The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-07-05
The Ninth of July.

AS The ninth OF July approaches, the llme
appointed for the Democratic National Con-
vention at Baltimore, all eyes are turned in
that direction. The course which will be
pursued by that body is very clearly fore
Swallowed, not alone by the Democratic press
ofthe country, but also in the decisive express
sion of opinion of a majority of those who
have been regarded as the leaders of the
party, and who control and influence, in no
slight degree, public opinion in their respcc-
ivelocalities. The action of the Convention,
as thus foreshadowed, will be the endorsement
of Horace Greeley, and his recommendation
to the support Of the Democratic party, as
sition to the regular Republican nominee,
General Grant.
How this singular revolution in the minds
of the Democratic party has been brought
about, is at first sight not apparent. How
the party could forget all the traditions of
the past; how they could, in so short peri
cd, learn to forgive the man of all others who
poured such contempt and calumny upon
them-and not only forgive, but shout hosan-
mas to his praise, are problems which would
puzzle the most astute metaphyscians and
philosophers. The fact is true, nevertheless,
and it finds its solution, we think, in the in
stinct of self-preservation, which leads men,
in the face Of immient danger, to forego pri-
vatc animosities and unite together for mutu
al protection.
While the excitement and enthusiasm of
the civil war were at their height, the hon
est supporters of the Administration did not
perceive the dangerous path they had enter
cd upon; and even for some years after its
close, their eyes were blinded by selfish dem
agogues TO the hidden dangers of the way,
and they were lulled into fancicd security by
the deceitful promise, that soon the object for
which so much blood and treasure had been
expended would be accomplished, and the
country, once more united, contented and
prosperous, would with one mighty bound
regain more than had been lost by the war.
AS time moved on, and the evil passions
engendered by the war gave way to kinder
feelings, the people began to perceive the
danger of continuing a course the end of
which threatened the destruction of every
vestige of the freedom which they had been
taught to believe was the inalienable right
of every American citizen, and the substitu-
ton of despotic military government in its
place.
In the cruel oppression of the South by the
a1 nfo Il ,t uylp opl,, abe
opportunity to become Dictator, the rest
of the country saw premonition of the fate
which might possibly be in store for them by
his continuance in power. Aroused by an
unexplained impulsc-perhaps, as we have
said, that of self-preservation, the American
people have with one consent determined to
force from place and from power the men
who have abused their trust, and whose poll
cy is one dangerous to our liberties.
That this feeling has become despread
and general is not 80 strange, but that il
should find expression in the almost unani
nous selection of Horace Greeley as the lead
er in the movement for q restoration of liber.
ty is, we must confess, astounding. Be this
as it may, it is clearly evident that in the
campaign there will be only two candidates
to choose between They will stand before
the country rs representative men. One as
the embodiment of principles whose aim is
the destruction of liberty and the consolida-
ton of power in the hands of one manor
what is far worse-an oligarchy.
On the other hand, much rs we must con.
denim him for the course he has pursued in
the past, Horace Greeley will stand forth as
the representative of all that feeling in the
country which is arrAyed on the side of justice
and right, in opposition to misrule and DIES
potism. Whether, if elected, he would repre-
sent truly that sentiment we cannot say
but in the bsencc of a true Democratic can
didate his election would of itself be break
in the encmys lines of which advantage
might be taken by the Democracy, and the
way be made more clear for II return to the
rule of law and order.
What the position Of the Democratic party
will be when the smoke Of the battle clears
away we cannot foresee. Its principles
"uiuoi 10 tioJ arc upoH liSuC anu truth
and being those alone through which person
al freedom and a republican form of govern
mcnt can he maintained will never die
They may be obscurcd for little while, bu
we are persuaded that they will again shine
forth clear as the sun and terrible as an mr.
my with banners.