Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-08-08

first to those Immediately about them,
and, secondly, at the popular support
behind. Horace Greeley has among
his immediate supporters in all parts
Of the country devoted and consistent
republicans, always earnest for reform
and purity in government, on whose
lives there is no shadow of suspicion,
being a contrast in character to those
rings which play such a part in the
present administration. The country
knows too well the military ring, the
senatorial ring and the custom house
ring, through which the president acts.
Such supporters are a very poor rec
ommendation. Looking at the popu-
lar support behind these, the advan-
tage is still with Horace Greeley.
| The president has at his back the di-
versiGed army Of office-holders and
members Of rings. Horace Greeley
finds hocking to his support large
numbers Of republicans unwilling to
continue the republican misrule, and
as allies with them regenerated par
ty which comes forward to unite in
the liberal movement. Democrats in
uniting with Horace Greeley have
changed simply as president Grant
changed when he joined the republic
cans. except that he was immediately
rewarded with a high Office. The
change is open, adopting the republi-
can platform which places the equal
rights Of all under the safeguard Of
iweyersible guarantees, and at the
same time accepting the nomination
Of lifelong abolitionist, who repre-
sents prominently the sentiment Of
duty to the colored race. They have
set their corporate seal to the sacred
covenant. They may continue demo-
Gratis in name, but they are in reality
republicans, by the same title as those
who sustain republican principles are
republicans. Or rather they are dem
ocrats according to the original signi-
fication of that word-dedicated to
the rights of the people. 1t is idle to
say that Horace Greeley and the re-
publicans who nominated him are any
less republican because the democrats
unite with them in the support Of cher
ished principles and the candidate
who represents them. Conversions
are always welcome, and not the less
so because the change is in multi
tude rather than an individual. \
political party cannot if it would, and
should not if it could, shut the door
against converts, whether counted by
the score, the hundred or the thous-
and. We find the supporters of presi-
dent Grant announce, with partisan
triumph the adhesion of q single dem
ocratic politician, or q single demo-
cratic newspaper; for equal reason
and with higher pride the many sup
porters of Horace Greeley announce
the adhesion of the democratic party
which, turning from the things behind,
presses on to those that are before.
1t is also idle to say the election Of
Horace Greeley as president, with
Gratz Brown as vice presiden', both
Interchangeable Republicans, will be the
return Of the Democratic party to
power. On the contrary it will be the
Inauguration of republican principles
under the safeguard of a republican
president and a republican vice presi-
dent with the Democrats as avowed
supporters.
In the organization Of the admins
tration and in the conduct Of affairs,
Horace Greeley will naturally lean up
on those who best represent the great
promises made of equal rights and
reconciliation at Cincinnati. If dem
ocrats are taken it will be as republi-
cans, in accordance with the associate
terms of the settlement as an irreyers-
ible finality. The hardihood Of polit-
ical falsehood reaches its eXtremepoint
when it is asserted that under Horace
Greeley the freedmen will be enslaved
or that the colored people will in any
way suffer in their equal rights. On
the contrary, they have in his election
not only the promises Of the platform,
but also his splendid example for full
generation, during which he has never
wavered in the assertion Of their rights.
To suppose that Horace Greeley, when
placed where he can do them the most
good, will depart from the rule of his
honest life, is an insult to reason. 1t
is none the less idle to suppose that
the democrats supporting Horace Gree
ley expect, or desire that he should
depart from those principles which
are the glory of his character They
have accepted the Cincinmti platform
with its two-fold promises, and intend
in good faith to maiotain it. Demo
Gratis cannot turn back, who at their
convention adopting this platform,
sung Greeley songs to the tune of old
John Brown, "his soul ismarching on"
Seeking especially the establishment
of character in the national govern
ment, they will expect their president
to be always true to himself There
fore put aside bipartisan allegation
that Horace Greeley has gone to the
democrats, or that he will be control
led by the democrats, Each is with
out foundation or reason. According
to my judgement they are attempts to
avoid what you recognize as the true
issue, being the question between the
two candidates, or perhaps they may
be considered as scarecrows to deter
the timid Nobody who votes for