Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-15
The Political Situation i'm the Soutb

The Grant managers are, apparently earn
estly impressed with the conviction that their
candidate could not be defeated before the peo-
pie. While they recognize the existence OF a
violent republican opposition to the nomination
OF Grant, they Insist that IL is too weak to pre-
vent his election, and the public is being favored.
at last, with the calculations upon which the
certain success OF the Grant movement at the
polls is based. These calculations will not be
likely to inspire the entire republican party
with the confidence felt by the Grant leaders, Or
10 paralyZe the democracy with fear, but as they
furnish the main spring OF prominent political
movement, Ii Is a matter Of interest to study
and examine them 1t has been evident for
some time past that Gen. Grants friends rely
upon his ability. as a candidate for President
to capture some electoral votes from the demo-
Gratis. The assertion that he would receive a
large democratic suppOrt-which no other re-
publican could command-haS been made
prominent in the canvass In his behalf but 1t
is only OF late that the Grant organs and mana
gers have begun TO particularize and to specify
what portion of the democratic column the
General could break into In the first place.
Virginia Is put down as former democratic
state that can certainly" be carried by Grant
The readjusters are declared to be in sympathy
with the third-term proposition and willing
toSuppOrt 1t at the polls, "but they have not SUI
ficient confidence In the fair mindednesS OF any
other republican candidate TO work against
their old party associates for his election SAYS
a leading Grant paper. 1t may be that the
third-term leaders have authentic Information
as to what the Virginia readiuSterS are willing
TO do, but the bosses Of that party have repeat
edly denied the report that they were endeavor-
Ing to lead their followers into the support of
Grant Notwithstanding this denial however
= to-
the readjuster leaders are inclined to support
Gen. Grant If they can obtain. in advance, as
suranceS that their support will be rewarded
with federal patronage in the event of Grants
election. The third-termers also maintain
that Grant would get a number of electoral
votes out of the states OF louisiana Florida
North Carolina and Georgia, and perhaps carry
all OF them They argue that the kindly man
ner In which Gen. Grant has been received and
treated In all the SOuthernicitieS he has visited
indicates the existence OF feeling OF positive
preference for him over any other man for
President; that the belief in Gen. Grants Sllpe-
rOr ability to restore harmony between the sec
tonS and build up closer political and business
relations between the north and the south, has
taken wide hold upon the southern mind and
thousands of democrats who are tired of Sec
uonal quarrels will vote for him. 1t WILL no
ucuUt, With Tue counted
next November, that Gen. Grants visit to the
south made him but few votes in that section
The public-spirited citizens In the cities he Wis
TIED entertained him, Ii is true in the style of
an honored guest, but the very men who led In
dispensing this hospitality were, In nearly all
cases, prominent and active democrats, many
OF them holding Office from that party or iden-
titled with its working machinery. The recently
published interviews with large number OF
leading southern congressman demonstrate
that MIR. Tflden Is very unpopular with the
democrats of that section. and as against him
Gen. Grant might carry one, two or possibly
three OF the states, because OF democratic
apathy and Indifference. But is there any rea-
son to believe that Senator Blaine or Secretary
Sherman, or any other prominent republican
likely TO be nominated at Chicago could not do
as much? Should any of the southern states go
republican. 1t is generally admitted that the
result will be brought about by democratic in
difference. and not because OF any newly
awakened love for republican principles.