The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1872-08-14
The Plain Fact.

ful men sincerely desirous of reform,
and honestly persuaded that it can
come only by the defeat of Gen. Grant
and the Republican party. They are
proud of the history Of the party.
They do not willingly mean to imperil
a single result that it has achieved.
They acknowledge the great services
Of Gen. Grant in the war. They have
no faith in Democrats, and they see in
many ways the curious unftness of
Mr.. Greeley for the Presidency. But,
on the other hand, they think that
Gen. Grant is badly advised; that the
Democrats have assented to the settle.
ment Of the war; that Mr.. Greeley
means well that "the South" will be
sullen until it has taken a successful
part in a Presidential election; and
that the only way to dissolve both
parties and form a new is to defeat the
Republican. Therefore, not without
regard and disgust, they think that
they must vote against their old friends
and the magnanimous chief of the
armies that crushed the rebellion, and
join hands with Beauregard and Fer
nando Wood to elect Mr.. Greeley.
The Republicans think, then, that
Gen. Grant is badly advised. Do they
think that Mr.. Greeley will surround
himself with wiser counselors? Mr..
Samuel Bowles says that Mr.. Greeley
is the prey of flatterers and sycophants.
Would he be less so as President I?
These Republicans have seen those
who are most conspicuous in Mr.. Gree
ley's support; do their regulations and
careers inspire the hope of a higher
tone in administration These Repub.
licans know how reluctantly Senator
Schurz came to the support of Mr..
Greeley, and that, almost without ex-
ception, the better men of the Cincin-
natl movement deplore his nomination.
Upon what reasonable ground do they
believe that Mr.. Greedy will be better
advised than Gen. Grant?
In the second place, these Republi-
cans think that the Democrats have
acquiesced in the result of the war.
But does it therefore follow that it is
wise that party chiefly composed of
Democrats, including the mass of the
late rebels, should obtain possession of
the government? Why do the friends
of Mr.. Greeley claim the united white
vote with part" only Of the colored
vote at the South? Because the color
cd citizens know that the Ku.Klux
and the entire negro hating spirit in
the country desires the election of Mr..
Greeley agaist Gen. Grant. Does the
victory of that spirit seem to our
friends the way of peace and justice
and equal rights? If the Democrats
have acquesced in the great results of
the war, the Republicans believe in
them. With which should they be
trusted?
Our friends think also that Mr.
Greeley means well. Perhaps he meant
we'll when he encouraged and justified
secession-when he "nagged" Presi-
dent Lincoln to buy peace-when he
promoted foreign intervention-when
he gravely perplexed Mr.. Lincoln by
his Niagara performances-when he
complained to Mr.. Seward long ago
that he had not been rewarded with
an oflice-when he half apologized for
Sweeny and Tweed whenever he has
done any thing which showed his ia
tai want of judgment. Had he been
President instead of Lincoln, he might
have meant we'll in surrendering to the
rebellion. Do our friends think it
enough to mean well, if you have no
judgment?
Again, they say that the South will
be sullen until it has taken success
ful part in an election. Why? Be
cause it broods over the old defeat.
Now if the Republican policy had
been vindictive or harsh, we would
condemn it with our friends. But it
has not been so. 1t gave equal suf-
frage because it was proved to be neces-
sary for the protection of equal rights.
The Southern friends of Mr.. Greeley
made black codes in 1S65-they would
make them now if they dared. The
Republicans gave equal suffrage; they
have granted an absolute amnesty, ex-
cept in two or three hundred instances;
and they have protected at the polls,
with Mr.. Greeley's most hearty ap,
proval, the colored citizens whom
many of Mr.. Greeley's Southern sup
porters would have prevented from
voting. For the adventures who
have gone into the Southern States,
and for the misgovernment there, the
Republican party can in no just sense
be held responsible. While for the
ill-teeling that still exists the remedy
is not in the success of those who de-
nounce the Republican rule as infa-
mops-a success which would revive
every spark of old hostility with an
exulting expectation of revenge. The
logical solution of the Southern situa-
tion is the dissolution of the Demo.
cratic party, the party which is the
perpetual hope OF disafiection in the
southern part of the country, and the
consequent consciousness that the sit