Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-11-27
Mr.. GREELEY'S LNSANITK


There Is without doubt some foundation
for the report that Mr.. Greeley is insane.
Looking back over his life and comparing
his conduct in the Presidential campaign
with his previous political course, the most
charitable and reasonable judgment that
can be formed respecting him is that his
mind has become unbalanced. When he
was nominated at Cincinnati by the Free
Traders, laying aside his life long advoca-
CIV of Protection, to become candidate
for the Presidency, the public instantly
recognized that the act was one of excess
sive ineongruity. wild freak OF MIR.
Greeley, for which any other person would
have been considered q proper candidate
for a lunatie asylum. And when this was
supplemented by his nomination ut Balti-
more as the candidate of the democratic
party, the laughter which broke over the
country from end to end. convnlsing old
and young, ut the idea of Mr.. Greeley &C
cepting the lead of the democracy, whom
he had hunted and hated nearly half 4
century, and by whom he had been as
heartily hated as ever politician was by
his opponents, was the mirth which ride
lousy insane act inspired, too foolish to
he serious Men said at the time that Mr..
Greeley was in his dotage, that he had
lost his reason, that he was not mentally
as he had been. The only objection to
consigning him then at once to the mad
house was because he had for partners in
his madness the democratic party. If he
were mad to accept the nomination for
President, were they not crazy to place 1t
upon him?
1t was not only in accepting the nomin-
alton that he manifested insanity. but his
course, and the course of the Tribune.
which he swayed, were unaccountable up
on any other hypothesis than madness
Witness his droll stumping through the
country for his own election, involving
himself in all sorts of Inconsistencies,
making himself a splendid target for the
republicans to fire at, and giving them
victory wherever he went Some of his
own party had the sharpness to see that
he was doing irreparable mischief to his
cause, but he considered himself another
Peter the Hermit, preaching crusade in
favor of Horace Greeley and "anything to
beat Grant, and would have his way in
spite of them. The SANDERS which were
sent abroad in the Tribune, and which
Greeley repeated in his speeches. none
hut crazy men would have depended
upon to elect President. From be-
ginning to end of the campaign, it was
conducted upon the democratic side as
though lunacy had taken possession Of
both Mr.. Greeley and his friends. So
that we are not surprised to learn he has
been adjudged insane, nor do we think
many believe differently While the doc.
tors are looking after the case. it would
not be amiss to hold jury of inquest into
the condition of the democratic party, or
at least that portion of it which is response
bic Tor forcing Mr. Greeley upon the par
" as Its candidate. That they did such
deed is good proof they were not of
sound mind, and whether they are fit SUBJ
Jects for the insane asylum or not they
certainly are incapable of leading in pol
tiles. We hope MIR. Greeley may recover
his reason and health, but if he does he
will surely renounce democracy and
make some atonement for the heavy sins
chargeable to him in the recent campaign.