Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-02-11

traditional feeling against third
term, which had Its origin in the
conduct Of Washington, and which
would Influence many OF the more
conservative people In casting their
ballots. Let every Republican in Ten
nessee ask himself the question: Can
we afford to do this? W.
Judged by results in the past, Grant
does not show up as q candidate who
would add strength to the party. When
he became President, the Republicans
had two-thirds majority In Congress;
when he quit the Presidency the
House was Democratic and the Sen
ate in shape to inevitably become so.
Since Mr.. Hayes came in, much ofthe
Republican strength has been restored
in the House. Other influences be-
sides Presidential management or mis-
management undoubtedly helped
to effect these changes, but
it Is well to inquire to
what extent Presidential management
was responsible for them. The South
and the Democratic party profsssed to
accept In good faith the results OF the
war. Many Republicans at the North
among thsc0nservative business classes
accepted these professions of loyalty to
the new order of things as having bten
made In good faith, and became iudif-
ferent TO party. The administration
surrounded itself with iDfl 1eBces OBJ
nOxious to this class; men Of low
order were in many instances appointed
to important places in the civil service
and scandals and CONCEPTIONS were fire.
quently brought to light. Under these
Influences large number of voters
either went over 10 the Democratic
party, Joined som 9 independent organ
lZation or ceased to vote altogether.
Mr.. Hayes surrounded himself with
less Objectionable men aud iDtiu-
ences, and did something to~
ward purifying the civil service
and elevating the character of ap-
pointees in il. Flushed with victory,
The Democratic party speedily showed
IFS bUstility TO the results OF the war,
Under these combined influence, the
Republicans have nearly regaiued
their former strength. IG IL plainly
the duty of the Republican party to so
manage affairs as to retain this
strength aud add TO it. 1t seems 10
me to be equally plain that that can
not be done by the nomination Of
Grant. The independent voter would
regard 1t as warning in advance that
The party Intended to return to the Oh
noxlous ways and Influences which
had formerly drawn him from its sup.
port, and nothing but such folly ou
he part Of the Democracy as threat
ened the gravest c0nst quenCes to
the country could drive him to
or keep him ia our ranks. We
can not depend upon the folly
of the opposition for success; we
must commend ourselves TO the cOun-
Try by maintaining just principles,
adopting wise policy, and MAXIM
acceptable nominations The cry for
'stroug man" ia delusion to which
Southern Republicans should not
listen for moment. II Grant were
ia the place of Hayes he could do
nothing that Hayes has not done for
the protection OF southern Republic
cans, and il he were reelected he
could do nothing that Blaine or
Sherman might not do. Our hope is
in a strong party, and the way to
make the party strong is to adoptls
platform and nominate a candidate
that will unite In support of the party
all those elements that have at any
time co-operated with II, aud that can
be done without sacrificing or com
promising single Republican priu-
ciple. w. II hINDRlCk'