The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-01


The two platforms, so far as concerns es-
pecially the colored race, alike in substance,
but that at Cincinnati is expressed in terms
most worthy Of the equal rights it states
and claims: We recognize the equality Of
all men before the law, and hold that it is
the duty of the government in its dealings
with the people to mete out equal and ex-
act justice to all, whatever nationality,
race, color or persuasion, religious or polit-
ical.n
In other respects the platform Of Cincin-
natl is the most Republican, inasmuch as it
sets itself against these unrepublican abuses
which have been nursed by the President
into pernicious acti7ity.
From the two nominations and two plat
forms | come to the supporters Of the can
didates, and here | look first at those i'm
mediately about them, and secondly at the
popular support behind. Horace Greeley
has among his immediate supporters in all
parts of the country devoted and consistent
Republicans, always earnest for reform and
purity in government, on whose lives there
is no shadow Of suspicion, being contrast
in character to those rings which play such
a part in the present Administration.
The country knows too we'll the military
ring. the Senatorial ring, and the Custom
ring through which the President acts.
Such supporters are very poor recon-
mendation.
Looking at the popular support behind,
the advantage is still with Horace Greeley.
President Grant has at his back the diver
sified army of officeholders, drilled to obey
the word of command. The speeches,
praising him are by officeholders and mem
bers of the rings.
Horace Greeley finds hocking to his sup
port large numbers of Republicans unwil-
ling to continue the existing misrule, and,
as allies with them, regenerated party,
which comes forward to unite in this liberal
movement.
The Democrats in joining Horace Greeley
have changed simply as President Grant
changed when he joined the Republicans,
except that he was rewarded at once with
high office. The change is open. In adopting
the Republican platform, which places the
equal rights of all under the safeguard of
irreversible guarantees, and at the same
time accepting the nomination of lifetime
Abolitionist, who represents preeminently
the sentiment of duty to the colored race,
they have set their corporate seal to the
sacred covenant. They may continue Dem
ocrats in name, but they are in reality Re-
publcans by the same title that those who
sustain Republican principles are Republic
cans, or rather they are Democrats accord
ing TO the original Specification of that
word, dedicated to the rights of the people.
1t is idle to say that Horace Greeley and
the Republicans that nominated him are
any less Republicans because Democrats
unite with them in support of the cherished
principles and the candidate who represents
them. Conversions are always welcome,
and not the less so because the change is in
multitude rather than an individual. A
political party cannot, if it would, and
should not, if it could, shut the door against
converts, whether converted by the score,
the hundred or the thousand, and so we find
that the supporters of President Grant an
nounce with partisan triumph the adhesion
Of single Democrat partisan or single
Democrat newspaper. For equal reason
and with higher pride may the supporters
of Horace Greeley announce the adhesion of
the Democratic party, which turning from
the things that are behind, presses on to
those that are before.
It is also idle to say that the election of
Horace Greeley as President, with Gratz
Brown as Vice President, both unchange-
able Republicans, will be the return of the
Democratic party to power. On the con-
trary, it will be the Inauguration of Repub-
lican principles under the safeguard of a
Republican President and Republican Vice
President, with the Democrats as avowed
supporters.
In the organization of his administration,
and in the conduct of affairs, Horace Gree
ley will naturally lean upon those who rep
resent best the great promises made of
equal rights and reconciliation at Cincinna-
ii. IL Democrats are taken it will be as
Republicans at heart, recognizing the ASSOC
ciate terms of the settlement as an irrever-
sible finality.
The hardihood of political falsehood
reaches its extreme point when it is assert
ed that under Horace Greeley the freedmen
will be ensaved, or that the colored people
will in any way suffer in their equal rights.
On the contrary, they have in his election
not only the promises of the platform, but
also the splendid example for full gene
ration, during which he has never wavered
in the assertion of these rights. To sup
where he can do them the most good. will
uepdiI IOlu tllS Iuic vi HIS uOLcSI lHC ID all
insult to reason. a tN
1t is none the less idle to suppose that
Democrats supporting Horace Greeley ex-
pect or desire that he should depart from
those principles which are the glory of his
character. They have accepted the Cincin-
natl platform, with its two-fold promises,
and intend in good faith to maintain it.
The Democrats cannot turn back, who at
the convention adopting this platform sang
Greeley songs to the tune of sold John
Brown-his soul is marching on"
Seeking always the establishment of
character in the National Government, they
will expect their President to be always
true to himself. Therefore put aside the
partisan allegations that Horace Greeley
has gone to the Democrats, or that he will
be controlled by the Democrats. Each is
without foundation or reason, according TO
my Judgment. They are attempts to avoid
what you recognize as the true issue, be-
ing the question between the two candi-
dates, or perhaps they may be considered
as scarecrows TO deter the timid. Nobody
who votes for Horace Greeley will 60 to
the Democrats; nor do believe that when
elected Horace Greeley will be under any
influence, except that enlightened con-
science which will keep him ever true to
the principles which he represents.
| Gentlemen in thus answering YOUR two