Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-09-27
POLITICAL soMERsAULTs
BY VIM. LLOYD GARRISON.

From the New York Independent.
Conversions or changes which
run in the line of personal advance
ment, of popular sentiment, of an
ticipatcd victory, may be without
taint or bias; but they will never
be regarded rs evidence of superior
virtue or rare patriotism. Especi-
ally is this true in politics. In any
dubious struggle, like the pending
Presidential election, if one who has
heretofore been Jealous partisan
turns a somersault with the agility
of u circus performer, and assumes
an attitude of hostility, with fair
chance (at least in his own opin-
ion) Of gaining or retaining the hon
ors and emoluments of high official
station, the chances are that no.
body will consider him pattern of
virtue, and very general belief
will be very likely to obtain that che
has an Ak to grind" or che has q
sharp appetite for the loaves and
fishes OF office" Certainly, even if
this estimate of him be wrong one
all the circumstances Of his change
Of partisanship and tactics should
modestly keep him in the back
ground, and prevent his attempting
leadership in his new role, with vir-
tuous platitudes and lofty patriotic
professions upon his lips, mingled
with scathing denunciations of the
party from which he has fled. But,
Unknown to be inflated with vanity,
or sclfshly ambitious Of distinction,
or changeable as chameleon, or to
regard, "nothing so successful as
success" calculating his chances
accordingly, he will fail to make any
other impression upon honest and
intelligent minds, no matter what
garb he may assume or what claim
to confidence he may urge, than
that he is an interested witness and
must be ruled out of court.
Many instances Of this kind are
seen in the ranks of the so-called
"Libcral Republican party"-most
liberal toward all that has been trail
torous in the land; most illiberal to-
ward al that is eminently loyal.
The most notable one is found in
the person Of its principal leader,
Mr.. Horace Greeley. Prominently
identified with the Republican party
from its organization, essaying to
be its rcdoubtablc champion against
all its adversarics; proudly holding
it up rs the embodiment of the in
tclligcnce, virtue and patriotism of
the nation, glorying in its brilliant
record, and cordially sustaining
sometimes originating) its able con-
structive and preservative measures
till within a few months, he is now
it's fierce assailant, doing what in
him lies to insure its disruption and
cover it with shame and disgrace.
From eulogizing President Grant
for his sterling qualities, his we'll
tried patriotism, his modest bear
ing, his honest endeavor to admins
ter the Government in turtherance
of the rights and interests of the
whole people and of all sections of
the country, without fear or favor,
and strictly within the limits ofcon-
stitutional authority, and rcnominat-
ing him for the Presidency as better
qualified in 1872 than in 1868, Mr..
Greeley has turned to blackening
his character as one totally unfit for
the station he occupies, utterly
venal in spirit and conduct, degrad-
ed in companionship, deficient in un-
derstanding, and military usurper
under whose iron hand the sorcly
visited South lies crushed and bleed
ing, the prey of remorseless "North-
ern carpet-baggers," alike defense
less and dcspairing! Through his
mouth-piece, the Tribune, he is fill
ing the air with the vilest asper-
sions of those who will not follow
his lead and echo his sentiments;
branding the Presidents Admins
tration, without qualification, as
''THIs DAMNABLE ADMINISTRATION"
"a charge made in public speech
by a prominent Liberal Republican,
and conspicuously printed in capi-
tails in the Tribune, in order to give
it emphasis.
Now, this is q somersault so
astounding as to challenge the clos
est scrutiny. Is there particle of
evidence to show that it has been
made conscientiously, in the SER
vice Of the people, without any per-
sonaf self-seeking or hope Of sup
planting the President? If SO, it
remains to be produced. All the
facts bear heavily in an opposite
direction. Last year, after propos-
ing the reelection of President
Grant, Mr.. Greeley had sudden
change come over "the spirit of his
dream," and, from what motives or
at whose suggestion he best knows,
was induced to visit the Southern
States, extending his tour to doubly-
rebellious and thrice-curscd Texas
Texas, the last to yield to the
Government, the most shameless in
its career, the most dctcstable in its
history. He spoke and lectured to
the people as opportunity presented,
daubing with untempered mortar,
complimenting and being compli-
mcnted, dealing in honeyed phrases
and gushing with professional SYM
pathy and good will, protesting
against the Withholding Of universal
amnesty, shaking hands over "the
bloody chasms" with Jefferson Da-
Wis and other leading rebels, and
getting in return a rebel nomina-
ton for the next Presidency. They
took his measure as vain and
credulous man, and instinctively
saw to what purpose he could be
put in their behalf. Returning
home, inflated with a reception
which was anything but credilable
to him, he began to be more fire.
quent and more violent in his at
tacks upon the President and his
Administration, until his nomination
by all irresponsible conclave at Gin
cinnati, and his subsequent indorse-