Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-08-28
The Greeley DeluSiOn.

five, ten, or more
The Greeley DeluSiOn.
1t is every day becoming more
apparent to the close observer that
there is a r~etrocession of the Greeley
wave of popular delusion which at
the outset of the movement appeared
to have some length, breadth and
advancing power. The fact that the
conglomerate opposition has already
attained its greatest possible culmina-
ton, is a cause of sickening disap-
poiatment to the chief managers of
the unnatural alliance. Even the
n. Y. Tribune, which might be
expected to keep its courage up for
appearance sake even in the midst of
disco1ragements and the prospect of
inevitable ruin, already is in the
agonies of despair and utters the
hopeless wall of the lost. In last
Saturdays Tribune appears an edi-
torial article on the situation, from
which we quote:
"There are no doubt Liberals and De-
mocrats enough in the United States to
elect Mr.. Greeley President in Novem-
Der. Whether they will do it or not is
another question, the answer to which
depends almost as much upon the
manner in which they conduct the
campaign as upon their numerical
strength. 1t is certain that the Liberals
- r.
large majority in North Carolina; but
their opponents there were admirably
organized, and brought their whole
strength TO bear so effectively that if
they could not secure a genuine victory
they at least saved themselves from rout
Elsewhere the preparations Of the ad-
ministration party have been equally
thorough, and they have the great 40
v~antageof controlling all the patronage
and other influence of the government.
On our side too much trust has been
placed upon the popular uprising and
enthusiasm for Greeley, and the 'gener-
ons impulse for peace and fraternity,
and revolt against rings and corrup-
ton I; and our friends seem to imagine
that they can sit still and let the Liberal
movement sweep the country. They
must understand that the administration
is not going to be changed by earth
quake. They must work for success.
1t is in politics as in war; the battle is
not always to the biggest army, but
rather to the best drilled. Our campaign
is too short and sharp, and we are likely
to be beaten unless we do more than we
are doing now to get our men into the
field and secure recruits rom among
the wagering and dissatisfied"
The remainder of the article is de-
voted to pointing out how things
ought to be done. which, if not done,
the article concludes by saying, the
"prize will be snatched from our
hands,"
The New York Herald, which has
a strong leaning toward the Greeley
side. also sounds the alarm and con-
fesses that the Liberal Republican
Democratic movement has come to =
dead halt. Wequote from the Herald
of August 25th:
"Whatever the causes, it is apparent
on all sides that, since the late North
Carolina election, there has been a
reaction in the tide Of pubic opinion on
the Presidential question. From the
Baltimore Convention, which proclaimed
the Cincinnati Liberal-Republican can,
didates, Greeley and Brown, the Demo-
cratic ticket and the Cincinnati Liberal
resolutions, the Democratic platform,
down to the election in North Carolina.
there were such signs and manifestations
offs general popular uprising in favor of
Greeley, Brown and Reform as to
justify the impression that we are in the
midst of an irresistible political reYolu-
ton. Nor can it be questioned that the
first election reports from North Caro-
lima greatly strengthened this widely
prevailing opinion. But when the dis
tant election districts and the back coun.
ties were all in, and il was ascertained
that the Republicans had secured the
Governor, which was the Presidential
test in the election, and the accepted
test on both sides as between Grant and
Greeley, there was an abatement in the
Democratic enthusiasm for Greeley, and
the tide of public sentiment began to
change in favor of Grant"
Senator SchurZ, as a boiler against
the administration, has been hailed as a
hero by the Democrats because OF the
balance which it is supposed he may
reach, here and there, in the diversion
Of the German vote; but the German,
as a rule, is very apt to vote according
to his own idea of the fitness of things;
and so nothing decisive mas been gained
by Greeley and Brown in gaining Mr..
Schurz. Again, it was supposed that
the fame of Mr.. Greeley, with the great
name of Mr.. Sumner, as the black mans
friend, would bring TO the opposition
alliance ticket the balance of power from
the colored element, which, in the Presi.
dental election, will poll probably seven
hundred thousand votes or more; but
along the lines Of the African legions
the word has been passed for General
Grant, so that there is no hope in that
quarter for Greeley and Brown"
"Our Irish-born fellow citizens in
many places, n especially in this CITY,
constitute an important democratic ball
ance of power; but it is by no meaus
certain that the Irish element of this
island will be a unit in our November
national or local elections. In our mu-
nicipal complications of parties, rings.
factions, cliques and coteries, we shall
probably have the confusion of Babel.
a demoralizing confusion, which, to the
regular democrats, may imperil the city
and the State. In short, from the pres
ent outlook the prospect from every
point Of view is growing somewhat
gloomy for Greeley, and unless in the
results Of the coming State elections he
shall make a break in the apparently
compact lines ofthe administration par
ty, the Philosopher of Chappaqua, as a
pilgrim for the White House, may
Lay down de shovel and de hoe,
And hang upde fiddle and de bow"