Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-16
W0RC ER
MONDAY. SEPT. Ie, 1878.
Efr. tsrccIey,s DISAPPOINTMENT.

skr. GreeIey's disappointment.
The recent elections are forcing Mr.. Greeley to
discover that one OF his cherished beliefs was a
haIlucination He began his present course
with confident assumption that he was sufi-
GENTLY great and powerful to- break down the
republican party. Hewas sure that republicans
would follow him in such numerous regiments
that only fragment of it would be left behind.
He wOdld march to the white house like a con-
quering hero aud show Seward, Weed, Grant,
and all Others who had failed to recognize his
greatness properly, that he is really one of the
greatest of the great powers. 1t is now some
tine since Mr.. Greeley's belief in himself had
grown TO be morbid egotism, enormously devel-
oped, and exceedingly prolific in hallucinations
of this kind. What he is in his respect can be
fully realized only by those who are closely ac.
quainted with him, or who have made his char
acter a study.
When he had been nominated at Cincinnati
and at Baltimore, he felt that nothing was suTer
than his election. There could be no doubt of
it. Ii was sure as sunrise, certain as decree of
destiny, because he had secured the democrats,
and would he believed, have half or more of the
republicans. 1t is not easy for egotism to listen
to anything but itself; nevertheless Mr.. Greeley
himself must now begin to see the extent of his
mistake The result in North Carolina was
unpleasant, but he thought his mighty power
over the republican party would display itself
most signally further north, and regarded Yer
mont, especially, with the warmest fervor of
great expectations. In Vermont, if anywhere
his name would be power. He had circulated
many Tribunes in that state; he had been there
often; it vas near him; and, surely, the voters
there must feel, that without him, there could
be no republican party. Such decisions are
easy if not natural to such men. We can not
doubt that ne found enjoyment in picturing to
himself how the voting in Vermont, influenced
by the magic of his name, would come upon
the republicans like thunder-stroke, and cleo
trify the whole country. When the returns
came he was terribly disappointed, and, proba-
bly,, found it hard to believe that the telegraph
told the truth.
We suspect that the Vermont election was
more painfully disappointing to Mr.. Greeley
than anything that has occurred since the can
vass began. This gave his egotstical over esti-
mate of his personal importance its first great
shock. 1t had an immediate and important
effect upon the Tribune, which at once became
discouraged in regard TO Maine, where some
thino very imnortant for Mr. Greeley had been
expected: and the Maine election. by eonfoupd-
inc even its most DEPRESSED and despondent
hone brought it well nigh to DESPAIR. Ever
since the result was declared. the editor of that
journal has ciphered like a crazy man, and
talked "per cent" in his sleep. Mr.. GreeIey's
defeat in Maine was really annihilat-
ing - Everything possible has been done
in that state to get for him a large republican
following. There was his particular friend. Mr..
F.A. Pike. running for congress in close dis
trict; and there was Mr.. Lang doing likewise
in another district; and there were other Gree
lev republicans at work. whose "inAuence'
promised great results. And vet, all this. with
Mr.. Greeley's name and the Tribune superadded,
could not prevent one of the most disastrous
overthrows that ever beiel opponents of the re-
publican party in that state 1t showed again
that conjuring with the name of Greeley is NOT
dangerous to anybody but the coniurors them
selves, even in New England
1t must now be evident to Mr. Greeley himself
that he is not such political power as he SUP
posed himself to be. Not only does he fail to
break down the republican marty. he fails also