New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-07-25

candidate. The naicae of his declaration is
truly amazing, for according TO him, Demo-
Gratis and Republicans are to remain pre-
cisely what they are, he indirectly admits
that the present alliance is'not based on
common principles, but one formed simply
for the promotion of mutual interests, in
short, for the sake Of the spoils. AS we'll as
Republican and a Democrat may stop at the
same hotel, take their meals every day side
by side at the same common table, without
renouncing their party fealty, he evidently
thinks that he and his associates by COM
bining with the Democrats may take the
White House by storm, to sit down and feed
comfortably and peaceably together on
Uncle Sans fat offices, and, if at length
driven from the feast, return each to his
former quarters, leaving it to circumstances
TO decide whether the alliance is to be re-
newed or dropped. But aside from the dis
graceful confession contained in Mr.. Greeley's
words, through which he doubtless disclosed
more than he really intended, what must be
the necessary result if this combination
should be victorious? How can it be be-
lieyed that Horace Greeley, elected by
Democratic votes, should nevertheless be a
Republican President? The idea that a
large party that ruled the country for many
years. and even now-though in minority,
is possessed of considerable power, should
completely surrender to a small fraction of
deserters from the enemy's camp, and be
contented with its share Of the spolls, With
out attempting to enforce its own principal
tenets, is so supremely absurd that the most
infatuated Greeleyite cannot entertain it in
good faith. True, they have declared their
willingness to accept all the results Of the
war, they promise to carry out all the recon-
struction measures, but what, if their actions
contradict their words at every turn? Have
they, perhaps, manifested such willingness
by opposing to the bitter end Mr.. Summers
Supplementary Civil Rights Bill, though he
entreated them for their votes in order to
make it possible for him to give his powerful
support to their candidate? Or is it not
owing to the fillibustering of the Democrats
that that same Supplementary Civil Rights
Bill, after having been carried in the Senate
by the Republican majority, was left in the
House as unfinished business? Whenever
have honesty and truthfulness been such
distinctive Democratic features that we
should be morally bound to take their mere
assurances on trust, though they are con-
tradicted by all their past and present acts ?
As striking illustration of Democratic and
Greeleyite honesty we mention the use made
Of Mr.. Summers letter to Mr.. Reavis, which
was published not only garbled but dated a
year forward, to make it appear as if Mr..
Sumner were in favor Of Horace Greeley as
the Democratic candidate, when, in fact, it
was written at time when Mr.. Sumner did
not dream Of the possibility that Horace
Greeley could aspire for any but the Repub-
lican nomination. Indeed, If falsehood and
lying were not as old as the human race, the
Democrats would have invented them. The
fact is, that Mr.. Greeley accepted by the
Democrats on promises of good behavior and
being under heavy obligations to them, would
be forced to shape his administration in ac-
cordance with Democratic ideas and preju-
dices, and it seems impossible that he him
self should not realize this necessity, unless
once safely established in the White House
he means to turn against the Democracy an
inverted Andrew johnson, and stab the
party that elected him, after having used it
as footstool. If this is the way in which
he is to remain Republican. it is not very
probable that any one save himself will ever
consider him anything but double traitor.