The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-28

A recent meeting OF German residents
Of New York, reported in the Ersning
Post of that city, furnishes matter for re-
Election to Republicans who desire to pre-
serve all the opportunities and advantages
that naturally belong to them in the com.
ing Presidential contest. The Post says
the hall OF the Cooper Institute was filled
with Germans who met to protest against
the nomination OF General Grant. Per
haps there were some German Democrats
in themeeting, but there is no doubt what
ever that It's proceedings were shaped, its
spirit was inspired and its key was pitch
cd by German Republicans on the stage
and oil it.
The meeting was not wholly made up
OF enthusiasts and ideallsts. For instance,
Mr.. A. j. Dittenhoeier has the reputation
OF a practical politician; MIR. Hassaurek,
Of Cincinnati, is an experienced observer
OF public affairs and is tolerably familiar
with German habits and opinion; and
Mr.. Kaufman and other men of inau-
ence and methodical political industry
might be named.
The meeting was clear and emphatic in
the declaration Of its views. Unalterable
opposition TO the nomination OF General
Grant was distinctly shown; and it was
intimated rot obscurely that il he should
he nominated, the German vote, SO far as
it could be pledged or influenced by this
meeting would not be cast for him.
1t seems to US that there is food for
thought here. Ii every man at this meet
ing had been q Democrat the objections to
the nomination OF Grant would be
well worth consideration for what.
ever intrinsic weight and force might
belong to them. They are objections
which will have TO be met in the canvass.
They will be affirmed and reaairmed be.
fore the people. and the people will be
more or less influenced by them. Now, II
is good thing for Republican candidate
10 get as many Democratic votes rs pos
sible. II Is necessary for him to get a
great many OF those votes which are de.
scribed as luctuating, which are not firm
" attached to either party. The fewer OBJ
jections there are against him the
more OF these votes he will get. Party
managers then would do well 10 choose q
candidate TO whom these particular objec-
lions do not apply-or, as the proposed
military candidate might say, 10 make
flank movement by withdrawing tho OBJ
jectionable person. Werepeat, therefore,
that even II every man ut the meeting had
been Democrat it would be wise to learn
of the enemy in this way by considering
and weighing the objections to Grant as u
candidate. OF course these objections
rapidly gather force when they come not
from Democrats but from Republicans, from
men who declare anew their faith in Re.
publican principles and profess desire to
vote for Republican candidates II they can
consistently do so.
These objections seem to DO tolerably
comprehensive. OF course the German
protestants accept the two.term tradition.
ihey object to the third.term movement
on general grounds. 1t would be great
mistake, however, for the Chicago delegates
10 suppose that this is all and that when
they have contemptuOusly dismissed this
objection as narrow prejudice they have
cleared the way OF oil distractions. II the
term proposed was o second one instead
OF third one the protestants would still
oppose Grant for the broad reason that,
however, great soldier he may be. he
does not necessarily possess the qualitica.
tions OF successful civil administrator,
but, on the contrary. has proved by his
political service that no does not, In fact,
possess them; has indeed demonstrated
his possession OF certain traits which dis.
timely unit him TO be President OF the |
United States.
II no Republicans but German Repub.
licans were Of this mind the iact would
furnish food for thought; but everybody
knows that the opposition is not SO 70.
stricted. But recently New York jour.
nal said that General Grant had "glaring |
faults" OF which nobody knew that he
had been cured; that during his two
terms he was not an 'ideal President;"
and It was not at oil sure that he would be
"an ideal candidate" There was nothing
new or startling in these words, They or
words like them had been repeated again
and again by newspapers in all parts OF
the country. But the newspapers which
had been repeating them were journals Y