Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-06
GBe aaig spp: aaloreester lonoap ingl aag s. 1879

regret his nomination IT, as seems likely, the
democratic convention should ignore the Gin
cinnati ticket and nominate a new one
Of its own, we shall give that new ticket
our jealous support To many democrats this
course seems inevitable, but the strange action
at Cincinnati has fallen on us so suddenly, that
we deem IT prudent to await the spontaneous
expression of democratic opinion before prefer
ing counsel in circumstances so extraordinary.
Our present impression is, that the democratic
national convention will ignore Cincinnati en-
tireiy, and nominate new ticket-a course in
which it may count upon the hearty support of
the World. We will be guided by the national
convention, and submit to its Judgment in any
event; but we do not at present see any such
possibility in the future as the endorsement OF
MIR. Greeley by the democratic party. we
grudge him none Of the republican votes winch
his personal popularity will draw away from
Grant. We have no doubt that INSIDE the re-
publican party he viii make strong canvass.
He is popular enough TO make great and Tor
midabIe split in the republican ranks; and the
assured republican schism gives democrats
splendid opportunity, such as we have not be-
fore had since the outbreak of the civil war.
We think this is the view which will be taken
by the democratic national convention when it
assemblies.
The following statement of Horace Greeley's
unfitness for the presidency, which we take from
an article in the New York Evening Post, seems
to US very just, as far as it goes 1t is too mod
crate rather than too strong Those who really
know Mr. Greeley, will understand that great
deal more can be said 10 illustrate the Posts
last named objection; and, also, relative to what
he is as an INSCRIPTIONS political intriguer:
''wHY MIR. GREELEY SHOULD NOT BE SUP
PORTED FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
"What was at one time regarded as good
Joke the nomination of Horace Greeley for the
post of president of the United States, has by
the recent act of the Cincinnati convention be-
come sober earnest. 1t gives a certain air of low
comedy TO the election in which the country is
about to engage, but, in spite of that the sub
ject is of such nature, and the public interest
is so deeply concerned in 1t, that we are forced
to treat ii seriously. We shall therefore put to-
gether a few reasons that occur to us why the
nomination of Mr.. Greeley is unworthy of sup
port.
He lacks the courage, the firmness and the
consistency which are required in a chief magis-
trate of the nation. He showed this in re-
markable 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 conse-
quences of rejecting the demands of the southern
politicians The war, however, went on and
soon, though claiming to be Unonist, he be-
came frightened again. He wanted 10 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 stop
ping the war and letting the south depart with
the chance of preserving slavery. His whole
career during the war was irresOlute and cow
ardly, and his counsels impotic and unwise to
the last degree.
"Mr Greeley's political associations and init
maeies are so bad that we can expect nothing
from him, in case, to his own misfortune and
ours, he should be elected, but a corrupt admin
istration of affairs. Everybody is aware of his
close intimacy with Mr. Fenton of the senate.
If there is a corrupt and dishonest politician in
the land, there is no man who has a better claim
to be so considered than Reuben L. Fenton
His character is well known to Mr. Greeley
yet is he Mr.. Greeley'S bosom friend and coun-
selor in politics. Without a single idea of what
public virtue or principle means, he is a most
shrewd and skillful political manager. 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 association
with dishonest men has marked the whole of
MIR. Greeley's career He began his political
life as a disciple of Thurow Weed, and only re-
belled against his master when he found that
he was not to have any of the offices for which
political parties were quarrelling. In letter
which found its way into print he expressly de-
clned to hunt any longer in company with that
virtuous individual, Weed, because there was
no proper division of the game. He now hunts
in company with Fenton, who is more generous
II he should be elected, it is very likely that
Fenton would be the principal member of his
cabinet, and that 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 companions, such as
John V. Gridley, Waldo Hutchins, Benjamin
Wood, John Morrissey and Hank Smith, the
lesser lights of Mr.. Greeley's social armament.
Mr. Greeley has no settled political princi-
pies, with one exception IL is a serious OBJ
lection to any candidate for an office of high
political trust that he hes no well-defined stand
ard of right in his own mind by which to try
any measure or any course of proceeding that
may be proposed. This is one Of Mr.. GTeeley's
great deficiencies. Any aspect of a public
measure which looks plausible satisfies him, and
he drifts backward and forward upon the shi lift
ing currents of eXpediency. 1t has been said of
him as politician, and we believe with some
truth, that he has been on every side of every
public question that has come up save one.
The last objection to Mr.. Greeley which we
shall here mention is the grossness of his man.
ners. General Grant is sometimes complained
of as not filling the executive chair with the de-
corum and dignity which properly belong to the
place; but his deficiency in this respect is
the deficiency of one not accustomed
to polished society, giving little heed to certain
conventionalities which really become the high
sphere he moves in, aud he is never bearish or
brutal, as Mr.. Greeley so often is
These are some of the objections which will
occur TO thoughtful men when they hear of Mr.
Greeley's nomination; and allowing these the
weight which they fully deserve, we must adj
wise our readers to refuse the nomination their
support. With such head as is on his Shout
ders the affairs of the nation could not, under
his direction, be wisely administered; with such
manners as his, they could not be administered
with common decorum; with such associates as
he has taken to his bosom, they coud not be adj
with common integrity"