Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-06-05
Democratic Tactics.

THE short period which has elapsed
since the adjournment of the Chicago Con-
vention has developed the fact that the
game of our adversaries in the campaign
is to be ridicule Already they have begun
to plume their shafts, few of which they
have discharged The New York World
writes the life Of Grant in twenty lines,
and crystalizes it around the central state
ment that he was many years ago refused
a clerkship in the prothonotary's office, at
st. Louis, on the score of "incap0caty." /"
But common sense ought to teach that
this style of belittling the first military
genius of the age must result more in re-
coil than in direct force. The monument
of Grants achievements is not pedestaled
upon such feeble foundation that it can be
toppled to the ground by the noisy winds
let loose by some editorial Holus. Writers
for the press might as we'll cucumber their
columns with elaborate disquisitions upon
the governmental policy of Peter the Great
as relevant to the issues of this canvass, as
to expect to convince the people that the
brain which planned the siege of Vicks-
burg, and executed the grand march upon
Richmond, does not possess great admins
trative ability, because an official of a
Western city once lacked the penetration
to discover the mental caliber of the man
who asked of him employment. Such at
tempt at reasoning is but the trash of non
sense. 1t Injuries not him at whom it is di-
rected, but him by whom it is made a
weapon of detraction.
The World in like manner empties its
ridicule upon Colfax. According to that
belittling sheet, he is political shyster-a
crossroads demagogue-a man OF suave
manners gemming a narrow intellect.
But shafts winged like these, fall far off
their mark. Unfounded charges always
do. The character of Colfax will take care
of his reputation. 1t is futile as beating
the air to attempt to stigmatize as in
capable man who, without early adyan-
tages, has uniformly triumphed over the
most vigorous opposition, and steadily won
his way against every obstacle to the third
official station in the GovernmentSthree
times repeated, and at length to the nomi-
nation to the second place within the gift
Of the people, as the choice Of a powerful
political organization, whose selection is
almost tantamout to the decree of the bal
lot-boX. es aag. .f.... -.-,......,..r
We trust the Democratic press will con-
tinue the work of detraction and ridicule
they. have commenced. 1t will energize
OuI CduSG WILL uCW COuoIltuOutS VI SuC-
cess. Two and a half centuries ago the
name Whig was conferred in derision upon
those who were considered overmuch at
tached to liberty and progress, but the
title that was bestowed in contempt has
become honorable in the New World as
well as the old as the designation of great
political parties. The word Christian was
once employed to express all that was vile
and detestable in heretical conduct, but
now is the insignia of the highest type of
moral excellence.
The British, during the Revolutionary
war, concocted Yankee Doodle as an ex-
preston of their boundless disdain for
our forefathers, yet it is to-day one of our
national airs, and thrilling every fibre of
the patriotic hearts Of our citizens. In
1910, the opponents of Gen. Harrison
sneered at him as the clog cabin" and
"hard cider" candidate, but what was put
forth to dishonor was taken up to exalt.
The people repeated these cries with all
their lungs Log cabins and hard cider
became the notices of the campaign, and
they contributed no little to the eclat of the
victory which carried the Whig ticket into
the White House. If the Democrats will
only continue to sneer and ridicule, they
may be able to infuse into the canvass
similar elements of Republican strength
CI5cdqO RepatblScd71 n tTfr