Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-08-21
The GreeleyItes In Council. "MisfOr
tunes make Strange BedfelIOWs.0

oNN AAA6 ANCCAA lAC
Lean party. Self constituted exhorteri
worked with undated energy for tn,
consumation Of their purpose, button.
boiling and ~entresting those to attend
whose honest convictions had no
been made e succumb to the delusivt
arguments advanced by the apostatt
Republicans and their c~oadjutors.
The meeting was called to order by
DR.. J. R.. Wood, and after some dis.
= cussion DR.. L. Spear was appointed
chairman pro tenn, in consequence o.
o the absence of Junius Dana, perma,
i nent chairman of the organization.
t w. Birchard was chosen Secretary.
= A motion was then made to adopt
: the Cincinnati platform. For a few
moments a very oppressive silence
followed. Realizing the inability to
obtain a second to the motion from
. any one of the audience, which was
: composed almost entirely of Republi-
cans and boys, the chairman himself
seconded 1t, and the platform was
adopted. As soon as the preliminary
business cf the meeting was disposed
. of, VIM. Heisley, of Cleveland, was
: introduced. He opened his remarks by
stating that as he was a Democrat of
the strictest sect-a rank copperhead
land consequently more accustomed
to addressing that party, he would
therefore confne his remarks strictly
to the copperhead element in the
audience. This totally unexpected
phase of affairs rather dampened the
ardor OF the few sorehead Republicans
present, whom the speaker thus
avowed his intention of wholly ignor-
ing. He admitted that the Democrats
had " eaten crow" but plead in ex-
tenuation that Baltimore had con-
cocted the dose, and as it was all
that was offered they were forced to
perform their unparalleled feat of
deglutition; although, he added, to
his palate the repast was not so savory
as he could have wished.
1t was painfully apparent that thus
far the speakers remarks were not of
a tenor exactly suited to the varied
tastes of those whom he had been
called to address, as his opening
remarks and the topics on which he
had touched were not those likely to
conduce to equanimity Of feeling.
The soreheads had taken umbrage at
the former, and his determinations
on the unpalatable connection swal-
lowed by the Democrats caused a
revulsion in the political stomach Of
that part of his hearers. With a view
to the pa~ciieation of the feelings of
dissatisfaction which his remarks had
engendered, and realizing the diff.
culties attendant upon advocating
both sides Of q question at the same
time, without evincing partiality or
detracting from the cogency Of the
reasoning with which to substantiate
arguments for or against the points at
issue, he launched out upon that
topic which always presents itself to
a petty opponent when circumstances
do not afford a tangible base for argu-
e He began a TRADE of personal
abuse, Yituperation- and calumnous
charges against the President, without
presenting an argument to substauti-
ate them. At this juncture about
four ffths of those in the hall retired
in disgust, a fact which seemed to
suggest to the speaker the necessity
of eschewing that subject or continu-
ing it to the empty benches.
Again ignoring the presence OF the
gullible soreheads, Heisley advanced
in extenuation Of the course of the
Democrats, the argument that they
had not gone over to the Republicans,
but that that body had come to them.
The speaker Immediately realized
that the less said or so delicate ques-
ton the better, and consequently
ventured only the mere assertion as
above. His next effort was an endea-
vor to explain the adaptability of the
Cincinnati platform to both elements
Of the coalition, and to show wherein
Greeley, in accepting it, was
neither a Democrat mol a Republican;
but at this point n Of the " unterri-
fed" oblivious to party identity,
called out in a maudlin voice, IF
Greeley ANITA Republican or a Demo-
crat. what the - is he :" The con-
undrum was so formidable as to
efectuslly squelch all intended elu-
cidation Of the subjects which led the
intoxicated Democrat to PROFOUND it.
Some strange fatality seemed to attach
to every topic introduced, as lsudatlon
Of Democracy was Of necessity denun-
of all forms of Republicanism,
and the speaker found himself in !
positions from which in ~extricating
himself he must necessarily advance
derogatory to one or the
other element before him. As a last
resort, and in the hope of introducing !
a topic IN which there was a unanI-
nifty Of sentiment, he proceeded to {
eulogize on the stability and frmness
of character which had marked the {
political course Of Nj. Greeley. To :
him Greeley's observation-disclosures, as [
manifested in becoming bail for JEFF.
Davis, was his greatest recommends
ton. In this connection the speaker
took advantage to vent his spleen by
attributing to Gen. Grant, disposition
cowardly and despicable, adding that
he was a man who gloated in the
bloodshed of others, but whose
cowardice, predominating over all
other feelings, had caused him to
sacrifice others while he stood aloof
from the scene Of carnage. Here he
paused to allow his audience to ap-
plaud but not a sound broke the
silence of the then almost deserted
hall. There were men among his
hearers who, Notwithstanding party
antagonisms, could not allow them
selves to countenance so barefaced