Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-05-21
Lift Up the Banner

Lift Up the Banner.
Henry w1rd Beecher in Christian Union.j
The detection of Mr. Greeley, and his |
nomination by the Cincinnati Conven-
ton, has brought surprise and uncer-
tainty, for the moment, upon the pub
lie mind; but it ought not for All instant
to throw doubt upon the path of duty. |
The Philadelphia Convention is now
bound, even if it were not its duty
before, to raise up the old Republican !
banner under which they have gained
so many illustrious public victories,
and print upon it the name of GENERAL
GRANT,
1t is not now a question whether
General Grant has beeen a little too
firm or too lax, too fast or too slow.
By the conduct of those who have
abandoned the Republican party, he
has been placed in position where
order, public safety, and honor, require
his reelection. We believe the public
peace, order, and safety require the
continued ascendency of the Republi-
can party, and that no other man can
now so well lead tbs party as General
Grant.
1t is not the fault of the Republican
party that personal piques and private
ambitions, mingled in d few cases with
some worthy aspirations for reform,
have broken out into revolt and polit-
lea! revolution. But il will be its fault
if it shrinks from the contest forced
upon it, or loses victory kthrough dis
cOuragement or Indifference.
If the danger which lies before us be
once appreciated, we do not believe
that our citizens will step off from firm
and stable ground into the morass or
quicksand of experiments.
1t is time for making plain the old
Ilandmarks-fOr arousing again that
stanch courage by which the Republi-
can party has often carrie liz: country
safely through perils nlDre threatening
than those which environ ii now.
What are we to gain by new party
made up in haste, without common
principles, jumbled together not to
correct grave public evils, but to
avenge private griefs, or to reward vio-
lent or irregular ambition?
Every great interest in the land is
fiourishing. Even in the South, en-
feebled by war, and bewildered by the
total revolution of its industrial econo-
my, there has been slow but steady
recuperation, except in the cases of one
or two States, where local causes
thwarted the honest endeavor of Gov
ernment for their peace and security.
Is it prudent to abandon ship that
has been tried and proved in hundred
storms, for new ship, a new crew,
made up of deserters, of malcontents,
of raw landsmen, and of suspicious
men come from we know not where?
l Can that be a safe leader who has so
lsuddenly become the favorite of the
whole Democratic race by whom he
has for thirty years been immeasurably
Iabused, and against whom he has
fought that inceSsant battle on which
his political fame rests? What is the
meaning of this strange new friendship
between lifelong enemies? Such
, friendships are suspicious! Horace
Greeley, President of the United States
by the votes of the Southern men who
carried on the war, and of that Demo
cratic party which hung like a dead
weight on Lincoln's Administration!
1.-THE Democratic party, in view O.
i It's past history and testimony, shal
+ now indorse Mr.. Greeley, their lifelong
antagonist, it will not De by conversion
nor by honorable surrender, but by al
elact ofpolitical immortality as shameful
as ever was recorded! There have been
+ before this, coalitions between antagon
istic elements for themere sake of pow
er. They have never been deemed
honorable. But they will all turn to th'
r color of virtue by the side of the infamy
D of such coalition as is now meditated
Is it into the hands of such party tina
our circumspect merchants, our pru
dent mechanics, our intelligent work
Y ing men, are willing to commit tn
d government of this great nation? Ar
= we to live to see the man in whom W
have taken such pride, conducting al
> administration by the leave of the me-
d whose policy he has all his life abhor
It red, and against whom he has emptie
y a thousand quivers?
Horace Greeley borne to the Presi
e Dental chair by Democratic votes! d
,- the Democrats love him? Do they be
Iieve in his past life? Are they i
sympathy with him in ideas, princi
s Piles, or policy? If they adopt him
g will it not be for the sake of breakin
down the Republican party? Failin
{. haps yet better serve the Democrat
u party ny ulNIulHS Ills OWn IOIiuC
r party to let his lifelong enemies pas
through to victory with candidate {
their own.
Il Mr.. Greeley is in bad company. II
u is in false position. He is abandon
lc ing his old friends and taking counse
- with his enemies. He is on the wron
# path. Possibly, but not probably, q
the end of this new road to which hi
. feet have been SO hOnorably unaccu;
a toned, he may find the Presidents
chair. But twill be a dreary one. II
may gain in eminence and lose in hor
D or. 1t will be an illustrious caree
Al effulgently disgraced. We believe Nj
- Greeley is under Providence tia
: has better things in store for him tina
g honors gained at the hands of men VIII
,e only use him to destroy his lifelon
friends.
In such day as this there should
IS no faint hearts in Philadelphia! Let
j. declaration of principles be frame
: worthy of the city from which we
y issued the old Declaration of IndepenC
s. ence. Give to General Grant an eI
le thusiastic denomination. Then, b
9 every honorable means let Republican
: strive for victory over open enemie
le and iIsiduous friends!
If defeated in November, let tn
party stand compact, courageous, Ell
lg terprising in Opposition;-sure tbs
soon the banner will return to il
\, hands, and that it will complete th
~ great work of national reformatio
I'd which it has SO nobly begun -
M -------s------
FOXES AS SHEEP -HERDERs.- .-Th
Stockton (Cal.) Republican vouches fl
gsi the following: people often wondt