Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-07-26
"a " EIBEE.1L VIEW or THR
SFTU.fTEO.y.

That our readers may have an un-
prejudced view of the political situation
as seen from tho stand point Of so.called
Liberal Repubicanism, we copy the follow
ing editorial from the Golden Age, one of
the abest advocates of the movement:
In 1868 the Republican party went out of
its ranks and nominated lifelong Demo-
crat as its candidate for the Presidency,
partly out of gratitude for his services dur
ing the war, partly because he was the
most available man they could nominate,
and partly from the fear that If he were not
nominated by the Republicans he would
be taken up and elected by the Democrats.
Nobody pretended that Gen. Grant was a
Republican The only presidential candi-
date he ever voted for was James Buchan-
an. All his political associations had
been Democratic. But he had acquired
unbounded popularity by his military sue
cess, and was the most available candidate
in the country. Nor is there the slightest
evidence that has changed single article OF
his political creed since his election. True,
his political opinions ars of tho must rudi-
mentary character. His. whole theory of
government seems to be summed up in the
simple sentences, 81 command; you
obey" There is no proof that he either
comprehcnds the principles or adopts the
ideas or endorses the policy, the Repubi-
can party was called into being to advance.
Had he been elected TO the Presidency by
Democrats he would doubtless have been
as much of a Democrat as he now is of a
Republican. And this lifelong Democrat,
who never lifted his finger TO resist the en-
croachments of slavery nor felt particle of
enthusiasm for emancipation, is the stand
ard -bearer of the Republican party today.
On the other hand Mr.. Greeley is the
lifelong champion CT the great principles
which made the Republican party possible.
lie has always been their advocate and
embodiment. His pioneer labors in beh ilf
of all great reforms prepared the way for
the Republican organization. He has been
the leading exponent of its sentiments from
the start. His Tribune has been the text
book of Republican politics all over the
country. He stands on consistent, splen-
did record of fidelity to great national and
hu name principles. He has never swerv-
ed one hairs breadth in his allegiance to
the central ideas and purposes and spirit
on which the Republican party rests. He
has never recanted single article of the
political creed he has spent all the best
years of an arduous life ia defending and
urging upon his countrymen. He stands
before the American people today the most
conspicuous, the most representative, the
most advanced Republican in the nation.
AS such he was elected by great Conven-
ton of Liberal Republicans as the one man
of all others the best fitted 10 head their
movement for national reform, universal
amnesty, and an honest administration of
the government. The fact that Mr.. Gree
ley is enthusiastically endorsed by Demo-
Gratis, that the people of all sections of the
country have risen en- mdSSe and demand
ed his nomination in the Baltimore Con-
vention, that the Democratic party of the
country has magnanimously pushed party
prec edents and personal precedents aside,
and accepted the new issue of the new
time, and boldly reafiirmed the platform
and lenominated the candidates of the
Liberal Convention-full of significance
and hope as these things arc-do not in the
| least invalidate the fact that Mr.. Greeley is
Republican of the Republicans, and
stands upon an impregnable basis Of Re-
publican professions and precedents. And
if he is elected-as he unquestionably will
be in November next-it will be as a Lib
eral Republican whose principles, spirit,
and character have won the respect and
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