New-York tribune., 1872-11-04
Tile LIBERAL CAMPAIGN.

VO-u,nrrnvv. the es.6 fVr EOfViIij WhiIu
had its first public manifestation at the Gin
cinnah Convention, will give the first measure
of It's strength in the country. 1t is safe to
predict that never in the history Of American
politics has any party in the space of half
year rallied so many adherents to its stand
ard, as the Liberal party viii show,
when the votes are counted tomorrow
night. It's sudden and powerful growth
is the best proof of the necessity
from which it sprang. So many thousand
American citizens as are now supporting the
candidacy of Mr.. Greeley do not combine for
any selfish purpose. 1t is not hard to imagine
why q hundred thousand ofice-hOldeTs should
ght to retain their offices. But it is impossi
bic that millions of private citizens should
league together to support a cause which
their hearts and brains do not approve.
The Cincinnati Convention was not the re-
suit, as bas been foohsbly and falsely said, Of
any private griefs or disappOintments. The
causes which drove the purest and most capa-
ble men in the Republican party into that de-
Lucrative revolt were very serious and sub
stantial. 1t had become evident to them and
to all intelligent and impartial observers that
the Administration at Washington was exbib-
iting every day an increasing con-
tempt for law and disregard of the
principles of political morality. The Presi-
dent had been continually shown to be law
breaker not from any lawless intention to
overthrow the Government, but simply from
want of acquaintance with legal principles,
and a soldierly dsinclination to learn what
they were Tho Santo Domingo campaign
had opened many eyes. The assault made
on Mr.. Sumner in the Senate was q
dangerous exhibition of the malice and
the improper influence of the Ex-
ecutive power upon the legislative.
The use of the patronage of the President was
the worst ever seen under our system. He
could not have acted with less apparent re-
sponsibility if the appointing power had be-
longed to his personal estate. The character
and efficiency of oflice-holders had ceased
almost entirely to be a subject of inquiry, the
whole service having been given up 70 the
work of reGlecting the President.
There was no possibility of correcting those
abuses inside of the organization of the Repub
lican party. The denomination of the Pres
dent had been already arranged. To remain
within the party pale and to vote for its
llthGbJ was W IhuOIbC vi
all the errors of the Administration. The
party, through its representatives in Congress,
had already clearly shown that no movement
for reform should be acc pied OF adopted
by it, no effort to exercise any control
upon the dangerous Irregularities of the
President should be permitted. An in
vestigation into the abuses and cOrruptions
of our Custom-hOuse had met with the en-
venomed opposition of the Presidents favor
ties; an inquiry into the illegal sale of arms
to France had been denounced as treason to
the Administration and the party. Every at
tempt TO do justice TO the South, and to as
certain the truth in regard to that system of
plunder by which it has been spoiled 50 long,
was met by Qualifications of the party and by
savage appeals TO sectional hatred and the
memories OF the war.
i was therefore necessary TO go outside Of
the Republican patty to initiate the movement
fai reform .or ua... ..C"e Was no opportunity