The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-10-26
AFTER HORACE-WHAT7

When Horace Greeley is beaten, on the
fifth of November, as beaten he is sure to
be, what will become of the unprincipled
coalition which has thrust him forward as
candidate for the Presidency What
principles or principle will then be left to
the party which is opposing the reelection
of General Grant?
When the Cincinnati schemers started
out they set up as general " Reform par
ty." Civil Service was to be cardinal
principle of the new order of virtuous poll
ticians. They had progressed but little
way, however, till Mr.. Greeley was called
upon by his anxious Democratic support
ers-who are ever exercised about office
how he meant to reward his friends? The
Philosophers prompt answer was, that he
would ask no questions as to the previous
political opinions Of his supporters!
This was definite enough for all parties.
If he was elected all officeholders found in
should walk the plank, let them be good,
bad or medium, no questions would be ask
ed, and his friends put in their places.-
This was q squelcher to the Civil Service
plank of the Cincinnati platform.
Had Providence frowned so darkly on
this nation as to decree tho election of
Horace Greeley; we can imagine the hesira
that would have met him at the White
House. From the South would have come
up line of amnestied patriots reaching
from the Long Bridge to the Capitol bear
ing from Manassas the skulls of Union sol
peace, shaking hands over the bloody
chasm, as they met a similar line of cop
perheads winding its dark masses from the
Lakes to the Patomac, and from the sun
set the line would have been brought up by
band of Sioux Indians riding on ponies,
in war paint and girdled with scalps; and
from Utah the Saints of Brigham, followed
by their wives and concubines; mighty
host, covering the Capitol grounds-a gath
ering as grotesque and picturesque as the
caravans that visit Mecca-seated on drom-
edaries, camels and asses, riding on horse
back and running on football shaking
hands over the bloody chasm, shouting
Civil Service Reform, and claiming to be
friends and supporters of the farmer of
Chappaqua, and asking for a postoffice, a
clerkship, an Inspector of Customs, for
eign mission, door keeper; anything and
every thing is shape of an office.
The one-term principle is seldom heard
of from Liberals" since it has become
evident that Horace would be very willing
to compound for even part of one term;
doubtless considering there is much wis
dom in the old saw-a half loaf is better
than no bread. Amnesty is all that is left
to build hope upon, and in his railroad,
water-tank speaking tour, Mr.. Greeley
harped on this single string. But there
being only about 200 of the most unrepent-
ant and guilty rebels who are not amncstied,
the great stress laid upon amnesty by Gree
ley and the Greeleyites, exerts no influence
with the masses. The humbug is too shall
low for the most illiterate, and the last
straw is taken from the Philosopher of the
white hat and we'll worn coat.
To be overwhelmingly beaten is but the
question of a few days, when Greeleylsm
and Liberalism will disappear as effectual-
ly as last winters snow, leaving not a
single principle on which party can pos
sibly rally in the future. There is evident
ly no future for " Liberalism" or Greeley
ism. Can the old Democracy again form
on their abandoned lines and dig up the
dead issues, which they formally laid down
and left behind them forever, in public
and solemn declaration made at Baltimore,
in an assembled National Convention? No
party can do such a thing. That act OF
abandoning their old principles and pro-
nouncing them dead issues, nominating
Horace Greeley and adopting the Cincin-
natl platform, has broken the charm which
served to hold the party intact through SO
many disasters. Its faithful followers
would not believe in its hopeless ruin till
the chiefs made solemn proclamation OF
the fact. They can no longer doubt. and
defeated under their new leader and their
new organization, there can be no future
rally and stand made for battle. After
Greeley-what?