The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-14
THE POPULARITY OF OUR CANDIDATE
BIGEL0wS LIFE OF FREMONT.

One of the best assurances of Republican
success is in the popularity of our candidate.
The enthusiasm of the people in all quarters of
the Northern States has been steadily increas-
ing from the day of his nomination; and we
should not be surprised to witness, by the first
OF November, an uprising of the masses, ex-
ceeding even that which carried Harrison to
the Presidential chair. The excuses into which
this .tnrore sometimes runs may not accord
with the taste or sober judgment of many, but
they indicate none the less the depth and inten-
sity OF the great absorbing political sentiment
now pervading the free States. We recognise
in this movement the fact, not only that Ere.
mont, but Fremonfs platform, is all the fash.
ion, and that it will remain the fashion for wears
to come.
We are not therefore displeased to observe
such manifestations of the popularity of our
gallant leader as are indicated in the advertise
ment of Fremont hats" the establishment of
Fremont ranches" and "Rocky Mountain
clubs" and the exhibition of Fremont portraits.
They are the rude developments of an over.
whelming national enthusiasm, which po;nts IN
most benefcent result upon our future ma.
tional destiny.
But, while on this subject, we would sugges.
a still more important means of carving on
the contest for the re-establishment of the prin
pies of Washington and Jefferson, viz: the cir.
culation of Republican newspapers and docu-
ments bearing upon the great issues of the
campaign-such as the speeches of Sumner,
Seward, Colfax, and others, upon the Kansas
question, and especially of the biographies of
our Presidential candidate. The first question
of every voter, after he understands the plat
form he is invited to support, is, Who is the
candidate? what has he done? and what have
been and are his principles? For this purpose,
it is important that every Republican should
be supplied with full and correct biography
of Fremont.
1t is we'll known that the enemies of our
candidate, finding him entirely unimpeacb.
able as public man, are directing all their
batteries against his personal character and
his private acts. His affair with Haneman
Foote, for example, has been the subject of
the grossest misrepresentation, and, bu. for
the explanation published in Bigelow's Life of
Fremont, would have done incalculable mis-.
chief. So, too, in regard to the charges which
are just now raked up by the Buchanan party |
in the Senate. We need only to refer to this |
record of facts, to put our candidate safely be.
yond the reach of such partisan calumnies. We
refer to Bigelow's work, not to disparage the
labors of others on the same subject, but be-
cause it is prepared, with excellent judgment,
by an intimate friend of Fremont, and Is the
only biography which contains an adequate
account not only of the public services but
of the private history of our candidate. 1t
is therefore volume which no Republican
should fail to possess. 1t will not only prove
an efficient weapon in the present campaign,
but spirited narrative--worthy of permanent
preservation--of one of the brilliant chapters
in our country's history. Let our friends there
fore arm themselves with Bigelow's Life of
Fremont.
. Life of Colonel Fremont BY John Bigelow. New
York: Derby Jackson