New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-07-04

succumb to any miasmatc influence that
may be in the air, though it may pass by
without touching a thoroughly healthy or
ganism. A little review will show the truth
Of our assertion:
Among the prominent standard-bearers OF
Liberal Republicanism, we meet Messrs.
Montgomery and Francis p. Blair. Belong
as notorfes4 Rffice hunters as the family Of
Savoy ares trown hunters, they wore the
uniform of the times until 1860, when the
Republicans achieved their first great victory
in the election of Abraham Lincoln, and the
Blaigs, with keener perception of the course
of the tideathan most of their Southern
brethren WHO plunged into rebellion, turned
Republicans, and as such welded consider
able power. When, however, it became evil
dent that their influence didno result in much
benefit to the national cause, and they had
to make the mortifying discovery that the
people had no longer any particular use for
their services, they sought comfort in the
Democratic camp, Mr.. Montgomery Blair
marching in with stately, dignified steps,
while his brother executed a bold salto NOR
tale, alighted with brilliant somersault, and
in his Brodhead letter outdid the most incar-
nate Bourbon Democrat. Nobody will Won
der that the chance of getting sin" again
should have got the better of their natural
leanings, and that they were among the first
to salute the new banner before it was en-
tirely unfurlcd
Another shining pair of brothers are
Messrs. Fernando and Benjamin Wood. To
them the questionable honor is due to have
never before faltered in their adherence to
the orthodox Democratic faith. Firm sup
porters of slavery, they encouraged seces-
sion, and steadfastly opposed inch by inch
every measure for the promotion of liberty
and equal rights. We are fortunately not
called upon to explain the motives for their
late conversions, nor do We have the least
inclination to doubt their personal worth and
responsibility, but when we remember how
the austere virtue of the Tribune revOlted at
Benjamin Woods lottery enterprise, at Fer
nandO Woods career as Mayor, and particu-
larly at his dealings with certain Mr..
Marvin as disclosed in long law suit, we
do not quite see the consistency Of the Tri-
bune for giving them such a noisy reception.
Mcssrs. James and Erastus Brooks have,
like the aforementioned, followed their me-
andering path in brotherly unison. In the
days when Know Nothingis,n had its short
lived sway in New York, they were promi-
nent leaders of the party. II soon collapsed,
| however, and those who had taken con-
| spicuous part in it, discovered that they
had incurred the enmity of classes of
citizens whose support is indispensable to
success in New York city. Messrs Brooks
| fully redeemed themselves; counting the ia
| vor of the Irish by flattering their most per-
| nicious prejudices, their pro-slavery tenden-
| cies, their hatred of color and race, they re-
covered the confidence they had forfeited by
vile sent Mr.. James Brooks to Congress, and
there, as well as through the columns of the
New York Ereniag Express, he and his broth
er have We'd with the Woods in their labors
for that which we, and in those days the Tri-
dnae also, branded as injustice, tyranny, and
cruelty. Mr.. Greeley may well rejoice at his
power of persuasion, or at their fexibilty,
but why in the face of these well-known an
tecedents of his new friends, he should be so
| eager to hunt up evidence that Henry Wilson
once belonged to a Know Nothing organiza-
ton we fail to understand in view of the high
standard of impartial justice raised by the
Tribune. In our last number we had occasion
to review Cassius Clay's career; so we pass
him over to say a word of another conspic-
uous promoter Of Liberal Republicanism, Mr..
John Cochrane, who is likewise wearing his
| third uniform. In former times he seemed
| whose EXTREMIST and most Ubiquitous meas
mes in its struggle against the growing sense
of justice of the age, he was n red hot de-
fender and supporter. He became Repub-
lican when he considered the Democratic
party "played out" and probably thinks now
the Republican party played out. lie is for
| all we know, not worse than can be expected
| Of the average politician, but we fail to see
| why the Tribune should make such a display
Of him, while it pours out its virtuous wrath
| against all Republicans who will not consent
| to desert their old colors, and in the absence
of any other blemish, attempts to ridicule
| them as the bread and butter brigade"
OF Mr.. Fowler, of Tennessee, not much is
to be said. He passed for Republican and
| recorded his vote in the impeachment trial in
favor of Andrew Johnson. The Judgment
| passed by the Tribune over him is too fresh
in the memory of all its readers, to need
| repetition. 1t denounced him bitterly as
one of the "seven Romans" and limited dis
tinctly at corruption and bribery, yet thinks
| it perfectly consistent to-day TO hold him up
as one of the pure and patriotic men whose
unsoiled virtue rcvolts at the Odious {" Grant
corruption"
A bad cause can neither he promoted by
fair means, nor by men who are overscrupu-
| lous and nice in their notions about devotion
| to principles and convictions. Since Mr..
| Greeley has once cast his lot with the Demo-
| Gratis, he has TO go the whole length, and has