Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-02
THE REPUBLICAN, ELEPHANT.

The New York Tribune makes the
unexpected admission that the nomi-
nation of Grant at Chicago will put
the republican party on the defensive
and enable the democrats to take the
offensive on the third term issue.
The Tribune, in a confding, depre-
eating tone, says
If, however, the republicans now
nominate General Grant for a third
term, accompanied as the demand for
him is by foolish talk about a strong
man and strong government, and
about nominating a candidate who
will not allow himself to be counted
out, Is there not at once revived the
charge that military power is to be
used to carry elections? For what
purpose, it will be asked, do the
republicans, ina time ofprofound peace,
with no threats Of resistance at the
south, and no crises impending any
where, return to General Grant, and
meke him again their candidate unless
it is intended to resort to old methods
of carrying southern elections by the
bayonet, and invading polling places
and legislative halls and state capitals
by United States soldiery. 1t will not
matter that such charges as to the
past may have been false; they have
been persistently made by the demo-
Gratis have impressed the public mind,
and will be revived more boisterously
than ever if General Grant is nomi-
mated at Chicago,
This appears in leading editorial
in the Tribune of February 18th.
Mark the words ''in time of profound
peace, with no threats of resistance at
the south" Yet we venture the pre-
diction that if Grant is nominated at
Chicago the Tribune will snuff rebel.
lion, treason, kuklux and armed
resistance to the government on
every breeze waited from the
south, and will lead in the
clamor like the Chicago Inter Ocean
for a strong man at the head of strong
government, who can call half mil
lion soldiers to his side. The Tribune,
however, is not advocating Grant now.
1t has some other favorite in the back
ground, and has the sagacity to fore
see the terrible effect of the arguments
that will be uged against a third
term. Grant is almost certain to
be nominated at Chicago, but
we believe be can be defeated easier
than any prominent republican yet
named for the place. The republicans
know we'll enough that the most
stupendous frauds were. committed
under Grants administration; that
they lost about a dozen states in that
time, and that nobody prospered ex-
cept o4;ce-h holders and and few
favored wealthy people. The gov
ernment is strong enough to assert
its authority in every part of
the country. A sergeant and ten men
could disperse any legislature in the
union without meeting the slightest
resistance. We are at peace at home
and with all the world; tie occupation
OF the military man is gone, and the
civil law is supreme. The people see
no necessity for making a military
hero, who knows nothing Of
civil law, president of the United
States at this time. And even if we
werein a state of war there would be no
necessity for making Grant, Sherman
or Sheridan president. Lincoln was
not a military man yet he directed a
great war to successful close There
are but two classes who desire to see
Grant made president, the stalwarts
who appeal the worst passions and the
contractors and seekers, who
appeal for fat places.