Year: 1872

From the Golden age


| The political situation changes slowly.
The horoscope of the future no man can de-
cipher. But we all have the privilege of
guessing. Without being prophet, nor the
son of a prophet, we will borrow stereo-
typed newspaper phrase and venture to
predict" And our prediction is that the
office holding portion of the Republican
party land its name is leeion) will nominate
Grant; that the antadm'uistration portion
of the same party will nominate an op-
posing candidate; and that the Democrats
will nominate no candidate at all. If this
prediction shall be verified land we believe
it is based on sensible judgment), then it
needs no prophetic insight to add, as an en-
forced consequence, that Grant will be
beaten.


Meanwhile comes the Cincinnati conven
ton. 1t will be before us iu a few weeks.
Its Importance may be historically great.
Animated with patriotic impulse las it
certainly will be- and governed by wise
discretion las we hope it may be) it will
probably name the next President and Vice
President of the United States.


To this end. it must be shrewd, wise, and
bold in two particulars: first, as to plat
FORM and next as to nominations. There
is great constituency which that conven-
ton can represent if it does not throw away
its opportunity of representing it. What
should it propose to itself!


The besetting sin of political conven-
tions is misery avarice Of jurisdicton->
they want to cover too much ground; they
say too long rosary OF resolutions; they
prOmul gate too many articles OF faith. The
recent Labor Reform Convention, which
nominated Judge Davis, furnished con-
spicuous instance of this ambitious folly.
The trumpet should give no uncertain
sound-one loud, ringing blast is enough.
If the coming convention at Cincinnati is TO
act wisely, it will make the simplest pos
sible platform-a few pointed ard pithy
phrases denouncing public corruption and
demanding an honest and upright govern
| mcnt. Anything more will be too much
The platform must be one on which honest
and rne-hearted Democrats can stand
| with as much comfort and selfrespect as
| if they had been lifelong Republicans
| II must be platform from which,
at subsequent election, any Democrat
can step back into his own party, and any
Republican into his. The question of tariff
| or free trade ought to have nothing to do
with the present fight. If all the forces at
Cincinnati are massed with the simple
view of defeating the administration, and
of preventing the reelection of a Presi-
| dent who has already ruled the country
one term too long, this object can certainly
he accomplished. The majority Of the
American people lin our judgmentl do not
want another term Of President Grant.
! This Judgment is not based on prejudice,
nor is it the product of an editorial fancy
engendered amid the dust and spiders of
newspaper office, but it is the result of
much recent observation during an eXten-
| sive ramble through most of the Northern
! States.


| If the Cincinnati convention shall frame
| simple platform. on which all persons
who share this feeling can stand together,
without making the test of fellowship too
minute and discriminating, a great and
overwhelming party can be rallied agains;
! a President whose only hearty supporters
are his relatives and other officeLolders.


After the platform (which as we have al
ready said, should be simplicity itself come
the candidates. There should be two men
who have for years been thoroughly known.
respected and beloved by the country. New
men will not answer. Give us men whose
names are household words-men for whom
| an American citizen can uplltt his voice and
| cheer lustily-men who have heads on
their shoulders and hearts in their breasts
men who have thoughts and feelings, and
| know how to express them-men who can
| think, or write, or speak-men who tnow
that our wars are over) know how 10 use
the great weapons of peace, and whose only
| art OF governing free country is to INSPIRE
| its people to govern themselves.


We have not disguised our preference FOR
some such men as Horace Greeley or
Charles Sumner for President. Either one
of these llustrious twain could DE great,
a noble. successful nomination.


To choose either would be to choose FROM
the East and though locality is an accl-
dent. yet it is not well TO take too many
Presidents in swift succession from the
same quarter of the county. Other things
being equal. the next Presidency belongs
to the East. not the West. The Vice Presi-
dencv may be Western. but the Presidency
should be Eastern. Either Mr.. Greeley or
Mr.. Sumner would command the confidence,
sympathy and enthusiasm Of the great mass
Of Grants opponents.


If, then. Judge Davis or Senator Trum-
bull should be named for the Vice Pres
| dency. the ticket would be srreng thence,
and its victory secured.


There is rumor that Mr.. Sumner is
shortly to give some reasons to the puhi!c
why Grant should not he renominated. We
do not know whether this report is auThen-
tic or not. But it is not like Mr., Sumner ~
be silent i'll a great emergency. 4 ie W
great men ike Mr.. Sumner and Mr. Greeley
should now take the helm of the situation
The Tribune is outspoken enoUgA. Mr
Sumner owes it to the country 10 speak IN
the same strain. and that soon. Ar. We be-
lieve lie VIII do If.