New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-09-22
.terial complaints made against the Pregi-

/ impossible to criticise his record in this
respect. In this he has the advantage
of his competitor. No man can be in
public Office of great responsibility but
that something can be said against
him, and this will always be the case
until men become perfect 1t is said in
advocacy Of Mr.. Greeley's election that
he is an honest man. | am not disposed to
question his integrity. Should he be Presi-
dent for four years, have no doubt there
will be plenty Of men WHO will assail him
| and his administration as viruientiy and
unjustly as General Grant and his admins
tratlon have been assailed. All attacks
| upon the Presidents integrity rest solely in
assertion and groundless suspicion. No
| proof has ever been adduced to convict
him, and venture the assertion that none
| can be.
Mr.. Greeley is urged for the Presidency
| for the reason that he has been an
| advocate ofamnesty. 1t is true that he has
| done so, and | commend him for it. While
! the war continued believed in expanding
| the last dollar and the last man to put down
| the Confederacy and save the nation, But
when it closed, the COnfederates were a
| very numerous and important element of
| our population Their welfare and happi-
| ness had much to do with the prosperity of
the nation, and have always thought that
! a generous and clement policy would hasten
! the day when a national and patriotic sen
timent would pervade their bosoms with an
intensity and earnestness equal to that pos
| sessed by those who stood by the Union
during the trying period Of war. | was for
amnesty from the beginning, upon that
highest and best principle which | conceive
can actuate man, and it is this: Ii [ had
been i'll their situation and they in mine, |
should have wanted them to have
done the same thing for me. Yielding to
Mr.. Greeley the completest need of praise
for his action on this question, let me ask
why he should be more endeared to the
hearts of the people than General Grant
Has not the President recommended amo
nesty in his messages repeatedly He orr.
glnated amnesty at AppOmatteX Courte
house in the most generous and general
TERMS He amnestied all the Confederate
armiess officers and men alike upon the
simple and easy condition that they would
go to to their homes and keep the peace, 1t
can not be forgotten that when he was
general of the armies, and the government
threatened the arrest Of Lee and Johnston,
he lnterpOsed and prevented it by threat.
ening to resign his high position if the gov.
ernment did not keep the faith which he
had Dlighted i'll its behalf. 1t seems to me
that this is an act of selEabnegation and
generosity quite equal to the signing of the
bail bond-of Jefferson Davis.
l concede that Mr. Greeley has ALWAYS
been Republican, and that his platform
is Republican. The fact is the two plat
forms are precisely alike in all respects
even upon the tariff question, except in the
mere matter Of composition. To use his
own language, Mr. Greeley has been a more
furious Republican than General Grant,
And now publicly say that. if he were
chosen, President and elected to Congress.
and he would carry out his platform and be |
sufficiently generous toward the people of |
the South in aiding the development Of |
their material resources, would sustain !
his administrations, for it would be right, I
and could not consistently avoid doing so. |
On the other hand, if General Grant |.
should fail to carry out his platformo or I
fail to aid us in developing our material
wealth. aG every point OF dereIiction I
should oppose his Administrations This !
to be not only the right but the
duty OF representative OF the people.
1t may be asked, then, ''Why don't you
support Mr. Greeley" ] answer, General
Grant. am satisfied will do al! that lis
platform pledges him to. There can be no
doubt about his Republicanism. He has
been tested Mr. Greeley has not. Besides, |
there IS some doubt, at beast, as to what
Mr. Greeley will be able to do if chosen
President He was nominated at Eincin.
natl, and placed upon little Republican
pony saddIod and surcingIed for one of his
feet, and at Baltimore the other foot was
placed upon q big Democratic horse. and in
his two horse act he is attempting to ride
INTO the White House. And, if he reaches
t, whether he will be wholly astride of one
or the other is exceeding y problematical.
. 1t IS at least novelty in American poll.
les to ind two distinct parties nominating
he same man for this high position. and !
ldopt1ng the same platform of principles,
Tet maintaining separate and distinct party !
Organizations If these two bodies of men
lad fused so fully as that the one or the |
'ther bad broken up its ranks and dis.
'andedo we might have some guarantee as
o what the policy of the administration
would be, but now, and under existing cir
none can conjecture with any
ertalntYo 10 become President under 5
UGH circumstances might be misfortune
@ the country. We are essentially o gov. t
of public opinion. 1t is folly {
Or q man to be President unless he has a
arty to sustain himo
The country has experienced the Ynisfor. | Y
unes OF two administrations, at least, {
7hich were imbecile because there was no
ubllc sentiment to sustain or control them, {
D wit; those Of Tyler and johnson. Tony L
llnde If Mr.. Greeley becomes President, it
question of great doubt whether he can 0
7cure the support of the Democratic party. L
nd the Republicans might not and prob. Il
bly, would not sustain him with that 2
eartlness which they would man of their v
wn selection, even though his administra- b
on should be thoroughly in accord with h
lelr views. # chosene the Democrats Will a
9ntrl1ute more than ninety-tfve per cent b
the votes which are east for him. It is b
aUural to expect therefore, that they would o
ave some influence in moulding his policy. ! q
I'D tear that it would be neither Il
epubllean nor Democratic; that he d
ould fall between two stools would o
p0Werless for good, although II
IT altogether poWerless for harm. "
IS administration would be uninfuentiaI. n
theE at home or abroad. Courtesy leads 81
to concede sincerity 20 tho Democracy p
thelr professions in support of Mr.. Gree | pt
=, wherein they commit themselves to an a
tire set Of principles which they have o.
er opposed, and to a man who has ever III
en- their opponent and who they have W
ought until recently at least, has been la
cir m8ligner. If the nomination of til
race Greeley and his election will have so
effect 70 destroy the prejudices of race. 81
Tar as civil and political rights are con. co
ned, and shall cement the entire Ameri- OF
i sentiment in favor of an intense nation ce
ty, then shall thanL God and be con. ne
ted. tn
We have known chat the Democratic SIT
'ty was one of great discipline and that Pa
y could be brought up in serred ranks t tI'
u after year to the support of their own :; 10
hclPIes and candidates, but when they ~
"tHSt over oy committees and cOnyen- -,
rs TO the support OF platform and a | NY
ld !iiate which they have always opposed, VI
viii not be considered disc0urte6ds to- 90
pect that all Their members are not sim " "
9 in their professions or to anprehend TIN
lgerous consequences fopTin ~, 1871 ~ OF
nster of three millions of American pc
ars under such circumstances. 1t argues SpI,
want of individual independence and stll
= lead bad and ambitious men to believe on
: they can take steps more dangerous to not