The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-20

.
in heart and feeling with the men wis dig, aad
plow, and weave
Nor is this all. On May 25th, 1868, Mr..
Greeley, in the Tribune, thus delineated the
character of General Grant. He wrote:
The record of General Grant is the most glo
Tt0us chapter Of our history. Whatever may be
his politics, no citizen can be insensible to
Grants merits or the lustre of his name. In
kno,Giag Grant ace hR0D ourselves. Like Tenny-
sons great Duke he stands before us, great in
saving common sense and in simplicity sublime"
The conqueror of Lee is hidden forth to conquer
Lees remaining allies; and as the canvass ripens
1t would be found, we think, that our candidate
will win to his standard large part OF the party
known as war Democrats.
Thus triply Endorsed and doubly REIN
dorsed, now, in 1872, am held up by the
press of Richmond and denounced by the
politicians all over the State as an enemy
to my people, traitor to my State for adj
vocating his reelection. May not in pride,
and without mental reservation, hurl
back these anathemas in disdan as lofty
as it is defiant?
How am traitor to Virginia? Where
fore am | an enemy to my people? In
what has President Grant offended? These
very men, one and all, affect puritanical
distaste for President Grant and his sup
porters. In 1868 Mr.. Greeley pronounced
him "great in saving common sense, and
in simplicity sublime" r. i. Daniel,
Governor Walker, and the people of Rich
mond, in 1869, gloried in recognizing their
policy as his policy.
But I shall be reminded by my opponents
that President Grant has enforced the Ku-
klux laws. Indeed! ask them, and ask
you, if he soas not right in enforcing those
laacs 2 If any one says he was wrong in
so doing, then, if he IS an honest man and
acts out his convictions, he must repudiate
Mr.. Greeley. Hear what Mr.. Greeley, as
late as May 5, 1871, wrote on this very
matter. Heed his W ords, and act accord
ingly. Mr.. Greeley wrote:
Then as to the Ku-klux legislation, and all ex-
ecutiye action tending thereto or based thereon,
ed by most OF the independents. The President
is bound by solemn oath to support the consti
tuition enforce the laws, and protect the rights
and liberties of the people.
Nor is this all. Mr.. Greeley on March
18th, 1871. in the Tribune thus wrote on
this same subject:
The present Kukux demons trations at the
South are simply a mere coaoardiy phase Of the Re
beltton They are fulfilment Of the rebel me
mace that the civil war could and should be prose.
cuted for twenty years after the overthrow and
dispersion of rebel armies. Its object is to ''let
the niger know his place." which now, as ever,
IN the rebel conception, is under the heel of the
white man.
In the same article Mr.. Greeley charac-
terizes this "skulking warfare in the Sc
verest terms.
Nor is this all. Mr.. Greeley on the 10th
of January, 1872, in the Tribune, thus gave
utterance to his feelings and convictions
on this subject:
The Ku-klux trials which have just been con-
cluded at Columbia, South Carolina, reveal a
social condition in that State, which shows how
low down are still the poor whites, whose poverty
and ignorance were part of the slave system.
These trials showed too, how the vindictive
hatred OF freedom still cings to the higher classes
of the South. and how easy 1t i, for the ex-slave
holder to turn his oppression of the black man
against the low class which befriended him or
hesitates to join in organized society to drive
him out. Nobody can say that these trials hare
not been fliriy conducted.
What more need | say here, to silence
the disingenuous and revengeful clamor
against President Grant, on the charge of
cruelty to the South. These indications,
from the pen of Mr.. Greeley, were on
March IL, 1871, and January 10, 1872.
On examination of the proceedings, by
President Grant, it will be seen that on every
occasion, in every instance, at every stage
of the proceedings, under this Ku-klux law,
that his official conduct was calm and regu-
lar; in all things conformable to the law,
and only in execution of its mandates.
On March "a, 1871, his proclamation COM
handing dispersion of $ armed men," was
published. On May Sd, 1871, special attcn-
ton Of all men was called to the Ku-
klux law, and required to obey it. On
October II, 1871, all unlawful combina-
tons were ordered to disperse. On Octo-
Der II, 1871, the writ of habeas corpus
was suspended in certain counties in South
Carolina. An examination of these state
papers will show the absence of all per-
sonal feeling, and demonstrate the presence
of high sense of official duty.
So much for the Ku-klux excitement. |
again ask for candid exposition of the
causes which have SO singularly changed
the feelings, perverted the policy, and
aroused the wrath of R. L. Daniel, Gov
ernor Walker, and the people of Rich
mond. Let them be disclosed.
Now, my friends, contemplate Virginia
in 1S60-'6l-' 65-72. Regard her rela-
tive position at each date. Measure the
proud and influential position which she
occupied in ls60-'6l. Contrast it with
her ruined, crushed, helpless attitude in
1865. View her as she now struggles for
recuperation and pants for new life in
1872. Here is a theme worthy of the
most consderate investigation. What
caused her ruin in 1865, all know. Who
caused it, few can doubt. Parties organized
always indicate the purposes had in view,
and disclose the means to be applied in the
effort to sustain and carry out those views.
In lSG0-'Gl the Democratic party was in
ascendancy in America. 1t was the pur-
pose and will of that party to force seces-
sion upon the South. Aided by Horace
Greeley in this respect they were success
full. At this juncture Horace Greeley part
ed company with the Democratic party, and
prosecuted the Southern people and States
with studied vindictiveness which no Ian.
guage at my command can describe.
How is it that in 1872 this same Demo-
cratic party, at Baltimore, clasp hands y
with Horace Greeley and as party nomi-
nate him as the candidate of their party
Here is political poItraiture worthy o
Hogarth. Is it not a strange combination
Is it without an agreed purpose? When
OF where, iE all history, did the Democratic
party ever select or elect man to offic'
for any purpose, not in accord with thei
policy? Let the old Wings think Of this
The Democrats and Horace Greeley wer,
of one mind as to secession in lS60-'6l
By what charm, under what infatuation
a