Year: 1872

mitted to do SO. At this very Baltimore Con-
vention we find the hottest rebels of the
South nominating as their Presidential
candidate the, fercest aboliionist of the
North. They are willing to support, and,
if possible, to elect such o candidate
in the hope that change in the administra-
ton may obliterate the last traces of the pains
and penalties of their treason. The men of
the North sympathize with them and desire
the success of the liberal republican and demo-
cratic candidate for the same reason. Now,
we have already secured some good from this
generous sentiment in the passage of the
Amnesty bill in the last hours of Congress as
the effect of the Cincinnati movement; and,
whether Grant or Greeley shall be successful
in November, we hope to see the lesson of this
struggle teach the administration of the next
four years the wisdom of sweeping away
carpet-bag governments and bayonet rule
in the Southern States and of leaving
the people of those States as free and
unfettered as the people of the North.
Another public advantage to be anticipated
from the single-handed fight between the
regular republicans and the liberal repub-
licans is the prospect Of a possible
division of the negro vote of the South.
The administration calculates with confidence
upon securing that entire vote, and not with
out apparently good reason. The Southern
negroes are pleased with the Union uniform
so honorably worn by Grant, and it will be
-, Ia fbor,t hot 1ooI Iar ~ kbo
federal armies is not the iberator to whom
they owe their emancipation. At the same
time, Greeley and his friends will make
q desperate effort to divide the colored
voters of the South, and it will
be strange if such abolition apostles as Greeley
and Sumner should be without honor among
the people for whom they have done SO much
1t will be good thing for the country if their
efforts shall prove successful and the dam
ger Of black autocracy in the Southern
States be averted.


The thought will probably occur to General
Grant and his friends, however, that it may
be hazardous to await the result of the election
before commencing the practical work Of re-
form. They must now understand the danger
that threatens them and can no longer close
their eyes to the fact that dissatisfied feeling
is abroad all over the country. We do not
care now, nor will it advantage them, to in
quire whether the popular discomfort is
or unjust The HERALD has sup
ported General Grant and his administration,
and sees no reason yet to wholly condemn or to
him. We recognize the substantial
facts that he has reduced the national debt,
established the national credit, kept US at
peace with all the world, and made the country
generally prosperous. In war he was fearless
and aggressive; in peace he has been conserv-
alive and cautious. But, as an independent
Journal caring nothing for parties, politicians
Or Presidents, the HERALD has frankly told
General Grant on former occasions and tells
him now again, that he is surrounded,
ar and wide, by parasites, who are
oelittling and breaking down his admin
stration, and that he has about
him advisers incapable of statesmanlike
policy. The nation was Inundated by our
weak and un-American course in
the Alabama negotiations from first to last,
and our whole foreign policy has been dis
graceful to a great powerful and earnest
nation. The cliques, all influential at WASH
ngton, must be broken into fragments and
lriven from the capital The men who hold
,fice in the Southern States and keep up
continual state of excitement by their acts
must be turned adrift. The country must no
onger be disgraced by its representatives at
oreign courts; the bad must be sifted
and separated from the good. There must be
\ thorough reform in the administration favors
in this State, and the Presidential policy
men, accustomed only to rule in caucuses and
ward meetings. General Grants personal
character stands high, and the people four
years ago evinced their gratitude for his SER
vices by electing him to the highest Office in
their gift There is yet time for him to avail
himself of his personal strength and his popu-
larity among the people, and to stay the tide
setting so strongly in favor of o change, if
he will adopt policy of his own
and cut loose from his undesirable surround





would be ready to rally to his side if he would
purify the atmosphere around him. But he
must waste no time in slow, indecisive
policy. The administration cannot afford to
be defeated in a single State election, or to
show signs of a decrease of strength. Like an
army in an enemy's country, their first re-
verse would prove their annihilation. Foes
would spring up all around them, and
their destruction would be certain. The oppo-
sition can battle on until November with
feverses and still have hope of success.
retreat from single position on the part of
the regular republicans would become stam-
pede. General Grant should, therefore, COM
mence the reforms we have indicated without
delay, before the first week in August. If he