New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-29
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

President Grant, according to reports still cur
rent in Philadelphia, has left in the hands OF
friends letter, which they contemplate pub
fishing at or before the meeting OF the Penn
sylyania Convention. 1t is stated that in this
letter General Grant avows his desire TO con-
meet himself with an important business enter
prise-probably referring to the Nicaragua
Canal-and positively declines to allow himself
TO be proposed as possible Presidential can
didate in the Republican National Convention.
unless circumstances should arise making 1t
the unanimous wish of the Convention that
he should again serve the country in that
capacity 1t is very plain at this time that
there will not be such unanimous preference
for him. not only because friends of other can
dldates have already manifested great positive
strength, but also because there are many in
fluential Republicans, whose aid has been
found absolutely necessary to the recent
victories in large States, who feel and
say that they could not hope to succeed
in those States with him as candidate 1t
is due to General Grant. who has never
leaned toward excessive fnesse and chicanery,
to treat such a letter, if it should appear, as
q straightforward manly and truthful state
ment of his wishes and purposes. and to
believe that he will not be candidate unless
some unexpected and startling change in the
condition of public affairs should cause the
entire Republican party to prefer General
Grant to other candidates whom many now
enthusiastically favor.
But at the very time these statements
appear, regarding the attitude Of the ex-
| President, the Democratic party is informed
| l.
ress in the foreclosure of his mortgage. In
| Ohio, it Is stated, sudden and surprising
increase of support for the Claimant appears.
In New-York, to the disgust of many Demo-
crafts it is found that Mr.. Tilden's hold upon
the whole machinery of the party Is tighter
| than it ever was before. With that power
over the party in State which all admit is
absolutely necessary to the election of any
| Democratic candidate. Mr.. Tilden virtually
| saws to other candidates &" Hands off! The
"next Presidency is mine, for | bought it,
"and you have declared for three years that
81 was cheated out of it. If you are not
"wllling to see me righted before pushing
"your ambitions, not one of you shall touch
sit. The party shall elect no one, If it does
"not first give me what is NINE" There is a
growing appreciation among Democrats that
Mr. Tilden has the party by the throat and
will strangle it before he will suffer it to
follow any other leader.
There is a marked difference between the
two National parties. in their position with
respect to candidates. Republicans i'll many
Of the States have given voice to their enthu-
siastic preference for Mr.. Blaine others have
made sure the support of delegations from
didates have active and confident friends but
among all there is hearty g0Od-feeling, reso-
| lutte purpose to support the candidate. and
| great confidence that the nominee of the Con-
ventlon will be elected On the other hand,
| the organs of Mr.. Bayard are calling out loudly
against "Greenback Regulators and Cipher
"Arley Democrats" Friends of General Han
cock are denOuncing the underground trickery
by which support for the Claimant has been
nrocured in Pennsylvania. But the clear
headed men of the party, i'll every part of the
country, are saying one to another, at will
| be death to the party TO nominate Mr.Tllden;''
or else, at will he death 10 the party to nomi-
nate ANYBODY else" And both classes fully
| believe tney are right. 1t Is quite possible that
both are right.
Under the circumstances, the Republicans
| have 10 reason to view the situation with
distress. They have only to nominate strong,
| live, worthy man VINO really represents the
united and hearty spirit of the party. For
any such man the Republicans will 90 into the
contest with full determination to win, and
with all desirable confidence that they are TO
win. For they are in fact united in spirit and
purpose they mean to save this Nation from
the rule of Regulators and Rebels. But the