The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-05-16

regular action and known wishes of
the great mass Of Republicans, and
who can not hope to be elected by
Republican votes alone. He breaks
the Republican line in front of the en-
envy. His sole chance is in their pro-
lection. The question presented TO
the country, therefore, is, whether
Mr.. Greeley, supported by the polite
al interests which nominated him
and by the Democrats, would proba-
bly, give to the country greater purity
of administration and deeper conf
dence and sense of stability than Gen.
Grant, supported by the Republican
party.
I Mr.. Greeley undoubtedly has ele-
ments Of strength, but he is not
strong candidate. His name does
not suggest to the country either Of
the two great executive qualities-dis-
cretion and decision. Bred in the
school Of Henry Clay, whose memo
~ he piOusly reveres, he is naturally
timid and a compromiser. He has
the credulity which belongs to a GER
tain simplicity Of nature, and which
destroys the sound Judgment of per-
sons. His sympathies are limited
his prejudices deep and strong. He
has always been a politician, and of
an unsupported personal honesty. Yet
he IS not free from suspicion of per-
sonal grievances, for he undoubtedly
considers himself betrayed by the ae-
ton Of the New York Republican
Convention in 1870; and it is plain
that he has felt the want of what is
called influence with the Admins
tration; and although personal feel
ing in politics is not a thing which a
man readily admits, such motives
may sometimes be properly inferred
in public career.
The Convention that nominated him
must be supposed to accept him as a
candidate who represents its princi-
Piles. Mr.. Horace White, for instance,
as chairman, signs the report upon
the platform. Mr.. White is, first Of
all, free-trader. The question at is
sue is one of Administration, of sound
policy of government, and he invites
all good citizens to vote for the arch
protectionist. The platform virtual
ly denounces the Ku-Klux legislation,
but that policy has no stancher adj
vocste than Mr.. Greeley. 1t would
also purge politics of politicians
difficult task: but MI. Greeley is pc
culiarly a politician. In Mr.. SchCrz's
speech the Convention demanded a
great statesman, steady, calm, saga
cious. Did that speech describe Mr..
Greeley?
We invite the thoughtful Ameri-
can citizens to consider the influen-
ees which nominated Mr.. Greeley,
known to none so well as the best
men in the Convention then 10 con-
slider his attitude during the war,
when the real character of every man
was tried. He would have allowed
the States decide whether they should
secede. He sorely perplexed the
opening Of Mr.. LincOln's administra-
ton, forcing the army into the field |
before it was ready. He begged Mr.. !
Lincoln to try and buy a peace by
paying for the slaves. He represent |
ed Mr.. Lincoln's action in the Mag
ara conference in a manner which Mr.. |
Lincoln declared put him in false
position before the country. And he
signed letter to the loyal Governors
after Mr.. Lincoln's denomination in /
1884, substantially asking whether he
should not be set aside and new
candidate selected. Consider such
facts as these, occurring at moments
Of great national exigency and decide
what would have chanced had Hor-
ace Greeley been in the place of
Abraham Lincoln.
If there is one quality which is in
in a President, it is sound
Judgment. If there is one man who
is wholly destitute oft, 1t is Horace
Greeley. a certain kindly feeling
with which he is regarded will not
blind the country to his natural unfit
ness for the Office TO which he has
been nominated.
Mr. Greeley himself comedies the
personal recitude of General Grant.
It is the allegation of the best men /
who went to Cincinnati, not that the
President is dishonest, but that he is
Influenced by unworthy counseIors. |
They would have a man whose will
Is adamant. It is not enough for them
that his purpose is pure. But is there
4 human being competent to judge
who sUppOses that General Grant is
easily moulded by his associates, and
that Mr.. Greeley would not be wax in
the hands Of fiatterers? To intrust the
national government - his direction
would be to abandon IA ship Of state
% be blown about by every whimsical
gust. The present Administration
nay be justly amenable to censure in |
Iome points, as, indeed, every Admin
must be. But it is incon-
that the patriotic intelligence
# this county could substitute Horace
Greeley for General Grant.