Year: 1873

Csssarism In Many-sideA Aspects


The Opinions of Leading American


Editors ON the Question.


I We print another and q peculiar view OF
C@sarism in this mornings HERALD. Public
sentiment has been so far developed on the
question as to make the opinions of leading
journalists Of particular value. Our CORE
| spondents have had interviews with the editors
Of the principal journals throughout the
country, and we present them AS the concen-
tration of American thought upon the propo-
sition for giving General Grant third term
and the evils which may spring from policy
30 mistaken. perusal of these interviews
will show the many-sided opinions OF many
sided people, and it will have the effect,
besides, of forcing men to believe that
there is in the republican party deep-laid
scheme looking to Grants second reelection,
and that an apathy exists among the people
which would not make q monarchy or an
empire impossible. Indeed, Mr.. Cowardin'
of the Richmond Dispatch, expressly declares
his satisfaction at the prospect OF an
empire. In the South this feeling



is perhaps more general than in the North for
the crushed and oppressed condition OF the
Southern States under the present administra-
ton makes the people of that section anxious
to be freed from the domination of the repub-
lican party. With an empire established the
obliteration of party lines would quickly follow
In the North an empire would not be welcomed
hr,k 10 ilya1xy hot 1o in
the money interests of late years exerting great
influence against frequent political changes
and in favor Of strong, centralized govern
ment On all hands we see evidences of
C@sarism, which impel us to keep up the battle
against looming despotism.


One of the singular features of this discus
sion has been a somewhat perverse disposition
to regard General Grant as the coming Caesar.
In some of our interviews this disposition
manifests itself in way that is amusing Mr..
Ottendorfer, for instance, does not think that
Grant is Of the stuff wherefrom Caesars are
made, and Mr.. Stone also believes the 'stuff"
is not in him. Mr.. Murat Halstead and
some others express similar views,
though it must be confessed that Mr..
Halstead's opinions of the President are a
little too bluntly put We never supposed,
and were always careful to be understood as
not supposing, that General Grant was ambi
tious to play the part Of Caesar. What We
have insisted on is that the Republic shall not
be exposed to the danger Of any mans for
bearance or ambition, and for this reason we
have deprecated third term for General
Grant as paving the way for an empire Thus
it happens that it makes no difference whether
the President has the stuff in him for Caesar
or not, and hence Mr.. Jones opinion that
che would rather be we'll out of where he is
now if he could be so consistently with his
duty to the country and the party" or the
opinion of Mr. Ottendorfer, that che feels
rather comfortable in his present quarters and
would like to remain in them for four years
longer has little bearing upon the real
issue, whichever of these views may be the
true one. 1t is established beyond question
that there is conspiracy to give General
Grant another term, and it is in this that the
danger consists.


1t will be observed that nearly all the repub-
Ecan and administration editors, like Mr.
Jones, refuse to believe that General Grant
desires another term, while the democratic
and opposition editors are equally unanimous
in thinking, with Mr.. Ottendorfer, that he
would net object to remaining in his present
quarters or four years longer. The republi-
can party will settle the question without
much regard to the President present wishes,
and if the scheme should be carried out it
would be made to appear as an act of obe-
dience to he peoples wishes which he was
scarcely at liberty to refuse. MIR. Smith, of
the Cincinnati Gazette, gives especial promi-
nence to this topic, and, indeed, almost fore
shadows the method of its accomplishment.
Mr.. Smith is utterly scep.ical on the third
term question, and not only believes in letting
the people alone, but that if let alone they
can be trusted If they should assent to
Grants second denomination. the point on
which Mr.. Smith is more completely sceptical
than on any other, he would believe, as mat
ter OF course, that they had done right, and
that the action could involve no possible
danger In this we think the Cincinnati editor
is in error. The truth is, the people no longer
have their own way in politics. King Caucus
rules the party, and the party keeps the people
in subjection to the will of the politicians. 1t
cannot be pretended, for instance, that the
masses of the democracy wanted Mr.. Gree
leys nomination at Baltimore, else they would
have voted for him in November; and yet the
politicians who ratified and endorsed the
work of the Cincinnati Convention did it on
the express ground that it was the will of the
people The democratic leaders misinter-
preted the will of the people and suffered in
consequence; but it by no means follows that
the caucuses of powerful party long in Office
may not set aside the popular will or even
defy it without meeting disaster in the cleo