New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-03
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
GRANT OR ANTI-GRANTf :


On the other hand, Mr.. Crisfeld Johnson,
staunch supporter of Republican principles,
enters plea against the necessity or advan.
tage of electing General Grant to the Presi-
dency for third time. The points he makes
are these If nominated he will not be
elected; the tendency of third term,
without reference to the incumbents char
acter, is toward imperialism during Presi-
dent Grants administration fourteen States
were lost to the Republican party, and the
record of atrocioUs outrages in Southern States
during General Grants two terms disposes OF
the plea that he is needed to prevent outragea
in the future.
A DEFENCE OF GENERAL GRANT.
REASONS WHY HIS NOMINATION. IS DEsIRABLE-Hh
HAS FAULTS; BUT HE CAN BE ELECTED AND IN-
AUGURArED-A STRONG MAN NEEDED.
To the Editor OF The Trt6ane
SIR observed with pleasure the interview with
the Hon. Thomas C. Platt the other day. IL is an
evidence that THE TRIBUNE is giving
fair hearing to the friends OF General
Grant in their demand for his denomination.
do not think, however, that you realize how nu-
merous these friends of General Grant are think
l hazard nothing in saying that they constitute q
very large majority OF the Republican party. and
again for the Presidency at Chicago as the Conven-
ton is certain to assemble there. The reasons for
this action are manifold. l freely admit that Gem
eral Grant has done some things which cannot well
be defended, and that some of the people who sur
round him are not such as we should like to see
among the chosen friends of the President OF tho
United States.
But there can be no doubt that he means to shake
off many of the hangers-on who brought discredlo
upon his last Administration No true friend Oh
General Grant observed without the keenest regret
the prominence of the BabcOcks at his receptions as
soon as lie came within reach and there are rev Oh
us who do not think that Mr. Anthony J' DreAel
deserves sharp rebuke for inflicting upon General
Grant the necessity of meeting, on cordial TERMS the
disgraced War Minister, General Belknap. Ii Mr.
Drexel is to select General Grants associates III
future, he should do it more wisely.
But this is a trifng lapse. We all know that Mr..
Drexel and George w. Childs are General Grants
most intimate friends in Philadelphia, and there
| are no two men here in whose sincere PATRIOTISM
| and excellent common sense the entire community
reposos greater confidence. Who is there among
| our prominent business men VINO would noo
| feel secure for the next four years to-day
Il be were told that George w. Childs was
entrusted with making up the Cabinet for the nexe
| Administration Republicans want peace, con-
tinuation OF business prosperity and settled ordsr
of things. They want to know what can be counted
on and they want a man they can count on
They think they can find all these through tho
election of General Grant.
| Thew believe they can elect General Grant. They
don't feel sure that anybody else can be elected on
| the Rapublican side. His popularity they know
70 extend far beyond party lines they are sure OK
tens of thousands of votes for him III every state
| outside Of the Republican circles; and they nave
no sort of doubt that this surpiusagee from Demo-
! cratic and Independent sources VIII more IMAM
counterbalance any Republican disaffection.
| They believe that they can lnaugurate Generai
Grant. They are not sure about lnauEnIa, snt
| hodv else even If be is elected. The desperate
! schemers who have been trying TO set mp bogus
| electoral college in Maine, and who arc now irving
to reverse the Congressional majorltes III Mnnesota
ana elsewhere. will stop at nothing short 2r an I'M IN
surmountable obstacle General Grant IS lust tnab
sort of obstacle They have no fancy tor hghting
The Republicans believe that when he IS lnaggu-
rated they will have stIong man at the neaI OF Ithe
Government who VIII keep the oaus m M d
| We want somebody whose acts are stronger than
his words. and the South does not need any assur-
ances as to Grants qualifications in that particular
Fipslly, we want General Grant because we be-
| Iieye him to be the most popular RepuDncan now now
wbic5 he enjoys. Where is the Republican who
has done so much for his party OF SO much Ior MS
Philadelphia, Jan. 81, 1880
A REPIJBLICAN'S REVIEW OF GRANTS RULE.
| LETTER PROM cRIsFIELD JoHNsoN-REMoviNG THE
| nARRIERs AGAINST MoNARcnY-A RECORD OF
SOUTHERN oUTRAGEs UNDER PRESIDENT GRANT
| NO NEED OF THIRD TERM.
| tn ne Editor OF The Trl6uhe
| s,p. The Solid South is the sole argument in
favor of the Grant movement. Ask one OF lis sup
| nor.ars if he does not see that third term 10
nrohahv the first step toward Presidency tor life.
with a possbe despotism beyond, aud he replies:
| " Well. perhaps but that is good way off. aud we
| must have somebody who can manage the solid
southr Say to another that his favorites previous
| od,,inistration was moro deeply disgraced
| nv corrupt officials than any former one.
| and he answers: "On, l know that; but Grants
| tbe man 10 keep the rebels from numbering
| nerroes and white Republicans. Look at the
Cbisoln massacre and the Yazoo murder; do you
,npose Grant would let such things pass as this
srndov-school President, Hayes. does y DenOuncs
70 another the cowarlice of shrieking for one man
| 10 cave Republic of fifty millions. and he says;
" We'll II does look rather curious. but / tell You
he welfare of this country depends on the Republi-
c.n marty and Grants the man to save that party"
All the rest of the boom" consists In crying that
Grant will certainly be renominated, and that those
| who want to be on the strong side must snppors
| bim-ouite an effective argument for tme-seryers
are numerous in all countries.
For his own part. the writer, though lifelong
Republican a Union soldier, supporter OF General
Grant 10 1868 and extremely enthusiastic writer
In his favor in 1872 considers that the objections to
| q third term and the corruptiors unveiled during
| the second far outweigh the arguments above set
forth even IL well founded. The story of Belknap.
Babcock and their hundreds of imitators, need not
me repeated General Grant is personally an honest
man. but bis KNOWLEDGE OF human nature Is so poor
that he is as likely select rascal as an honest man
for Office, and has to keep him six or egheyears be-
| fore he finds him out-in fact, l doubt II he
| aver found one out himself. But shall