The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-08-09
GREELEY AND GRANT.


There is a magnetic attraction
about man wba has risen from OBJ
security to position of honor by his
own exe1tions, which every true
American is proud TO acknowledge
Thousands of men, in this country,
rise every year to wealth and social
position upon the crest of some m-
expected wave Of fortune aud either
sink again or float along the current
unnoticed But the man who by en-
ergy and integrity overcomes every
obstacle and earns fame, always re-
ceives the homage due those who win
such honorable attainments. Abra-
ham Lincoln's reputation as rail
splitter secured him firmer hold up
on the hearts of the masses of the
northern people than did his achieve
meats, either in the law or in politics
Aadrew Jackson, Daniel Webster,
and many other men who have at
tanned the highest distinction in the
annals of American history, owe their
success to the fact that they were of
the people. They had known toll
and grappled with poverty, and they
had vanquished both. Such men are
entitled to the sympathy and conf
dence of the laboring masses. They
know the wants of the people, and if
honest and capable they are the safes,
men to trust with power, Men born
in wealth and nursed in the lap of lux
ury and ease may be Democrats in
theory and practice, but they have no
sympathy in commoe with the sons
of toll who constitute nine tenths OF
the American people. But it is not
safe to regard man worthy of con-
fidence simply because he was born
poor and has risen suddenly to public
sotice by some social or political
eruption The sudden attainment OF
wealth or power has not a tendency
to elevate the human character, but
rather to induce prohigacy and a de-
sire for seIf:indulgcnces.
The difference between selfmade
men and those thrown into notice by
some capricious freak of fortune is
clearly illustrated in the characters OF
the two men now before the Ameri.
can people rs candidates for the Pres
idency. Both were born IN compara-
tive poverty, but by what different
apeans did they attain cminence.-
Greeley rose by honest and unaided
toll along the paths of peace; Grant
was thrown to the surface by the rel
crested tide of civil war; Greeley
has been attended in his weary ascent
by the onward march of science, arr,
literature and civil and religious free
dom; Grant dashed ont upon the po-
htical horizon accompanied by war
discord, rapine, famine and all their
attendant horrors; Greeley had in.
scribed upon his banner the golden
sheaf. and the olive branch; Grant
faunted the skull and cross bones =
Greeiey's life has been one of temper
ance anil self-deniaI; Grants, one OF
dissipation and se!f-indulgence; Gree
Ley attained honor and distinctions IKE
a Franklin; Grant rose to notoriety
like his friend and associate. Jim
Fisk. Behold the comparison and
judge between the men. Which OF
the twain would be most likely 10
shed honor upon the name of Amer.
ca by being elected to the chief mag.
istracy of the nation? TO doubt the
answer which will be given at the bal
lot-box next November woGld be to
brand the people with recreancy to
the principles Of their fathers, the ira
ditions Of their mothers, and their da
ty to their Col.