The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-09-11
From Our New York Correspondent.
NV Yonx. Aupust 17tb. 1sf

New YoRK, August 18th, 1880.
have been strolling about the political head-quar-
tiers, posting up generally on the latest news Pro-
phets are as numerous as mosquitoes. and they buzz
eternaHy about the headquarters of the two great
men who have kindly consented to rule over us for
the next four years, if We let them, or one of them.
The anguish of the politicians concerning the nomi-
nees is past, only to be succeeded by the greater
anguish of doubt. as to which men will be successful.
The nomination conventions were not dignifed bod
les. One of the principal leaders in one of the con-
~ventions told me that his people would have run 9
horse thief for President if be we're only I. available
That is. said he, {" if We who controlled the nomins-
ton knew that q certain candidate was a horse thief
and q defaulter, and it was not known to the public,
We would not hesitate o moment to ran the man as
our noL,inee. if we thought the people would vote for
him. In other words. the campaign is a g Derby
Day." on Jerome race-course. and the vices of the
horses are of no account, speed being the only object.
There is q wide gulf between politics as a moral sci
ence, and politics as q business, just as the old
darkey preacher thought there was between religion
as 9 system of morals and practical religion. For he
invited a certain colored brother preacher of great
eloquence, but Of dubious character, to occupy his
pulpit. At the conclusion of the service, the eloquent
brother proceeded to take up a collection. Upon this
- HootOA OcO aAo ooA4 LIZ DCOplG MIL DkchS6
put no money in de hat. Dis gemmen am invited
here to do the ~preachin', and lot to make de collec-
tion." L think that every spectator at either conven-
ton. looking into the faces of the delegates, could
frankly say, that in q contest of virtuous doing, nei-
Their body would have obtained o chrome as q reward.
/ believe Gen. Grants position has been misunder-
stood. The editor of the New York Times told me
that Grant had said to him repeatedly, that be would
do nothing for himself; that he had had enough al
ready, but if the people wanted him, he was, and
ought to be at their disposal. People forget that Grant
was raised to power by certain political friends. He
has received Q splendid reward, and he feels under
great obligations to those men, and will do ANYTHING
for them, even though it drag him in the mire. His
inability to forget kindness done, makes q splendid
element in his character as a man, but hurts him as
a statesman. Garheld's nomination is looked upon
with favor by the majority of the Republicans, but
the independents, or 6 scratchers,' , do not take very
kindly to him. The explanations offered regarding
the ''Credit Mobillier'' and 'tde Golyer'' affairs, will
be accepted, as people feel rather than as they think.
Many consider his conduct 'unWise, 81 unfortunate
&" q little questionable of COURSE at the same time
they will vote for him. The New York Sun keeps at
the head of its columns the bitter words Of the Times
and Tribune in denouncing, several years ago, Gar
fields conduct in these affairs. His great strength
is in this. that while the old issues are dead, the
bloody shirts are washed and laid by. and the grind
ing at the outrage mills is low. there is q strong feel
ing that the country would be safer in the hands of
Republican rather than in that of a Democrat, who
will have behind him the needy Southern d" briga-
diers,' that it is better to sail in a ship commanded
by q captain who is a little wicked but understands
navigation, rather than in one commanded by o man
who is very good, but has never been over the cour-
SEES, and is seen with a lot Of .nondescript men as
companions. The Democratic convention was greatly
worried about o candidate. Over and over, in pri-
vate. the leaders called of the names of their Estates
men, but to each one there was objection. Tilden
withdrew because he felt that he would be defeated if
nominated. His followers went for Payne, of Ohio,
because. if elected, they could control him. Hancock
was finally nominated, because he was really the
only available man they had. Though a Democrat,
= I.-4 AtL.- - IanNsf- I.--1Nc i'll l.
