The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1872-05-16


WY Hf. Greeley shssld ~ be suppersed
1bP Tt 9Sosidency.
What was at one tine Regarded - .
good joke, the nomi66tion Of Horse
for abe post Of President ofthe
United States, HAS by Che recent act of
the CiDcinnati eonventtpn hseome sober
esne2 Il gives certain air Of lev
to the election in which the
country is about TO engage, but, in spite
OF that, the subject is of such nature,
and the public interest is SO deeply con-
cerncd in it, that we are forced to treat
il seriously. We shall therefore put TO-
gether q few reasons that occur to us
why the nomination Of Mr.. Greeley Is
unworthy of support.
He lacks the courage, the firmness and
the consistency which are required in
the Chief Magistrate of tho nation. He
showed this in a remarkable manner
when, at the outbreak of the civil war,
he desired to let the South have its way
and dissolve the Union of the states.
He was frightened, and feared to face
the consequences Of rejecting the de-
mands of Southern politicians. The war,
however, went on, and soon, though
claiming to be . Unionist, he became
frightened again. He wanted to make
terms with the rebel government at
Richmond; he wanted to negotiate with
George Saunders and other agents of
the rebel government who had sought
refuge in Canada. He was for stopping
the war and letting the South depart
with the chance of preserving slavery.
His whole career during the war was
irresolute and eowardly, and his coun-
sells impolitic and unwisc to the last de-
gree.
Mr.. Greeley's political associations
and intimacies are so bad that VIC can
expect nothing from him, in case, to his
own misfortune and ours, he should be
elected, but corrupt administration of
affairs. Every body is aware of his close
intimacy with Mr.. Fcnton of the Senate.
If there is corrupt and dishonest poll
tician in the land, there is no man who
has better claim to be so considered
than Reuben L. Fenion. His character
is well known to Mr.. Greeley; yet is he
Mr.. Grceley's bosom friend and counsel
lor in politics. Without a single idea of
what public virtue or principle means,
he is most shrcwd and skilful political
manger. 1t was probably through his
intrigues more than through any other
influence that Mr.. Greeley succeeded in
obtaining his nomination. The same
facility for entering into close assOci-
alton with dishonest men has marked
the whole of Mr.. Greeley's career. He
began his political life as disciple of
Thurlow Weed, and only rebelled against
his master when he found that he was
not to have any of the offices for which
political parties were quarrelling. In a
letter which found its way into print, he
expressly declined to hunt any longer
in company with that virtuOus individu-
al, Weed, because there was no proper
division of the game. He now hunts in
company with Fcnton, who IS more
generous. he should be elected, it Is
very likely that Fenton would be the
principal member of his cabinet, and
the other heads of departments would
be little better. AS for the subordinate
Offices, they would probably be filled by
the men whom he makes his cOmpan-
ions, such Us John v. Gridlcy, Waldo
Hutchins, Benjamin Wood, John Norris
sey and Hank Smith, the lesser lights of
Mr.. Greeley's social armament.
Mr.. Greeley has no settled political
principles, with one exception. 1t is a
serious objection to any candidate for
an Office OF high political trust that he
has no well-detined standard OF rights in
his own mind by winch to try any
measure or any course of proceeding
that may be proposed. This is one OF
Mr.. Greeley's great deficiencies. Any
aspect of public measure which looks
plausible satisfies him, and he drifts
backward and forward upon the shifting
current of cxpediency. 1t has been said
of him as q politician, and we believe
with some truth, that he has been on
every side of every public question that
has come up save one, and that brings
US to another objection to him as can
didate.
He is a thorough-going, bigotcd pro-
a champion of one Of the
most arbitrary and grinding systems OF
ever known in any country.
To this hateful system he has remained
faithful from the very beginning OF his
career as a journalist; to aid in fasten-
ing it upon the nation has been the in
veterate habit of his life; to devise the
means of shutting out his countrymcn
from free access to the markets OF the
world has been his constant study. 1t
is idle to say that one of the resolutions
proposed at the Cincinnati convention
Is q part of the platform contains pro-
vision that this question Is to be left to
The people "withOut Executive interior
ence or dictation." He may not dictate,
but he will advise; he may not inter-
fere, but his oath as q Chief Magistrate
will oblige him to suggest those mea-
sures which he deems important to the
public welfare, and what is there in his
view more essential than what he calls
the protection of domestic Industry
To this end we may expect to see the
public offices bestowed upon protection
sts, and every one Of those silent infu-
ences by which party measures are car
RED in congress, exerted in favor of the
protective system. Mr.. Greeley is moth
ng if not protcctionist.
The last objection to Mr.. Greeley
which we shall here mention ia the