Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-02-27

Grant and the Third Term.
To The Editor OF the Free Press and Times:
have Il few words more to say in regard
to this subject. In the first place l recog-
ME the fact that you have higher opinion
of Grant as 4 statesman than have |, and on
this point we shall probably always differ.
! give HIM all the credit that any one does
for his military operations, but claim that
his renown must rest on those alone. Ills
last term of service as President, and espe-
cially the last two years, was not success.
If nominated at the Gloss Of his second term,
he could not have carried six States. All his
errors and follics seem to have been forgot
ten in four short years, forgotten by some,
but if he is nominated it will be found that
the mass of the people have not forgotten
them.
| agree with you in wanting the best and
strongest man nominated, but the question
is as to the availability Of Grant. Why nomi-
nate the one nun dbore all others that will
repel the Independent vote: (aD He is sure
TO 10 it and this fact must be considered 1t
may do in some States to sneer at and ridicule
the Independcnts-as though man hadn't
a right to vote as he saw fit. However dis
tasteful the fact may he To ''the stalwartS,"
the deciding voice in many States will be
the Independent vote, and the party that
nominates the best man will get that vote
This fact will be recognized after, if not be-
fore election.
As for Democrats and Independents voting
for Grant, the idea is absurd. If the poll-
ticians, stalwarts, and would-be- -office-h hold
ers, by hard work and much wire-pulling,
secure the nomination of Grant, they do it
on their own responsibility. 1t will not be
the voice of the people. The only hope
then, as it has been many times in the past,
of the Republican party, would be in the
blunders of the Democratic party. To
choose between Grant and Tildcn would be
hard question, but as between Grant and
Bayard or Hancock thousands of Republicans
would vote for the latter.
Undoubtedly Vermont, Iowa, Nebraska
and Kansas would go Republican, just as
Kentucky. Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia
would 20 Democratic, even if Butler should
he the nominee but the question will be
decided in the close and doubtful States, and
in these very States the independent vote is
the strongest.
Taking it for granted as it must be by any
candid man. that no Southern State will cast
its vote for the Republican nominee, the
struggle will come in Massachusetts,, Con-
ncctcut, New jersey, New York, Ohio and
Indiana.
In regard TO Massachusetts, do not claim
that the Boston Utrdh and Springfield Re
publican are strong Republican papers, but
do claim that with their influence and
many of the leading menof the State against
the Republican nominee, Massachusetts
would be placed in the doubtful list.
For the last two years those papers have
worked hard with the Republicans, and with
their united help the Democrats were barely
defeated. You refer me to -, when Grant
carried the State by 5000 majority, but
say that times have changed since then
there will be different feeling all over the
country in regard to GRAFT than there was in
-. Look at the votes of a few other States
in that wear Grant carried Alabama by over
10000 majority. Mississippi by 81, 900, North
Carolina by 2i,O00, South Carolina by 50,-
900, Louisiana hy 1900, etc. The fact that
he carried these States then is not much Of
an argument for his nomination now. (b).
But few men, even strong Grant men,
claim that the Harrisburg convention fairly
represented the wish of Il majority OF the
Republican party in Pennsylvania The
leaders in New York are likely to repeat the
operation. If Grant Is nominated it will he
10y just such tacticS.-cause enough for the
people to repudiatc the whole thing at the
polls. Cameron expects Il seat in the cabinet
and Conkling To control the patronage OF
New ork and with these ends in view they
manage their party rs they choose. Don
! Cameron could have had his delegation
pledged for any one else rs well as for Grant.
The voice of the people was smothered.
And right here, Mr. Editor. will again
ask the question that You did not answer he
fore On what ground can Il man bolt Cor
nell and then vote for Grant? remembering
that the ''scratchcrs' found no fault with
Cornell. as a man. and rs one well qualified
for the Governorship. but with the system of
which Cornell, Conkling and Grant are the
chief expOnents. (c)
The idea seems to he entertained by
some that the Democrats fear the nomination
of Grant, and if elected they would not dare
TO count him out. 1t seems TO me that they
want him nominated, as being the easiest
candidate to defeat Did he prevent massa-
cres in the South: Was he a friend Of civil
service reform? Did he try to suppress the
whiskey ring? Did he strengthen the Re-
publican party: (O Fourteen States and
both Houses of Congress Were lost to the
Republican party during his administration
And this is the kind of Il man that many
Republicans desire to see President again.
Possibly | NAV be in the last degree I'M
kind and ungenerous' in thinking that the
latter part of Grants trip was laid out with
special reference to this one object. Many
think the same however.
lie came into this country Just before the
conventions were to meet, passed through
i'll great style, and then, fearing that
the thing would be overdOne by re-
manning here till June, he hurriedly left
for Cuba If it seems best for his Presiden-
ta chances. he will be found swinging
around into the States again before the Chi
cago convention. Others can give other
interpretations of his course. This is mine.
1t is out of the question. however, TO claim
that it is not vet known whether he will per-
init the use of his name or not. OF course
he will not permit it unless he gets major
ity of the delegates, same rs the other
candidates. When we notice all of his old
friends and henchmen, even Babcock, Robe
son, Bclknap and Shepard. working by
might and main to secure his nomination,
and he couutenancing it ALL We are led to in
fer that Il third term would not he diStaStc-
full In fact he is doing everything that he
can to secure the nomination. What else
could he do to help matters If he should
openly say that he was Il candidate, it would
kill his chances at once Not modcsty, but
policy. keeps his mouth closed (c.)
Now, Mr.. Editor, you may say. Why op-
pose Grant alone: Because see that the
politicians and wirc-pullcrs are bound 10
force him upon the people again. and all for
merely personal ends. do not think Grant
is the man for the place. He had bad coun-
sellors about him. When he found he had
good ones, as Jewell. BriStow, and others,
they had To leave. These facts will have to
he met after. if not before, his nomination
if he gets it. 1t looks to me the better
policy To advocate the nomination of Il cam
didate that stands Il chance of being elected
if nominated. y. "
Randolnh Feb. Il.