New-York tribune., 1872-11-04
LIBERALISM VERSUS GRANrIsM.
THE PRINCIPLES OF THE TWO PLATFORMS
GRANTS FAILURE AS A STATESMAN.

THE PRINCIPLES OF THE TWO PLATFORMS
GRANTS FAILURE AS A STATESMAN.
The admirable speech made by Gen. James
g. Thayer the great closing rally on Friday night ast
unfortunately received far less than It's proper prom
nence and rather scanter justice than usual even IN tho
parts reported in consequence OF the lateness OF the
hour and the press OF other matter. Some points In It,
however are so striking that cannot resist the temp
taton TO reproduce here the full text OF the speech
one or two passages;
The Cincinnati platform Is the most clear eomprehent
has been made by any public body by any individual
during the last twenty years Kead ltpohder -learn
IL by heart-so thoroughly that you can give ciear
utterance to every sentiment aud word OF H. ana You
will know the luxury OF having your own IDEAS improved
and expanded-put into forms OF expression tnat you
have never been able TO command Ihls view, thlnk,
of the relation OF the two parties reconcies al seeming
contradictions and Inconsistencies provided he LDera
Republican party, in reyerng to IFS former pohtical
doctrines that are democratic in their nature and
character In this respect the declaration OF principles
contained in the platform and Mr Greeley eter OF ae
ceptance meets should meet the demands OF the most
exacting or traghtout Democrat,
There may be differences OF opinion on minor points,
on questions OF policy and expediency, but we are now
concerned with the paramount questions OF reform and
which constitute the only foundation OF free gov
ernmen On all these questions the platform ana the
over the resolution referring to amnesty, reorganization
civil service reform and the oneerm principle; these
shall only refer to One-tne most important, In my
judgment-and the one which more tnan any oIer mas mas
peiatons with the Liberal Republicans. We cannot
abate from it sentence word without mpalrng us
force its simplicity, and its scope
Mr Greeley has epitomized it in these words Subject
TO our solemn Constitutional Obligation TO maintain the
e1ual rights Of all citizens our policy should aim at local
and not at centrazaton that the civil
writ of habeas corpus should be jealousy upheld the
safeguard of personal freedom that the Individual ct
zen shnuld enjoy largest liberty consistent with pub
lie order and that there should be no Federal suDyer
sion of the internal policy Of the several ran states ana % %
rights and promote the welEDeing OF s lnhaDllanp Dy
such means as the judgment OF ITS own people snail pre-
scribe" This Is my p0hlcal cree she DouJ Vi my po
ltca faith with its flesh ana DlOOd anu an ls JOINTS
and limbs and whoever VIII anayze Ihs ereea wi ma
in It all the elemental doctrines OF Deocrae iath ana
il the Democratic party had not accepted ths deelhra
ton of principals and united upon u WIN tne poai %
Repubicans Tor the common good, 1t would nave Deen
guilty of o pupc crime OF the first magnitude, ana pO
| iitIcaI bunder worse than crime.
Turn from this clear and comprehensive declaration OF
principles to the arrogant assumptions ana dreary
pattudes OF the Philadelphia Renomnatng convention
Its resolutions, numbering from one 70 ~ uecaIe tat
all that has Iranspred during the last III years mas Oeen
Inference is t6at having subdued rebellion and
preserved the Union by its own unaded enOrts IL may
with ii as il pleases This idea is fully carried out In
their actions, and In fact the Government Is degraded
TO personality aud the Administration Is not even
dgnfed by the name OF party. II Is no longer the
Republican Administration Grants l nave
searehed In vain through the whole platform Tor the
declaration Of principle OF government The Held
Is barren aud waste.
was healthy ODe neither political plant nor fruit
could flourish there In an air 50 poisoned by the breath
=.
ances of the public men who adhere to Grant IL must
be recorded TO the eternal dshonOr OF the American
that In National convention processing 10 repre-
sent 100000 Of people, not one pOntlcal principle was
announced not one sentiment OF Justlce uttered not
one magnanimous thought emanated. In what have
had 10 say during the present canvass have abstaned
from any reference TO Gen Grants personal M ehaaesr
or private habits deem IL unfortunate Tor the cOun-
try that there should be any question In relation TO
them. public man. ana eeriably the Chlei Maglslrale
this country should present an example Of personal
purity and worth above suspicion aud reproach. Aud
the character Of his associates should correspond to his
position and the dignity OF his Onlce one OF tho
most eminent statesmen OF England has said; "1he
only method which has been fOnnd e1ctua TO pre-
any against the corruption OF nature and eH-
ample Is nbt life aud communication OF counsels
with the most yiruOus and public spirited men OF tho
age you live n Such society cannot be Kept without
advantage deserted without shame."
Call over the names OF Grants cOnnselors and lnt
ma associates Morton, COnkllng, Chandler, MURPHY
Butler, aud In the presence OF such an array
will not public virtae bow low It's headt Would there
OF the United States something or
That holy shame that neer forgets
Whose blush when virtue sets
TO show her sunshine has been there.
His own confession and the admission OF HIS friends
agree on this point lie ayOwed In the beginning that
he had capacity for civil administration But
az the time nOmin dted the Republican party had
fnisbed the work OF their organization and needed "a
uamea personality around which they should rally
that party great moral ideas sank every consideration
In the simple commandment "Ihou smart wln." They
nut Grant forward their candidate and did win. It
was "A regular bargain, business AFFAIR. so much per
sOnal popularity Tor so many years OF Office Twenty
ye thousand dollars per annum ana the chances thrown
In The chances have not been neglected. but the n-
country have been neglected and betrayed
shall not dwell upon Grants nepOsm and gifttaking.
certainly think 10 damaging 10 his reputation and
"A scandal 10 the country It h SAID that his military
vices entite him all this and For those services
the country should hold him Ia nndyug honor and
membTance. do not object that he should have auIes
for his brOWs, but think 10 may wei be questioned
whether his aud all his WHO'S relations should be al