The daily union., 1852-11-11
From The Philadelphia Ledger
Political Calumnies.

Since the result of the late election, we see some oil
the partisan newspapers eating up the calumnies which
they published during the campaign against the President
elect. They now give him credit for possessing a, lea ST.
some little decency OF character, which. previous to the
election, some of then persisted IN denying him alto.
gelher We took occasion, during the campaign. to
speak OF the bad policy OF employing caumny and abuse
against candidate; and the result has proved that we
mistaken in the magnanmous character of the
American people. Many causes have doubt contrib.
ued 10 the late rout OF the wing candidate; but none
probably not involving principles have bad Dju.
rious effect upon his interest than the PERSISTENCE OF
some OF his political supporters OF the press in vir-
nen assaults upon the personal character OF General
Pierce, and the attempt TO sur up religious and national
prejudIces against him. Such always reacts
upon the party resortng to IT
In reference TO the history of presidential elections,
we say that candidate who was wantonly and out
rageously illuminated failed be elected and that
hs majority has generally been proportonaie TO the viz
uence OF his calumnlaos Jefferson, according TO bis
opponents, was more worthy oil a sentence 10 State
prison than OF election to office OF trust and his
calumniaiors shameless in his second than
his first contest to the chief magistracy. Yet be
twice elected and by an augmented majority in the
| ond campaign Every American now alive who was old
enough to vote in 1903 may remember that charge
arocious for his opponents to urge against Mad
ison. Yet he was elected And in The second trial.
when the war OF 1912 had excited opposition amos, To
madness, and quite TO treason he was elected by large
majority Mos, of readers remember the hail stones
of vituperaion, OF "war. pestence, and famine .
through which General Jackson reached his first presi-
dency And they may also remember that this storm
was aggravated thunder and lightning. whirlwind and
earthquake, during The second canvass Yet his second
majority was overwhelming.
| They may also remember that Mr.. Van Buren owed
his election to malignant partisan assault upon him by
the federal Senate Mr. Polk also had his share OF
and malignant opposition, 10 which his election part
ly attributed Gen. Harrison also received large share
of obloguy, OF which the eject was visible in his cleo
ton. Gen Taylor also assaulted, and by
tignsniiy as by msmbers Of his party Yet he wa.
elected.
Thus does the history OF presidential elections shou
that the candidates calo generally If
uniformly, the successful, and that their
proportonae TO the maIigni,y OF their opponents.
Whilst such intensity OF slander shows the depths Il
which partisan politics urge the depraved its efec
exhibits in bold relief The chivairous honesty, generosity
and magnanimiiy Of the American cbaracter To have
reached high place in the confidence OF any great part
in American politics., man must have exhibited som
virtues and the American people, OF whatever party
will no, ALLOW such to be msrepresenied as exceed
ing any OF their fellow citizens ia the worst vices Thei
pride and their OF justice aroused when the
are told that who has been sufficiently conspcu
Gus in eldoing to become candidate for the highes
office in the world s the lowest and oi criminals