Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-05-15
THE SPIRIT OF THE CAMPAIGN.

The campaign upon Whicn we are Just
entering is peculiar one in many re-
spects. The fight that has been and is
being made against President Grant, is
purely personal one, and it appears now
as if the only issues to be made are those
of u personal character. If the enemies
OF the Administration were opposing it
from any principle at all, the matter would
be different. If in their fault finding they
made the Presidents foreign policy prom
inent, we might give them the credit for
honesty, however much,we might criticise
their judgment. If they made the tone
term" principle a prominent feature in
their opposition, however fallacious we
might think such grounds for opposition,
we might accord to them honesty of pur-
pose. If there was any just ground for
opposing anything he has done, and the
opposition was made with any Just regard
for decency and for the high position he
occupies, it might be looked upon in q
very different light from that in which it
now appears to all impartial observers.
But the campaign against the admins
tration has been well designated rs the
campaign of SANDER" The most unjust
charges have been trumped up in the most
Inscriptions manner, and have gained
currency through the most disgraceful and
disreputabie means that have ever
Ck,
under similar circumstances. Men of pre-
vious high standing have made them bas-
ing them upon unjust grounds, and they
nave been taken up and repeated by u
hungry, corrupt, prostituted and subsid-
lied partisan press, (which spared no effort
that partisan zeal or bitterness could sug-
gest, to magnify everything SO as to make
the merest mole hill appear as the tallest
and craggiest mountain. These charges
have been so frequently repeated by the
political drivellers whose business ii is to
SANDER their superiors, that some good but
misguided men have been, no doubt, led
to give them credence, though we re per-
suaded that the number is not very large.
III this is the spirit that is to actuate the
enemies of the Philadelphia nominee in
the coming campaign, the fight will be a
bitter one. The friends of the President
expect to stand by him and his admin
istration, against the combined assaults
of broken down political hacks, hungry
office seekers, reckless disorganiZers and
unprincipled slanderers. So far as Mr..
Greeley is concerned, we do not propose
10 assall him in any way, except upon
the inconsistencies of his record. We ac-
cord to him honesty of purpose, but claim
that i'll this he in no wise eXcels General
Grant. We are willing to admit his |
valuable services to the country and to |
the Republican party, but the country
Is also indebted to General Grant for |
valuable services. Republics may have |
always proved ungrateful, but we have |
more confidence in the people of the |
l nited States than to believe that they |
will discard and turn their backs upon the |
hero of a hundred hard contested fields, |
merely because he is unacceptable to the |
political adventures who are assailing him. |
They will certainly ascertain whether |
these charges are true before giving them |
credence.
For those who honestly differ with Gen. |
Grant, we have the highest respect, and |
accept their position as one honestly, |
though as We think enormously entertain
ed. We respect the men who are for |
Horace Greeley because of his virtues and |
but among those who go for him |
only to "beat Grant" will he found men |
who would sacrifice him upon the altar of |
their own ambition regardless of how it af- |
fects the country, 20 it gratifies their own |
revenge and spite against the President |
as the acknowledged head and leader of |
Republican principles.
The Presidents enemies claim to be DO |
lltical reformers and all that, while they
charge that he is corrupt, dishonest, and |
that he intends to perpetuate himself in
office by unconstitutional and forcible
means. Those of them who know any,
thing at all know this is false, without
any foundation of truth and the weak
ness Of their cause is strikingly illustra-
ted thereby. 1t now seems that this is
the spirit which will move the motley
against the Republican party
this summer and fall.
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