New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-31
AN APPEAL AGAINST GIANT.

WILL HAVE CHICAGO
To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR The desire to secure the triumph OF the
Republican party at the next Presidential election
should control the action of the delegates to Chi
cago. Mere personal preferences should be merged
in the nObler aspiratiOn-the good Of the country
No matter who may be nominated by the respective
parties, the contest will be close and doubtful.
This fact will not be disputed by any we'll in
formed on the subject. 1t requires 185 electoral
votes to elect. The Democratic nominee, no matter
who 1t may be, will certainly receive 1873 votes from
the recent Slave States. That may be regarded a
fixed fact. To influence the nomination at Chicago
1t may be claimed by the partisans of General
Grant that hs can carry one two of those States
but that will not change the fact. The election
machinery Is In the hands Of the white men, the
Democrats. No matter how the ballots may be cast
they will be go counted, or rather not counted to
glve the maiortles TO tho Democratic electoral
ticket The old Free States will give 240 electoral
votes. To succeed, the Democrats only need AZ
of that number. Can they get them That de-
ponds on the action Of the Chicago Convention.
When General Grant was made President the Re-
publIcans had twO-thirds Of the members of the
House of Representatives. When he left the Presl-
dency the Democrats had fifty majority in the
House and over 100000 majority of tho popular
vote Of the Nation Why this unparalleled change
IN the popular sentiment 1t because the Ro-
publicans had become dissatisfied with his Admin
istration. Public opinion had settled down to the
conviction that he was under the influence Of in
ferior and corrupt men. Whether this conviction
was lust or not not now to be discussed. That T.
did exist no one will deny. Tho Republican major
tiles, as consequence, were so reduced that his
SUCCESSOR was elected by q single electoral vote.
The Republican party has not yet recovered from
the baleful influence OF the Grant Administration
It, as against all other parties only year ago was
in the minority in the following States California
24,212; Connecticut, 5.s32; Illinois, 2O,335; In
diana, SO, 1874; and Maine 492. These States give
1O2 electoral votes Remember, the Democrats
only need AZ votes from these States TO elect.
Again-OhlO New-Jersey, Indiana and Connecticut
can give them 81 votes. 3 moro than necessary
This fact shows the ROssamer thread by which the
fate of the Republican party is suspended.
and yet there are so reckless of con-
sequences that they play with it as though it
were tho cable of an ocean steamer Is New-York
certain for the Republican ticketi Let rs see. IL
gave its electoral vote to Tilden by q majority Of
over $4,000 fur years ago. Last year the COM
bined vote for Robinson and Kelly exceeded the
vote for Cornell and the Greenbackers by moro
than 10000 Will not the united Democratic vote
in that State carry it VINO cay that they will
not be united7 Is it not moro than probable that
their rapacity for public plumber will drive
them toRetherI Who can tell the effect Of the
Greeuback Presidential ticket on the RESULT Many
Republicans comfort themselves with the hope that
the craze is about over, but is itl
The nomination Of General Grant will raise n new.
untried and unpopular issue which IL, Shall Re-
public elect three times to the Presi-
dencyP This would absorb all the old issues here
tofore existing. di .idinR she wO great partirstho
very thing the Democrats most desire. Tho teach
ings and presidents of the fathers Of the Republic
have always been held in venerat'on by the people
The administration of Washington, the first Presi-
dent, was so satisfactory that he was unanimously
elected the second tine. Previous to the expiration
of this term, although urged TO become u candidate
for tho third time he declined. His Successors.
Jefferson, Madison Monroe and Jackson. enCh served
two terms and each observed the precedent set
them and passed the remainder OF their lives in that
dgniiied retirement so becoming the high position
they had occupied. so great il the Influence of
these prccedents ON the popular mind that in 1875
n resolution declaring them to be by universal
consent part OF our republican system Of govern
ment" Was passed by the United States House Of
Representatives by an almost unanimous vote.
Similar resolutions were adopted by Republican Con-
ventIOns In the States Of New-YOrk, Pennsylvania,
Mass ichusetts, Ohio. Iowa and Wisconsin The
most prominent opponent Of these apprehensiOns as
TO the danger to our institutions by the continuance
OF power IN the hands OF the same man is to be
found in ex-senator Howe Us shown by his recent
article in Tho North AmGioan ReriGe. Thus stands
the weight of opinion this subject: On the one
side we find Washington, Jefferson, Madison Mon
roe, jackson, the United States House of Represent
tatves, the Republican Conventions Of half dozen
States and on the other, ex-senator Timothy o.
Howe, from Wisconsin.
The German vote Of New-York, Ohio, Indiana |
Illinois and Wisconsin is essential to Republican |
success. Can General Grant get that vote Z That
class of our citizens who to this country leaV-
ing monarchy behind them, are devoted WOrHhip- !
ers OF republican institutions. They would look |
upon the election of Grant for tho third time as
dangerous to those institutions, and would not sup
port him. 1t Is not Question whether in this they
Yala siafar
in standing mp to their cOnVictlOns Of duty. As an
example. that great historic character, Martin |
Luther, said BIO would go to Worms If he encoun-
tered In his way as many devils as there were |
tiles on the houses of that city and he went Why
the necessity of driving of this vote Have the |
Republicans but one man who Is fit for or can be |
elected President Are they reduced TO that most |
melancholy and humIliating condition Why |
nominate Grant Is it because he has dned and |
wIned with the crowned pOtentates of the earth |
who claim to rule by divine right Of which his |
wOrshppers so boast Or is it because Senator |
Howe says: He stands the top of a |
mountain, and that an eager earth has put |
the seal of primaey on him. etc. or because other
sycophsnts and toddies say that he stands at the
head and summit Of the human race" 1.-THE
miRhtiest intellect of the age" " tho very god OF |
battles This stuff but the thinnest asses milk
fit only for sucklinGs; disgusting 60 nown-up mon
even OF impaired intellect.
But can Grant be nominated The most careful
estimate that can be made OF his strength in the
Convention from Republican States gives him only |
142 votes. To nominate will require 237 additional
votes, and these must come from Democratic States
that cannot give him single electoral vote. Is it
supposed that a nomination thus made would be
sustained at the polls Let indulge in q
so ridiculous The party lash of |
the rIng-master and tho lash of tho sllve-driver
alike have lost their potency Men begin to feel as
though they have sufficient gray matter in their !
brains to enable them to think for themselves and
to act In accordance with their own convictions as
10 their duty 10 the country. The mere statement |
Of the foregoing truths Is their demonstration. In
presence Of the dread responsibility imposed on rho
delegates to the Convention, they will not dare |
hnsa-d tho destruction Of the Republican party
merely to crafty the hopes and aspirations Of self
constituted leaders. Rising - the magnitude of |
their duty, they will select some Republican whose