The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-09-04
WHEELING WA WEDNESDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER d 1872

ton assuming to representthat party, Mr.
Greeley has been gazetted as It's standard
bearer. The opposition 10 that proceeding
has in my mind far deeper source thar
mere attachment TO party. That I al
least am influenced by that sentiment
must appear by tho measures adopted
against the recently detected municipal
malIactors. In organizing the forces EN-
ployed, equal opportunities for purifying
itself from completely we conceded &C
each Of the great political parties and 10
every class. Thus innocence has been
shielded from the discredit OF evil assOci,
ations, inadvertently formed and official
villainy stands literally delenseless under
actual OF impending judgment, and oil
honest men In this great city and State
are united as q brotherhood In q common
defence. My views oil the public inter.
est and Of existing public necessities COM
pei me TO repudiate the Baltimore nomi'
nation Of Mr.. Greeley. Whenever speak.
ing or writing on the subject have uni
formly condemned 1t, and declared my
wish 10 support Democratic candidate.
This circumstance has led TO q supposal
in some quarters that had aspirations to
office, and it has been suggested that my
name be offered to your acceptance as
candidate. The object Of this letter is TO
avoid misapprehension on that point. II
compelled to decide between Gen. Grant
and Mr.. Greeley as candidates for the
Presidency, the Democratic elector must
rely very much upon mere conjecture.
Those who incline to the latter as
choice Of evils, suggest that a mitigation
Of oppression at the South would result
from his success. There are many, how
ever, who have equal ground to hope Tor
that good result in either issue Of this
rivalry. Once his second term shall have
been secured, Gen. Grants only motive
for iniliCting misery on that portion
Of his countrymen will case. An effort
to secure third term or 10 establish die
tatorship can reasonably beapprehended,
and consequently comparison Of prob.
abilities offers US merely blank on one
hand, few years OF undeanable activity,
on the other, that wise people whose
usages we have generally followed, had
been seen TO pass through u transitional
period somewhat similar to that now al.
fecting the Southern interests. In their
action at that time We could find no safe
precedent for a course which would
promptly reinstate Southern prosperity.
But il there be one among the master
spirits Of the age who even il inclined,
could not adopt that policy, it is Mr..
Greeley. The success OF General Grant
might involve no important consequence,
but that OF Mr.. Greeley would cOnsecrate
the practices referred TO, which in my
opinion are absolutely incompatible with
the permanency Of the Republican consti.
tuition. In saying this 1t is not
intended singly 10 pronounce for
anti. Protcctionist ideas. That question is
left untouched. II the support OF our
home manufactures against foreign com.
petition is to be regarded as sound policy,
it can be afforded as needlul by much
simpler, less expensive, and far less
demoralizing process than our overgrown
customs establishment The true policy
is national regeneration. II is far more
comprehensive than mere free trade. It's
aim is 10 break the sceptre of the trading
politicians and emancipate the masses.
Four.ftths Of tho governmental inlcrvGn-
ton now practiced IN carrying on the a(.
fairs of society should be dispensed with
The existing Indebtedness should indeed
be held sacred and TO the last cent faith
fully redeemed; but tho power Of borrow
ing money on the public credit, either by
paper issues or otherwise, should be
absolutely annulled. Neither the Fed
eral Government nor down to the
smallest division Of State should possess
it. 1t isinconsistent Is with the per petuily
Of free republican institutions. II is the
very life.blood Of aristocratic rule, for it
fettcrs labor as the bond-slave OF capital.
In modern times il furnished the almost
indisputable means 10 war. Without Il,
that most shocking Of all national crimes
and calamities would be impossible. Such
comprehensive abusesin in civilization as are
here suggested may be US yet impractical.
bic in the old world. If SO, the fact only
proves that ours is the high and holy
mission Of first making them. Separated
by wide ocean from any powerful ma
tion, mighty in the numbers and intelli.
gence OF our people, and through their
deep and abiding interest in their
Country's welfare, no external en-
my dAres to assault us. Indeed,
1t is manifest to unperyerted reason that
the adoption Of efficient curbs upon off,
cial power is alone needed to render this
great continent the abode OF peace and Of
human happiness on a scale Of surprising
magnitude. Even If defensive wars be
necessary evils the power Of borrowing
money should not be conceded on that
account. II must be admitted that they
cannot be carried on without vast outlay,
but money is not more necessary than
men, as the generation Which.wages war
must furnish the warriors. Why, 1t can
also furnish the money TO feed, clolhe and
arm him. II is cOmpelkd 10 furnish
all the labor connected with his mainten.
ance and his belligerent operations. Pos.
terity can not fight our battles; nor
is there any necessity that posterity
should pay the cost of them. Our own
young men must do the fighting. 1t is
equally in the power Of our old men to do
the paying. "Pay as you 60" Is a maxim
not less sound in political economy than
in private affairs. If adopted, peculation
must cease to pervert government, and
war could no longer lend legal sanctions
to cruelty and oppression; and II, as some
contend, war is the normal condition oI
mankind, posterity will have It's own
work to sustain. 1t is, therefore, unrca-
sonable to burthen posterity with a debt
for the cost Of ours, Deeply interested
in suppressing these ideas, the rulers
Of the people will Of course treat
them with derisiou. Still 1t must
suffice for the present thus 10 sub
nit them nakedly on their own mer-
cts and without vlndIcation. Although
this principle Is already accepted in sub
stance by some Western States, In theil
recent constitution the advocacy must In
| tho main ha dhfprrnA until fIo fontu and