Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-08-07

Convention, though after il was well known
from the reported character and predictions
Of most of the delegates who the nominees
would be- many recusant Democrats were
queryiug about the real attitude Of Mr.. Gree.
ley, or rather if the genuineness Of his conver-
sion to Democratic principles was such as to
Justify their adopting him. Tho change must
be so great, and yet was so sudden, that there
was reason to doubt its geuuineness and per-
manoncy. To answer such doubts the case OF
Saul of Tarsus was cited as an example OF
great aud lasting conversion, though so re-
markably sudden Without countenancin9
the irreverence of such comparison, would it
not be more pertinent to inquire whether
there be any conversion in this instance, and
even whether any is necessary
The present relationship of Horace sGrec-
ley to the Democratic party may to unpreju-
diced observers seem little anomalous, but
it is not difficult to account for it. Il may
turn out as Greeley says, " neither is he less
Republican, or are they less Democrats y
and as Blair told the Alabamians at Mont
gomery last Fall, The most ancient Bour
bon in the State Of Alabama could vote for
such Republican Tone nominated by the dis
affected Republcans) aud hold all the time
IN his rery hea,t all there would be Of his
BourJonism" So here we have the concur.
rent testimony Of Greeley and Blair, that
Democrats can vote for such a man without
prejudioing their Democracy.
A. to Greeley's being just as much Repub-
lean as ever. Ia the first place it is doubt ess
true he is now just as much in favor of main
tanning the integrity OF the Union as be was
in 1860, when he was willing the d" Cotton
States" or any considerable section Of the
Union, should 60 out, if they would 60 after
" giving due notice" He is no doubt now
Just as much as in 1864 in favor Of com.
plete and universal amnesty" to all rebels,
from the humbIest soldier in the ranks up to
Jefferson Davis and all other equally guilty
traitors. As the Government has not yet as
scented to paying the fair hundred millions
for The aares emaaeipated by the procama.
ton and confirmed by constitutional amend
ments, aud any compensation for slaves is
therein prohibited, the next best and only re-
muneration for rebels the constitution would
now allow, is to pension disabled soldiers aud
the widows and orphans of the rebellion.
To this probably Mr.. Greeley would assent, as
the only pecuniary relief for sufferers in the
lost cause the constitution will allow till
Democratic legislation can provide some other
relief to our Southern brethren who in an
unfortunate moment were enticed into re-
bellion. Mr.. Greeley, then, needs no change
Of opinion as to the right Of secession, or as
to the immunity to rebels, to fit him for Dem.
ocratic support for President From FIRST To
last he has unquestionably sympathized with
the opposers Of the war for the Union, and
t only gave it heartless support from defer
I ence to Northern and Republican sentiment
, which he dared not disregard.
] ehave thus indicated Mr.. Greeley from
e impuation of solecism in claiming to be "a,
good Republican as erer, and his Demo
cratic supporters as much Democrats as ever
TIE fact that they now claim to stand on the
same platform of principles is no answer tC
our defence Of them. However many, OF
however diverse may be the pIanks compos.
ing the platform, they all rest upon this sure
and noble basis Anything, as well as
. anyJody, to defeat Grant"
Relative to Mr.. Greeley's apparent chang,
! (more apparent than really Of political atti
+ tude there is as little nationality as rever
ence in comparing it to the conversion o
. Saul Of Tarsus, We doubt there being
= single point of resemblance, except perhaps
the sudden blindness his ambition aud ego
tisn have brought upon him, aud this will no
r. leave him, perhaps, for months
Though we can institute no comparison be
o tween Horace Greeley's current history anc
the Apostle Paul's, as a reformed prosecutor
yet there is a remarkable resemblance between
4 Greeeys detection from his party, and tn,
p conduct Of Peter on a certain memorable oc
cason Whether it will result as WE'LL and
with as much heartfelt repentance, we cannot
presume to predict. 1t will of course be per.
ceived we refer to that occasion which caused
, Peter to 60 out and ioeep bitterly, probably
not altogether on account of his base denia
of his Lord. but in fact for his vain, SELF
sufficient confidence.
To make the points of resemblance appear
perfectly unmistakable, it will be necessary to
quote from the Tribune, for whether it is
, or ever was a party organ" it certainly has
been, as well as nor is, the organ of Horace
Greeley. We cite that oracle Of political as
well as agricultural wisdom, the Semi. Week.,
of August 25th, 1871, page A, column |.
under the heading The Real Issue" The
TriJune charges portion of a Republican
committee with boiling in the middle of a
canvass Of the preceding State election, under
the pretext that some Republicans were under
e" Tammany influence" After some remarks
on this, the Tribune proceeds thus:
What these gentlemen ask of our approach.
ing State Convention is, that it shall stigmatzt
AL those Republicans who are esteemed friends Of
GOV. Fentun. or Of the Tribune, as under Tam,
many influence They ask the convention To ruiz
US out, and brand false to the party and
plotting its defeat Their oracles assert that we
rried To defeat the Republicans last fall, and will
do the same this tall"
After repeling this charge, the Tribune, or
Mr.. Greeley, proceeds again to say
We have a short method, then, of dealing
with all this cant of Tdmmany influence.
g Gentlemen of the interior you sec and read
The Tribune have done so tor years We pruflel
nothing in apology or excuse fr its conduct. Il
you think ii labTed 10 defeat Gen. Woodfprd lasi
fall, or has tried this summer IA screen and uphold
the 1dDndny piuadererS Of our cify vute it,
friends out Of the next State Convention and give
their seats to our enemies. That will show thar