Year: 1879




We present, on another page, multitude
Of extracts from newspapers in all parts OF
the country commenting on the new Grant
movement in the Southern States. It will
be noticed that most of the Southern jour
nails from which we quote oppose the move
ment. This does not conflict with the
statements which have been 80 widely cir
culated respecting the existence of a strong
pro-Grant feeling among leading democrats
in several Southern States The news
papers of that section will not indorse this
movement until it has made greater headway.
1t has as yet taken no hold on the body of
the people, and the Southern press will not
offend its supporters by premature aban-
donment Of the democratic party. Besides,
the Grant ''boom, as it is called, may prove
as transient as it is sudden. If it should
blow over in month or two Southern jour-
nails that might have favored it would lose
standing in the democratic party. It is
against their interest to have this movement
succeed, for if the party should be dis
banded what will become Of its organs?


It must be borne in mind that it is not
at all question of nominating General
Grant by the democratic party. Should he
be candidate he will be the candidate
of the republicans. Those democratic
leaders in the South who are looking
toward General Grant as the deliverer
of their section are merely foreshadowing


their intention to join the republican party


in the event of his nomination. They will
not call themselves republicans, but Grant
men, just as the early supporters of Gen
| eral Jackson did not call themselves DEM
ocrats, but Jackson men. They will carry
as many Of their followers as possible into
the Grant party, and will aim to lead it in
the South by gaining control of the negro
vote. This movement is born of sudden
despair, brought on by the universal re-
publican victories in the recent Northern
elections. Looking upon the election of .
republican President as inevitable they
have a choice among republican candi-
dates, preferring General Grant because.
although they do not expect him to
swerve from his settled political views,
they have some hope in his justice
and moderation, and believe that he would
gladly aid in developing the material re-
sources of their section, which is all that is
left for them to expect from the action of
the federal government


If, however, after the meeting Of Congress
the democratic party should show signs of
recovering from the recent stunning blows
the Grant boom in the South would vanish
like dream. Since General Grants
return home his expressions toward
the South have been SO kind and
considerate as to excite the distrust of
the stalwarts. Those who have been
loudest in getting up the Northern boom
may cease to think him desirable candi-
date. The friends of Sherman and Of
Blaine will not be idle in such conjunc-
ture, and they have q common interest in
running Grant off the track Stalwartism is
becoming inconsistent with General Grants
candidacy, and the stalwart feeling has been
too thoroughly aroused in the party to be
easily abandoned. Have the stalwarts SUBJ
dued President Hayes and triumphaptly
carried all the Northern elections only to
make o sudden surrender to General
Grant? If the stalwarts stand their ground
IL will be seen before mid-winter that the
nomination of General Grant is impossible
and the South will settle back into its old
attitude.