Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-09-20
The Present Aspect of the Canvass.

and AID. r. 81
The Present Aspect of the Canvass.
The fact that the Democratic Liberal
canvass has seemed to move rather heavi-
ly for the last two or three weeks, can de-
press only those very excitable or very
superficial adherents fancied that per
sonaI enthusiasm for Mr.. Greeley would
shape the campaign. Democrats of sober
feelings and steady faculties have never
been under any-illusion respecting Mr.
Greeley. The boyish, or rather the baby
ish fantasy that the country would be car
ried by sort of wild applauding eferves-
cence, and that there would be little to do
but to stand and look on, and admire a
sky blazing with political rockets to light
Mr.. Greeley's way to. The White House, has
subsidized not day too soon. 1t was mis-
chievous while it lasted, and it is FORUM
ate that his personal admirers are 50 soon
broSaht face to face with the realities OF
the situation. .
The over-sanguine expectations of the
mercurial class of politicians are easily &C
counted for; and the same cause will ex-
plain the comparative torpor which has
succeeded so much foolish exuberance.-
The wondering curiosity (which attended
the nomination of MI. Greeley by the Demo
cratic party, and the attitude of watchful
expectation which thence ensued, created
something of the deep interest which &C
companies suspense in important conjunc-
lures. Then followed a brilliant series of
conversions, or at least accessions, to the
Greeley side, some ofthem so unexpected
and surprising that keople of more levity
than judgment inf ~ that there was to
be general stampede from all quarters to
the Liberal camp. First, Senator Bayard,
who had vigorously opposed the new move
ment in the Baltimore Convention, came
over. Then followed Senator Thurman,
Senator Casserly, and all the greater and
nearly all the lesser lights of the Democra-
tic party, leaving only enough Democratic
opponents to give interest to the CONVEX
sions. One by one, in quick succession,
the Democratic journals that had fought
the Cincinnati ticket wheeled into line
Even Mr.. VOORHEES, accepted the situation,
and made as strong pro- Greeley as he had
before made an anti-Greeley speech. Even
Judge Black, Though last very far from
least Judge Black, the most clear-headed,
the most stubborn-tempered, the most re-
solute, courageous, and infiexible foe of
Radicalism and all its ways and works,
came out in public letter indorsing the
nomination of Mr. Greeley with his habi-
tual vigor, logic, free-spoken scorn of all
the leading Radical measures, and mainly
refused to flatter candidate whom his
Judgment, not his will, accepts. The emf
nent Republican accessions were also nu-
merous and significant, and they came at
such intervals that each made strong Sc
parate inpression.& Senator Schurz, after
delay and deliberation which kept up>a
lively interest in his personal course, came
out for Greeley. David A. Wells, still
more distinguished and reluctant Free
Trader, followed. In this State, Alvord,
Littlejohn, and a great number of local
leaders, announced, one after another, their
intention to support the Liberal ticket
Every new convert of note excited fresh
hopes. Then came Sumner, Immediately
followed by Banks and Farnsw orth, so that
it looked, three weeks ago, as if the Grant
party would lose all the most respected OF
the old Republican leaders.
Ofcourse, these accessions of distinguish
ed Democratic and distinguished Repub-
lican politicians could not go on Indefinite
ly. The list of changes must at least be
exhausted" When a full month had elaps-
ed since the Baltimore Endorsement, every
man of prominence would naturally have
chosed hisvside. : Subsequent conversions,
except among the mass of voters, would
be few and far between. But after the
IF tc a l.
most total stop gives by contrast the APP
pearance of sta gnation and this it is which
seems to make the. canvass move so much
more heavily than it did during the first
month after the Baltimore Convention
It was impossible that there should not
have come lull, after every public man
of capacity and character enough to make
UP his mind and stick to it, had surveyed
the new situation and taken his final stand.
Y X x
And what do we find? Not reasons for
encouragement, but incentives to resolute,
hopeful activity. The concord ofthe Demo
cratic party in accepting the action at
Baltimore is almost perfect. Considering
the strangeness of the leading nomination
and the Objectionable record of the candi-
date, this unanimity satisfied the most san
guine expectations Of those Democrats
who advocated the Endorsement of the
Cincinnatisticket. There will always be
grumblers, and when it so happens that
they can gain notoriety by grumbling in
public, they will use the opportunity. But
the convention of grumblers at Louisville
will amount to nothing. Within three
weeks from it's adjournment that movement
will have collapsed. No Democrat OF