Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-29
GreeIeI,s Reasons for OprosInr LIncoln,s

GreeIey's Reasons for Opposing LIncOln's
Reelection.
The chief and, indeed, the sole argument
sdduced against Mr.. Lineoln's reelection,
By the New York Tribune, is, that 'ft is
the settled action Of both political parties
that President in ofice has not been re-
elected unless under the pressure Of extra
ordinary circumstances" ftFor thirty
years." it says, 'tno President has been re-
elected" It were better TO give no reason
than one so weak. No President has been
reelected during the past thirty years
simply because there were no fextraordi-
nary circumstances" requiring it, and for
the further reason that none of them lOsre
deseTVing oft. Van Buren, was beaten be-
cause the people demanded q change Of
financial measures. Harrison could not
be re elected as he died within q month of
his Inauguration. Polk was not re- elected
for the reason that he was an Insignificant
person who offended his party and was
despised by the opposition, and commonly
regarded as Q weak brother. Taylor was
not reelected, because he died during the
first half of his term. Pierce was not re-
elected, because he fell into public con-
tempt by universal consent. He was the
poorest stick Of timber out Of which q
President was ever heWn. Buchanan was
not reelected because he turned traitor to
the Northern wing Of his party and be-
came tool Of the secessiOnists; he was
abhorred by all honest men in and out Of
his party.
This exhsusts the list for the past thirty
| years. Who can name one of them that
deserves 3 reelection Had Gen. Taylor
lived he, doubtless would have been re-
elected, If he had kept steadily in the path
in which he was waking when death
snatched him away. Washington was re-
elected because his first administration
gave public satisfaction. For the same
reason Jefferson was continued in Office q
second term; so were Madison, Monroe
and Jackson. Fash Of them served eight
years. As often as the dominant party
nominated candidates possessing cspabil-
/ ity, integrity and patriotism the people
reelected them. John Adams was beaten
because his party was becoming unpopu-
lar and losing strength. Jefferson, the
Radical, was the rising sun. The Federal
was the Conservative" party. 1t became
| the Peace party, and answered to the
Gopperbead organization Of the present
day. It despised the masses Of the people
it sneered at '1iberty" aud humanity
and had no sympathy with the laboring
classes; it was an sristoorstic organiza-
ton, and finally went under and dissp-
peared, but its spirit passed into the DEM
oeratic party when the latter became rot
ten, and now animates the rebels and the
Copperheads in their struggle against pop.
ular rights.
The New York Tribune comedies that
/ Mr. Lincoln has acquitted himself most
nobly in his trying position, and deduces
therefrom a reason for throwing him
overheard in the midst Of his herculean
efforts for the preservation of the Union
The country is laboring under the
npressure of extraordinary circumstances
more extraordinary than ever before ex
listed in our Republic. We have a man at
the helm in whom the masses of the peo.
pie repose great faith man who is stead
lily growing stronger in the public conf
dence; q man whose honesty, integrity
and patriotism are not disputed by his
bitterest enemies whose ability to deal
with the terrible crisis in which the ma
ton is involved is at least equal, if not
superior to that of any man likely TO be
elected, if he shall be discarded. lhe
country has certainty in Abraham Lin
coln-he has been tried and proven to be
pure gold. Is it best to change oomman-
ders in the hour of battle, and enter into
/ a heated caucus for a sucoessor-snd that
too, when the General is evidently driving
the enemy to the wall, and is sure Of win
| III ho EnLk0 l. l. L
seriously of removing our Commsnder-in-
Chief in the midst of his struggle with
traitors and rebels, when he has them
more than half conquered, when their
wicked cause is clearly lost, and the arms
and policy of the Government are on the
eve Of complete triumph This is what
Horace Greeley advises to be done, and for
the wretched reason that no President has
been reelected since Gen. Jackson.-Chi
c4go Tribune.