The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-07
CAMPAIGN J0U RNAL.
THE VIRGINIA STATE JOURNAL
THE "REFORAl" TICKET.

THE "REFORn1" TICKET.
1t is related of celebrated Greek TRACE
dian that, in performing the part of Elec-
ira, he brought upon the stage an urn con-
tanning the ashes of an only child, that he
might the more successfully inspire HIM
self and his audience with the true agony
of dramatic grief. 1t was a happy thought
for the Greek, as the result showed. The
sight of the too long neglected urn excited
him at once to the requisite pitch of tragic
phrensy, and never was the part of Electra
played with greater or more signal triumph
than by means Of this happy ruse.
But one thing was necessary to the sue
cess of the Greek--his arm had to be kept
continually out Of the sight Of his audi
snce. Had it once entered their heads that
all his magnificent grief was not truly
leigned--not artistically simulated for the
occasion-it is by no means certain that he
would not have been hooted off the stage,
with all his unquestionably fine acting in
other respects than that of venting grief.
And in this the ancient Greeks did not differ
very materially from the people of our
own time. We demand genuine grief only
where it should not be simulated, and rice
rersa, sham grief only where it should not
be genuine. In parading the "old white
coat and hatn Of Mr.. Greeley before the
Cincinnati Convention, and demanding that
the world should catch genuine enthusiasm
from them, as from the hard cider and log
cabin emblems of 1910, the admirers Of
III. GU have omitted to conceal one im-
portant fact-that the philosopher had en-
tireIy outgrown his old white coat and hat,
and flung them aside years ago for ne'o
ones; and that, in the Democratic toggery
fitted to him at Cincinnati, no one could
suspect that any philosophy, genuine
or sham, ever entered into his political
makeup. The grotesque appearance
which he presents in this toggery excites no
enthusiasm of any kind, but is only pro-
vocative of merriment and general hilarity
Ia the public mind. .. ........ ..... ..
And yet we are not disposed to treat the
nomination of Mr.. Greeley as matter OF
ridicule. nor have we done so except as we
have viewed it from the standpoint of
others. Sneers are no proper substitutes
for argument in any case, much less in SO
important an issue as that now presented
for consideration before the country. Mr..
Greedy, in our judgment, is too formidable
an opponent to be laughed down in the Re-
publican party, or made the butt of mere
ridicule. We regard him the strongest
man, so far as the Cincinnati movement
meant mischief to the Republican party,
that could possibly have been put forward
by that Convention. Few living men pos
sess more commanding abilities, and we
think he has been infinitely moderated
as q politician. He is not simply
plain, strong man he is astute, saga
cious, far-seeing. He has, too, an i'm
mense hold upon the hearts of the Ameri-
can people. A single act of what he es-
teemed magninimity to fallen foe, made
him at once the idol Separate and apart
from politics. of nine millions of the Amer
lean people; and, with one dash of his
pen, he made infinite 'blockheadso of all
the thirty other millions who dared to
question the propriety Of what he did. We
freely accord him not only great ability,
but no small share of that worldly wisdom
which goes to make up the crafty and sa-
gacous politician. He is no mean antago-
mist to cope with in any field of contro-
versy, with the immense audience at his
command, and the powerful intellectual
resources at his ready disposal. a
But all this will fail, in our judgment, to
make him President. No man, nor party
in this country, can ever win, and shirk the
clear ayowal Of principles vital to politi-
cal campaign. The spirit of subterfuge, as
well as falsehood, must be ignored, and a
party must plant itself on some living issue,
and not on a LIE. Nor can any passive
policy win. There must be clear and
distinct ayowal of principle--something in
consonance with, or clearly opposed to,
Democracy--or the attempt to overthrow
one administration and naugurate another,
will prove utterly futile in the end.
Henceforth, the people of this country will
only support that party which makes the
frankest-the most explicit and honest
ayowal Of its principles.
But more than this. Every interest we
can conceive of as affecting the public pros
perity, and the general veal of the nation,
demands continuance of the present sd-
ministration of the government. The peo-
pie are everywhere averse to change-we