The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-08-15
JOHN A. Blk.
Grant Preferable to Greeley.
The following letter from Gen. Johl


The following letter from Gen. John
A. Dix, has been made public:
WASHINGTON, July 27.-Dear Str
our letter of the 18th inst. asking my
aid to procure speaker for Greeley
meeting at Hancock was sent to me while
l was in New England, and l have been
unable to acknowledge its reception.
do not understand on what ground
you consider yourself authorized to ad-
dress such request to me. If you had
been familiar with the course of my po-
lltical life, and equally so with h1r. Gree
ley S, you would not have supposed me
capable of advocating his election to the
office of President of the United States
without lmputing to me- an utter aban-
donment of all political principle.
| am opposed to Mr. Greeley:
/. Because | believe him to be as
unstable as water perpetually aoun-
dering Ito carry out the scrlptural fig-
nre amid the surges of opinion, and de-
hclent IN oil requisites essential to a fra.
steady and consistent administration Of
the government.
2. Because he has usually been found
among the most extreme ultraists on the
great questions Of political and social du-
ty, which have been brought under pub
lie discussion during the last quarter Of a
century,
s. Because he has been the advocate
land in this instant persistently), of that
most unjust and unequal system, which
is destroying our mercantile and ship
ping interests, and heaping up enor-
nous accumulations of wealth in the
hands of the protected classes to the i'm
poyerishment and oppression of all 9th
ers.
4. Because he is associated, in rela-
tions more or less intimate, with some of
the chief plunderers of the city of New
York, justly warranting the apprehension
that through his completely or his facile
disposition, the same system of fraud
and corruption which has disgraced the
municipal government of this city, may
be carried to more infamous extremes In
the administration of the federal govern
ment; and.
5. Because in the darkest hour of the
country peril, when traitorous combl-
nation had been formed to overthrow the
government. he openly couEseled the
cowardly policy OF non-resistance, and au
acquiescence in the dissolution of the
union, whenever the cotton states should
make up their minds to go.
The coalition, which has beer formed
TO promote his election, is one of the
most extraordinary in the history of the
parties, in respect both to the Giscordant
elements it embraces, aud the surrender
Of principles it involves.
The Cincinnati convention, called to
bring before the people important meas
ures of reform, nomianted him, greatly
to the surprise of the whole country,
knowing him, in regard TO one of those
measures, to be an implacable opponent
Nominated him too, against the wishes
aud judgement of the chief promoters of
the movement, who accepted him, either
with an avowed or ill-concealed disgust,
which would be far more creditable to
their feelings if the act Of acceptance
were not utterly irreconsllable with their
principles
The Democratic convention at Balti-
more indorsed and commended him to
the support of their party-not as the
exponent of any principles they have
professed or any measures they have ad-
vocated, but as known and bitter op-
ponent of both-the man who, perhaps
Of all others, has been the most malig>
nant assailant OF the democracy, i'm
peaching its integrity, traduclng Its mo-
tives, and vilifying its character.
The adoption Of such man as their
candidate for the chief nagistracy of the
union is the most conspicuous abandon
ment of political principles known to par
ty contests.
1t remains to be seen whether the
great body of the Democratic voters, and
l>o do
parties to this unscrupusous coalition
between political leaders.
That Gen. Grant has made mistakes,
his most sincere friends admit But if
his errors had been four-fould numerous,
he would, in my opinion, be much SAT-
er chief magistrate than Mr.. Greeley
He has, in that capacity, done much for
which he deserves the thanks of the
country. Above all, he Las kept it at
peace Notwithstanding tie efforts of SEN
satlonal Journalists and nopularity-seek-
ing politicians to provoke hostilities with
Spain on the question of CUBA, and with
Great Britain on the Alabama claims and
the fisheries.
If regardless of these titles to the ap-
proval of his fellow citizens. and Of his
invaluable services during the late civil
war, they should set him aside for Mr..
Greeley !; if tho latter, mere erratic
politician, untried in any important pub
lie trust, should be elevated to the chief
magistracy of the union-a union which
would not now exist if his counsels had
been followed-and if the man who, OF
all others, has done the most to preserve
it, should be discarded tor successor so
Unqualified and SO unscrupulously nonll-
mated and sustained, the example would
be most deplorable in its influence on all
high motives to political action. and JUS
tify the most painful forebodings as to
the future. l ana respectfully yours,
JOHN A. DIX.
A. B. CoRNMELL, ESQ Hancock, n. Y.