The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-05-21
The Political Situation.


The political situation is perplexing one
to the Republicans. While large majority
OF the party is enthusiastic in support of
Blaine as their candidate for the Presidency,
abold, determined and powerful faction are
anxious for the nomination of Grant This
faction is composed principally of the men
who contributed in great degree to make the
former administrations of General Grant
disgrace to the country and blot upon the
pages of its history They are willing to do
violence to the example of Washington and
all the traditions of our republic which for
bid third Presidential term to any man.
They are aware of General Grants contempt
for constitutional law, and imagine that if the
contest should he close the Strong Man, as
they delight TO call him, will take his seat
whether elected or not On the other hand
there is large body of law abiding, honest
Republicans who, while they may have no
personal objection to Grant, rs a matter of
principle are opposed to setting aside the I'M
written law of the land in elevating him to
the Presidential term for n third time. They
see clearly the danger of such precedent to
the perpetuity of free government, and
while they might hesitate TO support IA Demo
cratic candidate, they will not wrong their
consciences by voting for General Grant.
The Grant leaders are veterans in the art
political management. They have an unlim-
tied command of money and do not hesitate
to use it to advance the interests of their can
didate They are united and aggressive,
while the opponents of third term are di-
yided AS consequence the Grant men
have already secured a large number of dele
gates to the Republican national convention,
and the outlook at present is extremely IA
vorable to the nomination of their candidate.
The Democrats, ALSO are somewhat per-
picked but the party machinery is not in the
hands of n close corporation, and the wishes
of n majority of the party is therefore likely
to prevail in the selection of candidate 8As
matter ofjustice il would appearthat theman
whom the Democrats elected in 1876, and
who was defraudcd out of his office should
again be standard-bearer of the Democratic
host Unfortunately Mr.. Tiden has alenated
from his support the Tammany organization
in New York, led by John Kelly, and it is
asserted that this faction, if he should be NOM
mated, will turn against him and cause the
loss of the great State of New York to the
Democrats. We are not among those who
believe that any considerable number of
Democrats can be found in any State willing
to aid, from personal motives, in defeating
the candidate of their party. If the Demo-
cratic party can elect any candidate they can
elect Mr.. Tilden. The reasons which made
him suitable candidate in 1876 are quite as
forcible now. The country needs purifying
now as then, and there is no man in the
country more capable than Mr. Tilden of re,
storing purity OF government. In this State
the patriotic and gallant statesman, Senator
Bayard, has II host of friends whose enthusiasm
would be aroused by his nomination as no
other man could arouse it. With all his we'll
known abilities, his integrity, his wisdom and
devotion to the best interests of the country,
we fear he would not prove to be an availa-
bic candidate. His untlinching record in ia
vor of hard money would not commend him
to the soft-money portion THE party in the
Western States, while his sympathy with the
South during the war might arouse a bitter
feeling against him in the Northern States
As much as they profess to admire the Della
ware statesman we do not believe there are
many Republicans who would vote for him
us the Democratic candidate.
The list of Democratic candidates is for
tunatey not confined 10 Tiklcn and Bayard
alone. There are other men in the party
progressing in an equal degree the qualities
necessary to make n good President There
are Jewett, Thurman Hendricks, Judge Black
and many Others any one of whom, ifelrcted,
could give us wise and prudent administra-
Ton.
While there is free expression of opinion
for or against all the prospective candidates,
in one thing all Democrats are united and that
is, that the man upon whom the honor shall
rest must receive the cordial support of the
party. The campaign will be an active and
earnest one. IfGrant shall be nominated by
the Republicans, fs now appears probable,
the patriotic sentiment of the country viii
feel that our liberties are endangered, and
that the first duty of all good citizens is to
unite int common cause against the danger
GUS heresy of third term.
The experts at West Point who have ex