National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-04-13
TIE rATrnFuL or rnE PATTY.

. =
lfich.) Tribune.
There is much truth in the above extract
from our Michigan contemporary. 1t is true
that every GRANT paper that has fallen
under our notice, no matter from what sec
tion of the country it may come, is solemnly
pledged to support the nominee of the
Chicago Convention. On the other hand, it
is true that the leading journals which adj
vocate the candidacy of Senator BLAINE,
and many of the lesser lights that illumne
his cause, are constantly declaring that
General GRANT cannot, if nominated, secure
the Republican vote. Upon what authority
such papers can speak beyond their own in
tentions it is difficult to conceive, for they
really have no knowledge of the future Of
this question. 1t is no doubt case in
which the wish is father to the thought"
for it is noticeable that those journals
which set themselves up as prophets now
are those which in 1872 were doing service
on the Democratic side, and were, of course,
decrying and uttering prophecies against
the Republican party and its standard
were verified in the result. The virus of
1872 has not as yet been thoroughly ex-
PEELED from the systems of those journals
and their especial sympathizers, and hence
this ebulltion of ill-blood toward General
GRANT at this time, for the reason that the
people are pleased to mention his name in
connection with the Presidency.
In the face of these predictions we are
inclined to make the assertion that no mat
ter who may receive the nomination at
Chicago, every sincere and true Republican
will rally around the Republican standard
as they did around the old flag when the
Union was in peril. The contest inside
the party will then have come to
an end The struggle will be for
the maintenance of the Government in
the hands of its friends, and the Republic
can party will confront the Democrats in
battle array. One or the other of the two
great parties must triumph in that en-
counter, and we have too much confidence
in the integrity and patriotism of the peo-
pie to believe for one moment that they are
prepared to surrender its in interests into the
keeping of party which has once at
tempted to break up the National Union
and tear down the Republic established
by our fathers. Disappointed and irate
Republicans may threaten to work and
vote against the Republican party il
their personal preference is not gratied in
the selection of n candidate, but when the
alternative is presented of sustaining the
Republican cause and securing Republican
principles in the administration of public
affairs or of handing the Nation over to the
control of party that never has been tue
to its interests, we think that a love OF
country will guide differently from that
spirit which flirts itself out of line when it
is called upon to make some sacrifice of
feeling and preference for the general well
fare.
We notice among the mischief-malSers in
the Republican party that Mr.. CHARLES
| NoRDHoFF, of the New York Herald, i,
somewhat conspicuous, unless some thing;
which appear in that journal are wrongly
attributed to him. In recent article the
Herald says:
The Third -Termers are in a state of full
blown irritation over Senator BLAINE, an(
here and in the West are threatening him will
| the most savage punishment when the ex
President gets in again."
1t is possible that General GRANT hN'
some fool-friends who are indulging such
| threats, but they find no sympathy witt
the great mass of those who prefer his nomi-
nation to another. Any one who knows
him knows that he is never influenced il
his public acts by feelings of low resent
ment and revenge. All intelligent mel
know that whether General GRANT or an
other shall receive the nomination, he can
not be triumphantly elected without tn
united support of the party, and hence TIN
folly, not TO say wickedness, of that polio.
in advance of a nomination, which en-
genders ill-will and breeds alterations. N
true Republican leads the party int
such paths. The real friends of tn
ex- President make no threats relatin
to the future, neither of boiling o.
their own part nor of dealing on
punishment on those who differ iron
them in the primary action of the party
This line of politics is not in their way
They express their preference relating to
standard-bemer. They take their chance
with the people in seeking success, and
their views do not find approval in tn
popular voice, they will gracefully sui
nit to the result, and thereafter stand j
the front line of battle against the commo
foe. The admirers of the ex President ar
not the fair-weather politicians Of the Re
publican party. They are those who
whether in storm or sunshine, in adversit.
or prosperity, cling to the principles Of tn
party with tenacity that never relaxes il
hold They are Republicans and nothin
else. They are not boilers or scratchers,
They stand by the flag no matter in who's
hands it may be placed by the party
which they owe allegiance. This is thei
past record, and no measure of misreprc
sentation or abuse that may be heaped upo
them by those who Turk around the RI
publican camp with sinister purposes an
for mischieyous ends can influence thel
into disloyal positions against Republica
candidates and principles.
|