Middletown transcript., 1872-07-27
Grant and Greeley.

from the masses Of the people, they were
never subjected to the danger of being
governed by weak and incapable rulers
In the countries Of the old world the
sovereignty was Unbeatable and dcsccnda-
bic like any other species Of property,
through which means infants aud semi
idiots were frequently elevated to the
throne to sway the sccp,rc Of authority o.
'vcr the people. But America inaugurated
new system by which it was hoped and
believed weakness and iucspaci'y could
never reach the seat Of authority. And
for some years Americans did indeed Sc
lcct their great and good men to gil the
Executive chair, aud during the period
that this was done the nation prospered
beyond precedent, until she became the
pride Of the whole world aud the Ameri.
can citizen held the same place in the re-
spect ot the NATIONS in modern, that the
Roman citizen did in ancient times. But
alas how has the mighty fallen. how
has her fine gold become dim" Instead
of the proud position she once occupied,
We see her Inundated aud debascd. In.
stead of fulfilling her boasled promise to
select her nblest statesmen and most talen.
ted citizens and noblcst patriots for the
GUARDIANS Of the peoples trust, and TO oc-
cupy places Of authority, we find patriot
ism and principle made subscrvcnt to ex-
pediency, and the national Offices farmed
out as means Of family support and par
tisan patronage. If man strives to
maintain honest principles. aud conscicn,-
iously cndcavors to net in accordance with
the Constitution and laws Of the land, the
finger Of scorn aud ridculc is pointed at
him, and he is termed an " old fogy," and
behind the times, so that to be up will,
the progress of the day, il has become
absolutely necessary to ignore principle
aud to bow the knee to the great Baal of
expcdicncy. Integrity and ability are no
longer prerequisites to preirrment. In
selecting candidates for office, the only
question asked is. :" can he be- elected 2"
Talent, ability, intelligence, wisdom, in
tegriiy, s,aiesmauship, principle, all are
made to give way, aud yield TO the one
great " sine qua NON " availability. In
consequence Of vhich,.we see the highest
office in the land occupied by man whose
chief talent consists in his great ability to
smoke segars. drive fast horses aud accep,
presents. So sunken have the people be-
come TINT We see the same man renomi-
mated for the same high Office, and not
withstanding the undeniable fact that he
he has made the presidency means Of
self.aggrandizement and enrichment, aud
Of cmolumcnt to his kindred. without re-
gard to their ability or fitness for the po-
sitions to which he has seen proper to ap.
point them, We hear men shouting them
selves hoarse in praise of the man who
has done all this.
TN the other hand We soc great party.
long styled independent, aud un,erriiicd,
because Of their boli aud faithful adhcr-
cnce to the Constitution Of their country,
now trucking to policy. and bending the
knee to availability, and rendering meek,
humble homage TO msu who has spent
his life in abusing aud vilifying them and
the principles which they so long main
tained aud defended.
On the one hand we have a man who is
grossly ignorant of the first principles Of
the American system Of government, aud
so far from being a statesman invariably
confesscs himself unable to perform the
most simple duties that pertain TO
that character. On the other hand we
have man as a candidate for the presi-
dcncy who, while publishing an influential
journal. used all the means in his power
10 bring about an " irrcprcssiblc conflict"
between the people Of the Northern and
Southern sections of the country and who,
notwithstanding the oath which he had tn-
ken to obey the constitution and laws of
the United States, spared no opportunity
to urge tho citizens Of the Northern States
TO refuse to obey the Fugitive Slave Law,
and urged the passing Of i" Personal Lib
srty Bills" the dissolution Of the Union,
and other high-handsd and illegal meas
urea. Now. will man who thus disrc-
esrded tho sanctity Of the oath taken as
sasmbsr Of Consress. and who. for many
ysass urged disobedicncs to his country's
lass, yield more gracious obeisancc to
thsss laws o. Chief Executive than be did
= o ia1ssBtial eitisen? To expect him
= 10 10 wsrs 70 expect-a return 70 the
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