New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-11-07
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER Z, 1872.
The Election.

In the election of Ulysses 5. Grant ant
Henry Wilson President and Vice Presiden
of the United States, as has now been done
so trimnphantly and gloriously. the American
people have again demonstrated not onl,
their high intelligence and virtue, but theil
devotion to the principles of justice, liberty
and equality, which constitute the new de-
= parture of the Republic, taken upon the
downfall of slavery and the re-establishmen'
of the Union after the suppression OF the late
shareholders rebellion. The value OF this
additional assertion Of the new ideas upon
which the country is happily reconstructed
and established, is beyond calculation. II
was no undue and ill-founded apprehension
that pictured as a possible result, and even
as probable result, of the election OF Horace
Greeley and b. Gratz Brown, the begin
ming of q reaction against freedom and JUS
tice, which once fairly set in would rush on
till nearly everything gained by our heroic
sons and brothers in war would be utterly
lost. General Grants election, considering
the nature of the canvass preceding it. is
high and authoritative declaration of the
American people to stand by and maintain
AGAINST all combinations and at all hazards the
existing Republic, the order of equal rights,
and to render it more perfect. The opponents
of the reelection of General Grant-setting
aside their personalities and ISLANDERS, their
charges of nepotism, gift-taking, and the
Eke-chiefy depended for success upon Gen.
Grants over friendlness to the negro. He
was represented as violating the Constitu-
ton, centralizing the Government, destroy
ing local liberty, arrogating to himself powers
which do not belong to him, and virtually
overthrowing republican institutions. The
only basis alleged and urged for these grand
accusations was simply this: Gen. Grant is
resolved 10 protect the persons and property
ofall the citizens of the United States, without
regard to race, color, or previous condition CT
seryitude. The laws enacted and enforced for
the purpose of suppressing Ku-Kluxism in
the South, were everywhere bitterly de-
neunced BY those opposed to the Republican
party; but against all denunciations, against
all appeals to prejudice, the people, the
people, thank Heaven! have thunderingly
and overwhelmingly declared that these same
laws shall stand firm until the rights of all
citizens are equally respected in every quar-
ter of the United States.
One position taken by the Liberals has been
sisnally rebuked. They denounced the Repub-
lican party as an efiete organization, as hav-
:ng outlived its day of usefulness, and by the
requirements of decency said it ought to die.
The election has shown that the judgment
of the Liberals is not the judgment Of the
country. That the people feel the need of
the continued existence of The party, and are
resolved to stand by it and protect it from
foes without and from traitors within.
Now, that the danger is over, and the VIC
tory is so decisively won, there is no harm in
admitting the activity and power Of the party
arrayed against us. That party numbered in
its ranks some of the most brilliant men of
our age and country. The candidate selected
by them was man of more personal influ-
ence than any other man in the United States.
There, perhaps, never was a stronger cOmbi-
nation of various influences and motives to
common political end than those which were
consolidated in the Opposition party. Tariff
men and free-traders, friends and enemies of
civil service reform, abolitionists and slave
holders, loyal men and rebels united in COM
mon cry, were animated by common senti-
ment, which found expression in a very COM
mon phrase: anything to beat Grant," And
II did look in the earlier days of the campaign
as if this immoral and furious sentiment
might sweep down all things in its track,
and bear Horace Greeley by its irresistible
current into the Presidential chair. Hap
ply. however, there was time for passion to
subside, and for the sober second thought !;
and that time has been well improved.
The giant Liberalism was stronger in its
childhood than in its maturity. Every month
after the Cincinnati Convention saw its power
decreasing, and its chances Of success grow
Ing less. After North Carolina, Maine, Yer
Hont, Pennsylvania, and Ohio there was not
the ghost of a chance for the election of Mr..
Greeley.
The bearing Of General Grant under the
sart loads of vituperation and SANDER heaped
upon him SO proyokinsiy is one Of the most
Leasing features Of the campaign now hap
Fi!y ended. Calmly, quietly, silently, he
has pursued the even tenor of his way, never
deigning to mingle in the strife OF bitter
words, and leaving his life as the best answer
40 every form of the unmitigated calumny
with which he has been assailed. In this
respect his conduct has been in striking con-
trast with that of his adversary who has let
slip no opportunity for the display of his
polemical skill in his own defense.
One Of the important lessons, taught by
this tremendous collapse, is the insigniticance
Of individual men-however great and gifted,
as measured by the Importance of cause.
II brilliant abilities and personal popularity
could of themselves succeed, this Greeley
movement would have succeeded. But the
people value principles more than persons
and will cling TO great cause more strongly
than to great man, or to many great men
What we want, is good Government, a steady
inan at the helm, in whose skill and fidelity
under all skies and in all weather we can
depend; and that is what We, the people