural on
he growth Of the old companion
ship of the war,-sOcial clul
banded together for more ser
'e- Gus business than that of mutt
er- al aid and quiet enjoymen
ar. But their presidents and secr'
O6 taries and other officers al
,o+ colonies, lieut. nants and cal
~ tains; and the members are III
III merous enough to constitute
IL l. Il .,<