The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-09-06

had none of their diabolical hatred fol
the Constitution he did not lend his
lips to their ribald blasphemies, and hi:
feet were never swift in running to shed
innocent blood. Before the great con
flict began, his opposition to the de
signs of the Abolitionists against the
Federal and State Governments, i'm
PEELED him to the opposite heresy OF the
secessionists. Like the Roman father,
who killed his daughter to save hei
from worse fate, he chose to destroy the
Government rather than see it dishon.
ored and violated by lawless force
When the war was fragrant, he provok'
ed the EXTREMIST rage of his associate:
by exerting himself for peace which
would have left all the people in posses
sion of their constitutional liberties.
After the close of the contest, he was
the advocate Of regular and legal, as
well as honest government for all parts
of the country. have good authority
for saying that he never gave his ap.
proval to any form of kidnapping, or
murder, by military commission. In
short, although he did join the Aboli.
tionists in their "devil's dance" he
never learned to keep step with his
partners, and we all know that when he
could not stop it, he left it and denounc.
ed it with becoming indignation.
On another point he ought to have
credit. The friends of religious freedom
owe him an old debt of gratitude for
the zeal and ability with which he re-
sisted the church, burners when banded
in the secret lodges of the Know. Moth.
ing order. 1t is but reasonable to be-
lieve that his opposition saved the
country from the great danger it was
once in of being subjugated by that in.
famous organization.
He has often been accused of compli.
city in cheats of one kind or another,
but in every case he has triumphantly
refuted the charges. For this, and for
other reasons 1 conclude that his per-
sonal integrity is without stain.
He has many times spoken of the De-
mocratic party and its most honor.
ed members in harsh and abusive terms.
These are faults of manner, and of tenn
per, which, when mended, are always
pardoned. We will not permit our
judgment to be disturbed by considera.
tions so trifling as this.
/ have looked into his past history
only to ascertain what he is now and
what he is likely to be in the future.
/ am to care nothing for "antecedents, !"
except as they furnish the means of es.
his character. think 1 have
found out with reasonable certainty
how far we may confide in him. I de.
voutly believe that, if chosen President,
he will keep his oath, preserve the Con.
stitution inviolate, execute the laws
faithfully, restore the States to their
riShtful autonomy, protect individual
liberty by jury trial and habeas corpus,
put the military in proper subordina-
ton to the civil authority, use neither
force nor fraud to carry elections, keep
his hands clean from corrupting gifts /;
set his face like flint against all man.
ner of financial dishonesty, purify the
administration of justice as much as in
him lies, maintain the public credit by
a prompt discharge of all just obliga-
tions, economist the revenue and light
en- taxation, give to capital the right
which belongs to it, and at the same
time see that labor is not robbed of its
earnings. He will certainly hold his
power of appointment as a public trust,
and not as part of his personal posses.
sion to be used for the support of his
family, or to encourage the private lib
erality of his friends. He will, so far
as he can, without transgressing the linn
its of his legal authority, relieve the
Southern States from the gangs that are
now preying upon their vitals in open
partnership with the present admins.
tration.
! think he will do all this; and my
faith is founded on the testimony of his
friends and enemies, ON the known
facts of his history, and on the moral in
fluence which the Democracy will ne
cessarily exert upon his conduct. The
errors of his past life were caused
by certain evil communications from
which he has clean escaped. He heads
a great revolt against wickedness in
high places, and do not believe he will
go back upon Us and be guilty of the
same wickedness himself.
The contrast between the two candi.
dates being so very strong, no fair
minded Democrat can doubt what he
ought to do. Yet, the reluctance which
many of Us feel to vote for either of
them is hard to overcome. did, AMI
do, most heartily sympathize with that
class which received Mr.. Greeley's no,
mination in much sorrow. am sure
this feeling proceeded from no unwor-
thy passion or prejudice, but was the
natural result of sober thought on the
condition of the country and the fitness
of things pertaining thereto.
In our view the controversy between
the parties was not all about men, and
not wholly ON questions of mere admin
istrstion. The liberal Republicans ano
some Democrats think that we owe al
our sufferings to the corruption or inca
pacity of General Grant and the rings
that surround him. But the prime
cause lies further back and deeper dowr
in wrongs for which the triumph Of MIR
Greeley with all his reforms offers nc
immediate atonement and only par
tial remedy.
In England, after every civil commo
ton, the victorious party vented it
rage and gratified its rapacity by pass
ing bills of attainder, and bills of pain
and penalties against their fallen an(
helpless opponents. The best ant
greatest men of their respective age
were the victims of these legislative de
crees. In nall the most notable cases sub
sequent Parliaments acknowledged tn
wrong, reversed the attainders, ant
made what reparation they could. Gu