Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1872-07-17
WILMINGTON, DEL.
Wednesday Afternoon, July ~.
MR.. GREELEY s FALL.

A multitude Of expressions used by Mr..
Greeley, in his sneeches and editorials, can be
quoted to show that he had, until within few
months, high opinion of President Grant. In
a speech made in January, 1871, when the Pres
ident hal been nearly two years in Office MIR.
Greeley said Il venture to suggest that Gen
" Grant will be far better qualified FOR that
momentous trust in 1872, than he was in
"1S6S." The intent Of this was plainly to pro-
pose the Presidents reelection, aud give him
second term There was then apparently
strong adherence on Mr. Greeley's part to what
he since calls " the one-tem principle ''On the
contrary, pleased as he already was, with the
great success of President Grants first admin
iztration, he felt at liberty TO urge that he would
be far better qualified for second term. This
is reasonable it was true when Mr.. Greeley
said it it is true now.
This is but one expression ont Of the many from
Mr.. Greeley's lips and pen. We have not space
in this article to quote them. But 1t ID true that
again and again he has eulogi4ed the Adminis-
tratiJn, aud defended the President personally,
from those assaults to which batlled opponents,
finding nothing TO attack in Lis public actions,
have been reduced As to these, Mr.. Greeley
tersely said The people Of the United States
know General Grant-haye known all about
''him since Donelson and viehsburg they do
mot know his slanderets aud do not care to
"know them"
Now, Mr.. Greeley, whether he IS "as much of
n Republican as ever, or not, violently contro-
verts by word and action, his own statements Of
few months ago. OF COURSE there has been
IA such change i'll the policy of the Administers
Il NJ, or in the personal course Of the President
as would justify 80 complete revolution o
Judgment. Other causes have made the frieu,
of President Grants Administration its enemy
AID changed his approval into bitter attack.
We must look, too at Mr. Greeley's atere
relations to the Republican party. I'VE shal
hold him responsible of course, for the editona
tone Of the Tribune, in which he is the leadn
stakeholder, and in whose personal service Tia
paper is now exclusively and unscrupulously en-
ployed The Tribune is making every effort t
destroy the Republican organization. 1t lament
the Democratic defeat in Oregon it hopes 70
the success of the Democratic ticket in Mort
Carolina it prefers, without exception, Demo
cratic candidates for Congress, even when the
no instance does it encourage OF support til
purposes or candidates of the Republicans.
SO complete a detection from lis party
this can be justified only by the very cleares
purest, and soundest Of reasons. When leadin
Democrats left their party because it had b,
come the agent for extending Slavery over til
Territories, or at the outbreak OF the War be
cause they loved the Union better they had III
highest and fullest Justification Their cour-
was patriotic and upright. Eut Mr. Grc,ley Ia
no such explanation. lie leaves party vino,
course he has largely helped to shape, to H.
against its candidate, whom he has himself cot
mended to the people for re election. Such tc
Giversation damns him. There is nothii
honorable about it. Ia turns away from Il
Republicans to become Democratic candida
for President, under circumstances which lea,
it impossible to doubt that personal ambtit
and disappointment have overborue his jul
inent, and swallowed up his devotion to primo
pc. This is a logical and necessary conclusion
demonstrated by the facts of the case. No 9th,
opinion has any good ground Of support Til
We arc obliged 30 to conclude is no pleasure. +
we have respect for Mr. Grcelcy'- long. earne
and useful services But when he falls, if it
the dercent of lucfcr, it is none the les. I,
thot is sad, pitiful, ami shocking.
Ia 1876, in a paragraph from his owl pen. VI
Greeley used the following language. liz rtce
con Sc makes it significant indeed lie -ud
"It IN full and final review my life and bra
tee shall be found unworthy NV principle, h
due lnfamy he heaped on my memory but l.
none be thereby led to li-ttil-t the bgluci,ls-
which proved recreaut.'