The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-11-12

The Future Of the Grant Administered
tfon-An Era OF Unexampled Corrnp-
tton About to Set In-Nothtng but q
| Financial Smash Up to Save the
Country-Mr. Greeley and his Future
Relations with the Democracy.
[pRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
NEW YORK, November 6.
To use headline from this mornings Tri-
bune-'The Liberal Triumph is Postponed -
The movement which promised 30 fairly last
spring has met with check, rather dlsheart-
enlng when we contemplate the one. sldedness
of the returns, but which, after the present
confusion subsidies, may show healthy in
fuence still at work to save the liberties of
the American people. 1t Is certain that the
movement has met with bad repulse In its
first engagement with the power entrenched
at Washington.
From this lookout there appears to be sew
eral causes which have contributed to the de-
feat of the Democratic and Liberal Republi-
can coalition. Let me summarize them.
!. The men in possession of the govern.
ment WELD an immense power. That power
has been vastly augmented by the results of
the war, 1t iB far more difficult to dislodge
an administration now tnan lt was hlteen
iacking party in the control of the Federal
natronage. noW swollen TO an enormous ex-
tent: In The control of the army, which enables
II to employ the element OF terrorism; but
more Inportant than slI, In the control of the
6nances. which practically gives 1t an unllmi
ted supply OF money 10 use TOT election pur-
poses.
was MADE at Cincinnati aud ratified at Balti-
more. To beat an adversary 80 strong as that
lust described, the mqyement should have
heen headed by candidate commanding the
unuualhed confidence Of all the people. Mr..
Greeley. with his undoubted ability and purity
of character, did not oil the bill. Thousands
OF Democrats could not get over their lfe.lcpg
repugnance to him. as could could not rally the
Ills standard, and his yacillatton In matters OF
public policy at certain epochs was used to
prejudice him among Republicans.
8. The great corporations whose power
already oyershadows the land, own Mr.. Grant
personally, and were Busplcloua of bis oppo-
nent.
change, The North, at least, is prosperous;
merchants and manufacturers are making
money, They believe they have q sure thing
of Il at present They were not certain that
Mr.. Greeley's policy miGht not disturb this
pleasant situation, and they were content 10
let swell enough alone.n
S. The passions engendered by the war have
not wholly died out at the North. In the rural
districts, where the Inhabitants from want of
contact with the world naturally cherish their
preIudIces longest, the fear still fingers of the
return OF the Nrebels" to power. such people
are easily Influenced by demsgogues 10 believe
that the purposes OF the, Democracy are the
restoration OF ''slavery," the payment Of the
t.rebel debt" the reputation OF the rational
debt, and the pensloning Of the soldiers OF the
Confederacy. ~
6. There IS floating class OF voters, prlnci-
pally 10 be found In the large cities, whose
suffrages are always in the market to the
highest bidder. The Admt illustration party had
incomparably the longest purse.
I. The new voting element, the negroes,
held the balance Vi power In many OF the
States of the North, They are banded atpres.
ent In the Interest of the administration.
There are other causes that might be men-
toned for the failure of the Liberal move
menti but these seem tonave been the most
influential. They make q combination In IA
Vor OF the administration which may well In
spire some despalring citizens to ask If, with
such odds against us, We can ever expect to
change the government for the better.
In view Of these facts and of the results Of
yesterday, theories about the future are plen-
uful, bat the philosophers may be divided Into
two general GLASSES, those who despond, and
those who hope. The former feel satisfied
that the character OF our government is
changing to that of moneyed despotism; that
the masses have grown Indifferent to Repub-
lican principles, and have lost the spirit to re-
slst the encroachment Of the money ollgarchy:
and that Grantism has become pelmanen! a aaaa,n!
In short, that this republic, like those which
have preceded 1t, has been destroyed by cor
ruption. Tie other class believe IN the
latent good sense and patriotism OF The peo-
ple. They hold that the ballot, In the hands
Of the lower million is an efectual defence
against the Vaccinations OF the upper ten
Thousand, and that the remedy Will be ap-
piled whenever 1t becomes apparent that the
latter aim at an overthrow Of liberty. They
attribute the defeat of Tuesday to the want OF
proper organization and the right men to head
the Presidential ticket. They believe that 8
majority of the citizens are even now opposed
to Grant, that the excesses Of hls administra-
tionln the next four years Will add TO their
number, and that proaLlng by the experiences
OF the pact the Liberal party Will be In condi.
ceesful fight. Above all, they hope to see the
long deferred financial crash, which must come
eventually, happen before 1876. As long as
all things 60 sWlmmingly With the business
interests Of the country. the administration
may be able to stave of its overthrow, but
when the pocket nerve is touched, it will be
held responsible for it, and have to suffer &C.
cordingly.
It Is believed by our Liberal friends, and
feared by thoughtful Republicans, that the very
greatness OF the Administrations victory will
have the effect of turning liz head and plunging
it into extrsvagant excesses, some Of which will
not fall to damage 1t with the people. We
may expect now revival of the Santo Do
mingo lob, and the annexation of the sooty
Republic. Mr.. Boutwell, will indulge In new
fancIful schemes Of finance. The land grab
bers will get fresh grants of the public domain.
Civil service reform will 60 to sleep. The
tariff cOrmorants will be gorged with plunder
anew. The ''ramily" will be advanced In off,
ces and riches. 1t is probable that an era Of
corruption will set in such as the world has
not seen since the days of the Roman En-
perors.
One result of the late campaign should be
noticed. Mr.. Greeley's candidacy was accept
ed by many Democrats With hesitation and
dissatisfaction. His bearing throughout the
conflict has at least won their respect for his
abilities and their better opinion of his dis
eretion and hard sense. Though defeated for
Office he has risen higher In the estimation of
the people than ever, and now, that fighting
under the same banner has made us better