Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-05-16
Why Mr.. Greeley Should Not Be
Supported for the Presidency.
From the New York Eevening Post

What was at one time regarded as
good joke-the nomination of
Horace Greeley for the post of Pres
ident Of the United States-has by
the recent act Of the Cincinnati Con-
vention, become sober and earnest.
1t gives a certain air of low comedy
to the election in which the country
is about to engage, but, in spite of
that, the subject is of such q nature,
and the public interest is so deeply
concerned in it that we are forced to
treat it seriously. We shall, there
fore, put together few reasons that
occur to us why the nomination OF
MIR. Greeley is unworthy of support.
He lacks the courage, the firm
ness, and the consistency which are
requied in chief magistrate of the
nation. He showed this in q re-
markable manner when, at the out
brake of the civil war, he desired to
let the South have its way and dis
solve the Union Of the States. He
was frightened, and feared to face
the consequences Of rejecting the
demands of the Southern politicians.
The war, however, went on, and
soon, though claiming to be a Un-
ionIst, he became frightened again.
He wanted to make terms with the
rebel government at Richmond; he
wanted to negotiate with George
Saunders and other agents Of the
rebel government who had sought
refuge in Canada. He was for stop
ping the war and letting the South
depart with the chance of preserv-
ing slavery. His whole career dur
ing the war was irresolute and cow
ardly, and his counsels impolitic and
unwise to the last degree.
Mr.. Greeley's political associa-
tions and intimacies are so bad that
we can expect nothing from him, in
case, to his own misfortune and ours,
he should be elected, but corrupt
administration of affairs. EVERYBODY
is aware Of his close intimacy with
Mr.. Fenton of the Senate. If there
is corrupt and dishonest politician
in the land, there is no man who has
better claim to be so considered
than Ruben E. Fenton. His charac-
ter is well known to Mr.. Greeley;
yet is he Mr.. Greeley's bosom friend
and counsellor in politics. Without
single idea of what public virtue
or principle means, he is a most
shrewd and skillful political mana
ger. 1t was probably through his
intrigues more than through any
other influence that Mr.. Greeley
succeeded in obtaining his nomina-
ton. The same facility for entering
into close association with dishon-
est men has marked the whole of
MIR. Greeley's career. He began his
political lite as disciple of Thur
low Weed, and only rebelled against
his master when he found that he
was not to have any of the Offices
for which political parties were
quarreling. In letter which found
its way in print, he expressly de
clined to hunt any longer in compa-
ny with that virtuous individual.
Weed, because there was no proper
division Of the game. He now
hunts in company with Fenton, who
is more generous. If he should be
elected, it is very likely that Fenton
would be the principal member of
cabinet, and that the other heads of
departments would be little better.
AS for the subordinate offices, they
would probably be filed by the men
whom he makes his companions,
such as John Gridley, Waldo,
Hutchins, Benjamin Wood, John
Morrissey, and Hsnk Smith, the les.
ser lights of Mr.. Greeley's social
| armament.
Mr. Greeley has no settled polite
al principles, with one exception.
1t is serious objection to any can
didate for an Office of high political
trust that he has no we'll defined
standard of right in his own mind
J by which to try any measure or any
fcourse of proc eedings that may be
| proposed. This is one of Mr.. Gree
ley's great deficiencies. ANY aspect
of a public measure which looks
plausible satisfies him, and he drifts
backward and forward upon the shift
ing currents Of expediency. 1t has
been said of him as a politician, and
we believe with some truth, that he
has been on every side of every pub
lie question that has come up save
one, and that brigns US to another
objection to him as a candidate.
He is thorough, bigoted protec-
zionist. a champion Of one of the
most arbitrary and grinding systems