Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-08-07

Congress and the Executive, to whose
care the financial affairs of the coun-
try were committed. With this
review OF the career and organization
of the two parties as they how present
!, themselves before the country, 1 am
warranted in affirming that it is safe
and wise to tIust the Republican
organization, and that it is both dan
gerOus and unwise TO commit the
fortunes of the country TO the Democ-
racy and its new allies.
In the second place I find a reason
for my choice in the character and
supporters of
THE TWO CANDIDATES.
That both are entitled to much
credit for what they have done, and
that both have faults, must be ad-
mitted. Nosmount of detraetion can
cover up or obscure the fact that Gen.
Grant rendered to the country great
and illustriouS service during its
struggle for the Union. Nc amount
of hostile criticism can Obliterate that
he persevered and exhibited high and
mastery qualities rs a leader in the
field and that his personal services
were Of inestimable value to the
nation. That his administration of
the government during the last four
years has been on the whole successful,
is a fact / have already fairly estab-
lished. That he has made mistakes
in administration will not 0e denied.
There have been unfortunate divisions
and antagonisms among his sup
porters, and much Of this antagonism
has assumed the form Of personal
hostility to him. For these reasons
many thoughtful Republicans were
opposed to his denomination. But it
is undoubtedly true that the great
mass of the Republican party believed
it wisest to continue him at the head
of the government. They know his
record in war, and his conduct in
peace; and they believe that a con-
tinuation of his administration will
result in a continuation of the general
prosperity Of the country. His fouI
years of experience have enabled him
better to understand the wants of the
country and the duties of his Office,
and we have the authority Of Nj.
| Greeley for saying that Grant will be
far better qualified " for his moment
Gus term in 1S72than he was in 1851
GCM AhCiACdnb AAaNC DCCA 1ccaAAE
with more partiZan and personal
malignity, and few, If any, have rem
dered the nation such illustrious SER
vice. Let any fair man strike a
balance between his merits and
dement's, and then compare the result
with a similar estimate of Horace
Greeley. Let us consider the COM
parison. In doing so / make no
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no wise detract from the general
service he has rendered to the cause
Of liberty nor from the fame he has
earned. He has established a great
public journal, and placed himself
almost If not quite at the head of his
profession. But have these achieve
ments fitted him for the President of
the United States? Horace Greeley at
the head Of the Tribune, as the popu-
lar advocate of equal rights, is one
thing; Horace Greeley a. the head of
the Democratic party to conduct the
affairs of the nation is quite another.
In that position we should see the
head and face of an old friend resting
OH the shoulders and body and guided
by the heart, life and activity of an
old, relentless enemy. 1t is idle to
suppose that any man a conduct
an administration with any success
unless he does it in general and SUBJ
stantial concurrence with the opin-
ions and aspirations of those who
elected him. II Mr.. Greeley con-
tinues to be in any considerable
degree the man he has been hitherto,
in a of his election the gap between
himself and the great body of his
supporters would yawn wider than
Erubus, and in it would be swallowed
all peace and harmony Of administra-
ton. On the first day of his term he
would be confronted by a hungry
throng OF ofice-seekers who demand
the place of every man now in Office
who did not support him as a candi-
date. If he declares that political
differences of opinion should be no
cause for removal, he begins a battle
with overwhelming odds against him.
If he yields, no result is possible but
complete submission to the Democ-
raeY. 1t has been urged with some
truth thai Grant has made bad
appointments. I ask if there is any,
thing in Mr.. Greeley's knowledge, or
in the kind of men with whom he
has long associated In the politics
of New York, that promises better
results? Let his present Tammany
supporters answer.
But even if he should be able to
mould and guide in accordance with
his own views the discordant party
which elects him, what sort of guild
ance will that be? What public man
in the United States has been less
stable and constant in his opinions
and judgment than Horace Greeley ?
Who does not know that during the
great struggle Tor the national life,
when the country needed the steady
and persistent bending of every ener
gy to the n great work of attacking
secession and subduing rebellion,
while Grant was resisting the one and
fighting the other with undCviating
purpose, Horace Greeley was passing
through all the changes of opinion,
from his early recommendation to let
thu South go, to his fierce and reck-
les I" on to Richmond" cry, from his
resistance to the reelection of Lincoln
to his negotiations with the rebel
agents at Niagara. What business
man can review the financial opinions
of Mr.. Greeley as vehemently advo-
SGSC0 duAAn6 ~ AdoG lew 9CaASY Will
out a feeling of apprehension and
alarm at eve the remote prospect of
such opinions being entertained by
the chief executive Of the nation with
the opportunity for enforcing them
in the practical administration of the
government? Doubtless a majority
of our citizens desire q resumption
of specie payment, brought about by
a safe and careful policy; but who can
contemplate without alarm the posi-
bility Of seeing an order put up some
morning over the door of the treasury
that the Secretary has resumed specie
payment; and that the fifty millions
Of surplus gold in the treasury marks
the extent of his resources for main
tanning that resumption? Who does
not see growing out of such q policy
the most sudden and violent shock to
business and measureless financial
disaster? Yet that very policy has
been most fercely advocated by Mr..
Greeley for the last four years. He
has exhibited extremes of opinion on
many other national topics, which
would be most unfortunate If exhi-
bited in the chief executive of the
nation.
The niger the Office the greater the
opportunity to impress the personal
peculiarities Of the incumbent upon
the administration. Who would be