Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-11-29
Political Leaders.

The late election sugoests sevsraI
thoughts upon political Ieadersbin in This
country. The Democratic politicians
who managed the State Convention of
their party In New York aftor tho Cincin.
nati nomination were resolved TO secure
the adoption of the Cincinnati candidate
) AZ Baltimore, because they were sure that
the Republican secession would swell the
Democratic vote into vast majority.
They reasoned that if such men as Sen.
,ators Sumner, Trumbull, and SchurE,
were willing to lead their party, they
must necessarily lead an army of follow.
sers with them and that IL politicians
like Mr. Fenton, Mr. Hutchinps, Mr.
Mcclure, and Mr. Cochrape were ready
20 cooperate with Democrats, il was be-
cause they were sure of the disintegra-
tion OF tho party. We were constantly
tod that General Grant was the only man
who would divide the Republicans, and
p the only one who could not be elected.
Doubtless the gentlemen whom we
have named believed much of what was
said. Mr., Sumner thought that Massa-
chusetts, the great Republican State,
would follow him, Mr.. Trumbull sup
posed that he could divert Illinois, and
Mr.. Schurz imagined that he could con-
troll the German vote. On the other
'hN DOihNOldbS lliuNlC buC Sdllb HIS
take. II the Cincinnati candidate were
regularly" nominated, and IL the men
who are called the leaders of the party
MIR. Hendricks, Mr. Seymour, Mr.. Thur
man, MIR. Bayard-openly supported him,
t1c whole party would follow, and the
result was certain. All these gentlemen
have sbeen undeceived, and It has been
made evident that in the old English
sense there are no party leaders in this
country. In English history, when
few great Wings or Tories had been
secured, the vote was virtually polled.
But this is not the fact in this country,
and it is curious that shrewd politicians
do not learn it. Mr.. Webster thought
General Taylor's nomination "not fit to
be made" but he found himself march.
ing alone. Mr.. Seward turned to Andrew
johnson, and prophesied forty thousand
majority for him in New York, but New
York gave thirty thouaand majority
against him, and Mr.. Seward was politi.
cally dead. Mr.. Chase said the war was
over, and toyed with Tammany-and Mr..
Chase disappeared.
Despite all these familiar instances the
democratic managers insisted upon sup
= posing that the detection of Mr.. Sumner
and the Others meant dissolution of the
Republican party. But they were doubly
Republicans would follow the seceders
into the Democratic lines, and second, in
supposing that the Democrats would fol.
low them in supporting lifelong enemy
of the Democratic party. In the familiar
phrase, a party may be sold, but it can.
not be delivered. All these calculators
n forgot that an intelligent people decides
- for itself Party ties with us are strong,
but they are not invincible. 1t is because
we use parties as means and not as ends
that we prove our capacity to govern our.
selves. We honor men who maintain
ably principles that we approve. But we
do not therefore adopt all the measures
that hey recommend. The Republican
party acknowledged, for instance, the
great service of Mr.. Sumner in the long
anti-slavery debate of the last twenty
years; but it was not therefore willing to
commit the cause of equal rights to ex-
rebels and Copperheads because he ad-
vised it. And had he accepted the Demo
cratic nomination for Governor of Massa-
chusetts, although the State was probably
prouder of him than of any of her living
sons, she would have defeated him by
seventy thousand majority.
The Democratic managers who saw
certain conspicuous leaders leave the Re-
publican lines, did not see that for every
WIG vi Jutlu uuHuTeuS OL IQOuSanuS OF
Republicans, just as sincere and intelli-
gent as they, but not prominent nor
known, clung all the more closely to the
party, and strove all the more Zealously
to defeat the cause which the seceders
espoused. The Liberal orators were con-
stantly vociferating that it was the SOL
diers, and not General Grant, who sup
pressed the rebellion; but they never
thought of applying their argument to
the political situation, and reasoning that
it was the Republican rank and file, not
aGeneral here and there, who were really
important. This same disposition to re-
gard persons more than tendencies and
principles was evident throughout the
campaign. The coalition insisted always
on personal argument. Mr.. Summers
letter to the cOlored voters was devoted
to proving that Mr.. Greeley was a better
Republican than General Grant, until,
perceiving that such an argument was
useless, he added that the Democrats
were now as good Republicans as the
Republicans themselves The coalition
tried to make an issue between Grant
and Greeley. The country knew that
the contest was one of principles and
probabilities.
Henceforth the number of votes alien
ated by 'leaders" will not be reckoned in
proportion to the ability of those leaders
or their conspicuous service. 1t will
probably be hereafter remembered that
the most trusted ''leader," who, miscal-
cuiating the situation, would Withstand
the party instinct and imperil the party
principle and purpose, will be promptly
discarded by his associates. For they
are associates, and not followers. The
great mass of the Republicans refused to
accompany Messrs. Sumner, Trumbull
and Schurz, and the best part of the
q Democrats spurned the Leadership" that
attempted the coalition.-Harper's Weekly