Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-08-22
WOODSTOCK, W., THURSDAY, AUG. 90 1922

~ 70 hihioCI loi II DcdC
which would have left all the peopI
in possession of their constitutions
liberties. After the close of the con
test he was the advocate of regula
and legal as well rs honest govern
ment for all parts of the country.
have good authority for saying tina
he never gave his approval to an,
form of kidnapping or murder b,
military commissions, In short, al
though he did join the abolitionsts il
their "devils dance,' he never learn
ed to keep step with his partners, an,
we all know that when he could no
stop it he left it and denounced it will
becoming Indignation. On anothe
point he ought to have credit. Th,
friends Of religious freedom owe hin
IN old debt Of gratitude for the yea
and ability with which he resisted the
chnrch-burners when banded togethe
i'll the secret lodges Of the Know Moth
inc order. 1t is but reasonable tC
believe that his opposition saved the
country from the great danger it was
once in of being subjegated by that
infamous organization. He has often
been acused Of completely in cheats Of
one kind or another, but in every case
he has triumphantly retuted the char
ges. For this, and for other reasons,
| conclude that his personal integrity
is without a stain. He has many
times spoken of the Democratic party
and its most honored members in harsh
and abusive terms. These are faults
of manner and oftemper, which, when
mended, are always parIoned, We
will not permit our judgment to be
disturbed by considerations so trihing
as this.
| have looked into his past history
only to ascertain what he is now and
what he is likely to be in the future
| am bound to care nothing tor his
" antecedents,' except as they furnish
the means Of estimating his character.
| thing ! have found out with reason
able certainty how far we may CON
fde i'll him. | devoutly believe that,
if chosen President, he will keep his
oath, preserve the Constitution invio-
late, execute the laws faithfully, re-
store the States to their rightful au-
protect individual liberty by
jury trial and habeas corpus, put the
in proper subodination to the
civil authority, use neither force nor
fraud to carry elections, keep clean hands
from corrupting gifts, set his face like
a flint against all manner Of financial
dishonesty, purify the Administration
Of justice as much as in him lies, main
tain the public credit 10y a prompt dis
charge Of all just obligations, econom-
ze the revenue and Tighten taxation,
give to capital the right which be-
longs to it, and at the same time see
hat labor is not robbed of its earn
ngs. He will certainly hold his pow
er Of appointment as a public trust,
md not part Of his personal posses
sion to be used for the support of his
amily, or to encourage the private
iberality of his friends He will so
ar as he can without transgressing the
limits of his legal authority, relieve
he Southern States from the gangs
hat are now preying upon their vitals
n open partnership with the present
think he will do
Ill this; and my faith is founded on
he testimony Of his friends and enc
MES, on the known facts of his history,
md on the moral influence which the
Democracy will necessarily exert upon
lis conduct. The errors of his past
ife were caused by certain evil com
nunicationS from which he has clean
scaped, He heads a great revolt
.gainst wickedness in high places, and
do not believe he will 90 back upon
IS and be guilty Of the same wicked
ess himself. The contrast between
he two candidates being so very
trong, no fair-minded Democrat can
oubt what he ought to do. Yet, the
pluctance which many Of us feel to
ote for either of them is hard to over
ONE. did, and do, most heartily
with that class which re
eived Mr.. Greeley's nomination in
luch sorrow. | am sure this feeling
roceeded from no unworthy passion
I prejudice, but was the natural re-
nit of sober thought on the condition
f the country and the fitness Of things
ertaining thereto.
In our view the controversy be-
Yeen the parties was not all about
zen, and not wholly on questions of
lerc administration. The Liberal
and some Democrats
link that we owe all our sufierings
} the corruption or incapacity of Gen
'al Grant and the rings that surround '
i'm, But the prime cause lies fnrth- l
back and deeper down in wrongs
II which the triumph Of Mr. Greeley
ith all his reforms offers no immedi-
e atonement and only partial REM +
ly. In England, after every civil |
the victorious party vent S
| its rage and gratitied its rapacity /
y passing bills of attainder and bills r
pains and penalties against their
lien and helpless opponents. Tie
est and greatest men of their resuec- G
We ages were the victims of these d
gislative DEGREES. In all the most !
'lable cases subsequent Parliaments II
knowledged the wrong, reversed the b
flanders, and made what reparation G