Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1879 — WHO FOR PRESIDENT? [ARTICLE]

WHO FOR PRESIDENT?

To tbo average politician it may so** too Hrtjr to iinnmi tbo disoossioa of tbo presidential question for 1880,' but as the Republioaa pasty never acts spontaneously or jmnps at eoedusioaa, wo ©occlude that to properly understand ourselves, and to have tbo matter under consideration well matured, it fai right and proper that wo engage la aa exchange of views aad determiso whet k the bdet thing to do before tbo time of notion arrives. Tbo Republican party, also, is composed principally of men who rood and think for themselves, and the opinions of o great majority of them are worthy of consideration, and cannot, or should not, bo passed lightly by. We have our views a* to who should become the Republican. nominee for president and'we believe it will do the eeuse no iojury to express them. Doubtless all who read our editorial last week on this subject ore awaro that at ibe preseut we do not fed like advocating the nomination of General Grant for reasons that are probably apparent to every intelligent reader. But to enumerate: First, it would be a bad precedent; second, as General Grant said in his little speech at Philadelphia, prior to visiting the old world, “there are other generals and statesmen who have merited tbs position and should not be forgotten when plsces of honor are to be filled;** third, it it probable that another division would be created in the Republican ranks and a second. Lib: eral party organised 'by those who have helped to “bear the burden in the heat of the day*’ sbonld tbey not be recognized for their servioes.

We would not have the readers of the Republican believe for a moment that we are opposing General Grant, for there ia no public man tor whom we have a greater admiration. In faot, like every good American citizen, it may be truthfully said, we love Grant, and this love leads us to believe that it will be better for him and our party if he is nut again thrust into publio office. We cannot add to the honors he has received, because tbey are, perhaps, the greates the world ever knew, hut some mistake or misfortune iu life, as- great things will be expected of him, might do him much discredit. America has prodoeed two great generals (Washington and Grant), and we prefer to retain them “unspotted from the world.’* Evidently he does not desire to again occupy the presidential ebair, and it would be unjust to carry bun, aa it were, by force into position. It is the opinion of some that the late Republican victories point to the nomination of Grant at our next National Convention, but we do not think so. The language of the victories is that Republican principles are just end fight, end will bring the greatest good to the government aod the people. Every intelligent worker in oor party will admit that seoond to whipping the rebels and squelching the rebellion, the greatest triumph the Republican party ever achieved was bringing about the resumption of specie payment, which was accomplished in the face of the hard times snd the combined efforts of two opposing parties. la the accompUshment of this great work mush is due to the skill and financial ability of Hoo. John Sherman, and it may truthfully said that Sherman waa to resumption what Grant was to the triumph of our armies; therefore if a position can be merited in, a free Kepubilkfrour present Secretary of the Treasury should be promoted to the highest office in the gift of the people.

In a apeeeh at Paterson, Sew; Jersey, Secretary Shcamcn-soidr **Now 1 want to serve noliee on the Democratic party that the Republican party has resolved upon two things, and it never makes up its miod upon anything until it i* determined to put it through. We are going to see that every lawful voter iu this country has the right to vote an honest ballot at everv national election, and no more. If the Democratic party stands in the way, so much the worse for it. It the South, rebellious aa it ia, stands in the way again, we will protect every voter in hia right to vote where tbe constitution gives rise right to vote. Local elections roast be regulated by Stale laws. Southern voters may cheat each other as they please in local elections. The Republican party never trenefieef on the rights oi States, and do not intend to. Whenever national officers or Congressmen are elected, those ate national election*, and, under the plain provisions of the constitution, tbe nation baa a right to protect them. Tbe Republicau party intends, if tbe present law is not strong enough, to make it stronger. In the South 1,000,000 Republican ire disfranchised. With the help ol Almighty God we intend to right that wrong.** This has the true Republican ring. It is truely good Republicanism and good constitutional law as well. It ia the mission and duty of the Republioaa party to see that tbs right of eveiy legal voter to depneit his ballot is made good in national elections. Ia Stato elections tbo gaaemment has no right to interfere, bus v» (kcttonS for President and Vice-PT*eideol aad Congress-

men It ban a right ta interfere to tHo enfant a# regala wag the elections and seeing that they are fair and honest, and this ia what the Uhpiibtiaan. party Unite shall be dbae. JUr. Sherman pate the case wv IL —lndia » opot in Journal.