The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-16
The Duty Of Democrats.

Gentlemen, in view OF such state Of
things, in view Of all these alarming
facts, supported and maintained US they
are by tile most undoubtcd authority,
what ought the people to do? What
ought the Democratic party to do? Is
there any doubt OF what is our duty-of
the demands OF craftsmanship, Ofpatriot-
ism ? As for myself, have no longer
ilny doubt or hesitation in answering the
question. We should support with all
our might and vote for Horace Greeley.
I know how difficult this will be for some
Democrats to do. l know what an effort
II has cost some OF the best and ablest Of
our party. Six months ago I do not
suppose single Democrat Of the 3,00O,-
900 in the United Slates seriously expect.
cd 10 do any such thing. I confess
frankly for one I did not. ] did not re-
lish the idea after he was nominated Mt
Cincinnati, and when It began to look as
though be would be ut Baltimore / felt
as though I conld never forgive him all
he had said and done against us. ] felt
rs though we had waited and struggled
and suffered long enough to hav' m old
and tried Democrat. Thought his NOM
nation increased the chance OF the De-
mocracy, aud I said when 1 first heard
OF his nomination at Cincinnati, land the
remark was caught up by some news
paper reporter and sent over the country
by the Associated Press thut ait was
none OF our funeral F; we could beat two
Republicans easier than one." But the
Democratic party met by its representa-
lives in convention at Baltimore, and
decided Tor Mr.. Greeley. l thought 1t
all over-I looked the case squal ely in
the face and settled the question for my
self. From that moment II was General
Grant with a repetition Of what we have
said Of him, running the Government in
the old groove, in his own personal in.
terests, with the same set OF unscrupu.
lous, defaulting, dishonest leeches
around him-no Improvement or reform.
alton; or Horace Greeley upon the Gin
cinnati and Baltimore platform construc-
ted and interpreted by his letters Of ac-
'Ceptance, which nre better than the
platform itself. The more have re-.
hected the more 1 have reasoned, the
better satisfied 1 have become that We
can make no change for the worse, aud
that anything is better than the present
state OF things. Nor do l put 1t us Il
question Of mere chance. / think we
have much to hope in the election OF
Horace Greeley.
know in times Of high party excite.
ment he has said many naughty, many
hard things Of Democrats and Of the De-
lnocratic party. | know we too have
paid him and bis party back In his own
coin-we have given him blow Tor blow,
and have not been very exact In keeping
the account either. But this l must say,
knowing him as | have for more than
thirty years ! know of nothing In his
personal or political character that leads
me to doubt that he will scrupulOusly and
sacredly keep the pledges and promises he
has given in hisletters of acceptance. No
one has as yet to my knowledge question.
ed his personal honor and integrity. II
he keeps those promises we shall not be
deceived-it Is all | expect. It Is said he
has been man of many "isms." This
may be true. ] have never heard him &C
Cused of ''nepotism" or ''puppyism.n lie
has advocated some 'ismsf that seemed
at the time chinerical and visionary.
Who has mott Bat many, some at least,
Of his 'isms" have become our "isms."
They have become the 'isms" of the
country. They have been carried into
and become a part of our system OF gov
ernment. Those that have not he has
advocated with the pen Of "a ready writer,
and has moved the minds and hearts Of
men in the direction of higher thought
and lOftier emotion. His labors have
been more In the direction Of building up
than tearing down. lie has sought to
make men better rather than worse. His
ideal has been to improve and elevate the
condition OF his tellow.men. to exalt and
enuCble mankind in every condition Of
lite. 1fhis philosophy has not been equal
to his purposes, he Is not the first man
who has failed to accomplish all he wllled.
He was one Of the first men Of the coun.
try who advocated and was largely instru.
mental in bringing about our system Of
cheap postage. Ha si
This instrumentality In the advance.
ment and civilization Of a people needs
only to be mentioned to be appreciated.
lie was an early and earnest advocate Of
our pre.emption and homestead laws. He
took great interest In the settlement Of the
West. 1t Is said by way Of reproacll, !
believe now, that he once sdvised some
young man asking advice and assistance
to "go west" This, though a subject of
laughter to the ignorant and thoughtless,
shows the comprehension and goodness Of
lis mind and heart. lie understood as
we here understand that for young man
without capital and without friends there
Is no better place for bis industry than
our Western pralries and lands
Mr.. Greeley has been apersistent advO.
cate of religious freedom and liberation.
He has never been bigot or opposed to
any man worshipping God according to
the dictates Of his own conscience. He
opposed Know.nothingism, when almost
bis entire party went into that Internal
order, and prevented It perlaps from over
running the country. In all these things
and many more, his mind always, and
naturally, ran with the Democracy
Anothe: thing, be 1t said to his praise, he
has always been found on the side OF the
poor and dlowly. The oppressed and down
tr.dden have ever found in him friend
and advocate. lie ia said, too, to have
been liberal and charitable with Ills means
to the needy and suffering.
HIS generosity and charities bestowed
have kept him poor, and thus to-day, Ills
poverty Is cast upon him as reproach.
Others, 1t is said. with no better oppOrtu-
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