Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-27
WO RCE S 7 E B
The Greeley Ebb ride.

The Greeley Ebb Tide.
1t has been manifest for two or three weeks,
that the "Greeley movement" was losing
ground. There was at the beginning an attempt
to start it off with a big flourish of trumpets
and tremendous force of steam. But, sponta-
neous force can not be manufactured; life can
not be originated by political or other ohemis-
try Enthusiasm that comes irrepressibly, and
lives, spreads, and works marvels, does not arise
from nothing nor live without a basis of sup
port Immediately after the Cincinnati ''mass
meeting" aud after the Baltimore convention,
there was noise and smoke which certain hasty
people mistook for the creation of new world;
and they uttered premature shouts for Greeley
which some of them would now be glad to re-
call. This could not last. Gradually, the noise
has grown fainter; the atmosphere has changed;
and the dullest eyes begin to see that what was
supposed TO be a live power of enthusiasm,
creative force in politics, was little more than
cleverly managed claptrap. Even the New
York World feels the change and says: "The
democratic-liberal canvass has seemed to move
rather heavily for the last two or three weeks"
We can not understand how any thinking
man could have supposed it would be Otherwise.
Nobody who read the terrific articles OF the
World, in which Mr. Greeley's total unftness
for the presidency was so fully brought to view,
can believe for a moment that the editor of that
journal has allowed himself to be deceived.
True, he has done what sef-respect, in most
cases, weuld have made impossible, namely; he
has become supporter of Greeley. Neyerthe-
less, he SAYS now: "The boyiSh or, rather,
the babyish fantasy that the country would be
carried by sort OF wild, appauding efferYes-
cence, and that there would be but little TO do
but to stand and look on, and admire sky
blazing with political rockets to light Mr..
Greeley's way to the White house, has subsidized
not a day too soon. 1t was miSchieyous while
it lasted, and it is fortunate that his per-
sonal admirers are so soon brought face to
face with the realities of the situation" The
truth is, there is nothing about Horace Greeley
which could inspire enthusiasm in many persons
under any circumstances whatever In this
case, when one considers what he is, how his
nomination was secured at Cincinnati, and why
the democrats nominated him at Baltimore, feel
ing all the while that they were eating "boiled
crow" il is manifest that there is nothing TO
create enthusiasm. Doubtless the democrats
deceived themselves into believing that Greeley
as a candidate would cause stampede among
the republicans which would bring into their
canvass all the force required to make it sue
cessful. They disliked and despised him. There
is not democratic paper in the country, which
had not said so, previous to the nomination,
with all its power of expression. But they sup
Ii Ia
with, and, therefore, used him, confidently
expecting to destroy the republican party.
OF course, the democrats were incapable of
enthusiasm for Greeley. The enthusiasm was
to be furnished by his "liberal" followers; but
this expectation fails; his followers are compar-
atgely very few in number; that rushing host
which was 10 march from the republican party
into the democratic camp, "terrible as an army
with banners" and glorious with storms of rock
cts, does not appear, although weary eyes have
watched for it ever since the Baltimore conven-
ton adjourned; il can not be heard Of; therefore,
as the World says, "the democratic-liberal can
yass moves heavily" feels, In fact, the beginning
of paralysis. The World, however, avoids adj
hitting the true explanation of the present heav-
mess of Greeley stock, but imputes it to
the cessation of "the brilliant series Of
conversions which brought Bayard, Thur
man, voorhees,, Banks, FarnSworth, and
the others, to declare for Greeley. ''This
food for excitement was exhausted three
weeks age" it says, and now there must
be ga great deal of earnest work, great deal
of hard fighting" Yes, a great deal, and it
will be all in vain. Moreover, it will be work
without enthusiasm. Think of the World it.
self getting into fiery glow of exultant zeal
for Greeley Ii may affect zeal, and profess
great and joyful expectations; but everybody
will understand what it means. The democrats
in nominating Greeley did not bargain for ga
great deal of hard fighting" They expected
pleasure excursion at the expense of Mr.. Gree
ley's ''lberals," and the disappointment, very
naturally, has not made them vigorous and
hopeful nor removed their inability to find in
spiraton in their candidate.
But the World omits all notice of some of the
most significant realities of the situation"
which its friends are now required to face. In
every part of the country, many of the republi-
cans who were moved to follow Greeley, are re-
turning TO the republican party. Every day, in
the newspapers that come to US, we hear that
men who were announced as converts to Gree
leyism, have publicly declared that they win
stand by the republican party and vote for Grant
and Wilson, and, among the democrats, there
appears TO be growing determination to reject
Greeley as a candidate. As the World supports
Greeley for the presidency after having shown
him to be wholly unfit for that office, we
are not surprised TO see it avoid
reporting the facts relative to the rebellious
temper prevalent among the democrats. These,
nevertheless, are part of the "situation," and
the trouble they create is constantly increasing.
Perhaps the World and its helpers can work
some miracle to fill the land with tornadoes of
Greeley enthusiasm, and thus relieve their can
vass from the depression which has befallen it,
II this shall happen, we will make due report
of the fact; but we think they are not miracle