Democratic party. He has a soldiers contempt for
politicians, and il must be o dreadful business for
him to sit in his trim military uniform and receive
numerous delegations of the 50 unwashed.'' The
South accepts and gushes over him as if he was one
of their own men. Had the candidate been Q North
ern sympathizer, one who looked on with tears in his
eyes, as force was put upon rebellion, one might have
expected Southern support. Time makes changes.
Fourteen years after the war, the South is cordially
shouting for o sturdy UuiOn officer who fought them
we'll and hard. The Southern papers publish friendly
anecdotes about his conduct during the war. These
run to little brilliant episodes of philanthropy, such
as giving water to wounded confederate soldiers.
From the number of these graceful acts reported to
have been done, it would seem as if Hancock gener-
ally rode over the battle field with a hogshead Of
water slung TO his back. The Garfield men are not
much given to anecdotes Perhaps some of your
Island men, who were in college with Garfield, as I
was for q short time, may help out any touching in
cidents Of his college career. they viii be gratefully
accepted by biogrsphers. The Union League Club
Of this city, the stronghold of Republication here,
several years ago made Grant and Hancock, honor
airy MEMBERS Of the Club. This was a rare and
exceptional honor Paid by the Club. 1t lie therefore
not very easy for the 1900 Republican members
Of the Club to knock Hancock down. after paying
him this unusual compliment. Indeed, not q few
of the members openly favor him. and there is much
vrangling and debate in this stronghold. The most
gratifying feature of the ~compaign is that it shows a
gradual improvement ia the tone of politics. There
are signs of modification in party spirit that bette
noir of all our great statesmen and thinkers Men
=. ;,L;D tho MARTY trQeaa Thov n N me n
to the music of party drums. They won't be con-
trolled BY osucuses; they will think for themselves
Cornell, the present Governor of the State of New
York, ran behind his ticket sc. 900 Republican votes,
because his record was not good. Only a split in the
Democratic party elected him. The Nation. while it
pronounces for Garfield, has some very good and kind
words for Hancock. 30 has the Springfield kepub-
lican. The Evening Post. though committed to Gar
field, in general grounds, does full justice to Hancock,
and goes 30 far as to defend from some slanderous
statements made by Republican papers. As the cam
paign advances, I think the independent thinking
Republicans are more disposed to accept Garfield ss
the representative of an idea. The State Sovereignty
doctrine is not out of politics yet. The Democratic
party is committed to the idea Of limiting the gen.
eral government in every way. 1t has especially
opposed the plan of putting Federal Inspectors over
State Elections, even when Federal representatives
are voted for. It holds that the States must and
ought to take care Of that business alone. The Re
publican idea ia that wherever the Federal Govern
ment has rights under the Constitution, it also has
the right to protect itself in the fullest possible
manner that if it has the right to have repre-
sentatives, it has the right to do everything that is
necessary in order to secure that representation, in
other words, that the Federal Government is Q COM
plete government. and has the right to take care Of
itself. The Supreme Court has recently SO decided
> in q series Of deliberately prepared opinions when
these questions have been broadly before the Court.
|, But the Democratic party are disposed to consider
them political opinions. The party of reform, headed
! by Charles Francis Adams and Jos. William Curtis,
: have been very disguised by Republican nisdoings
+: in recent years; bat they feel that the Republican
/, party 10 In the right on this question Of Constitution
!. 81 Law. and viii therefore 60 for Garfield. + Han
9 cock shoald be elected, I think he viii make 9 much
{ better President than many of his followers could
like him to be, His party VIII insist on . change In
4 the $1,000 Federal Sfices, and be may refuse tc
: make II. he may select q Cabinet of good men. and
: being . prim military man, may refuse to get N
nights and shake hands with the Is boye.'' atill. b
: viii feel grateful for political support and BE- disppset
to help the men Who elect hiR. This e the curs
!. Of our political syasm, the gratitude Of the ef6ce
8 holder to the ~elector. One Of these days the cleo
tor win saw: '"I don't want your aratikude.