New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-10-24
DemOraliZing Influence of "Lib-
CraIisn.''

1t is as significant as it is remarkable, that
every Republican who has turned Liberal or
gone straight into the Democratic camp with
out any such dishonest subterfuge, at once
has lost all regard for truth and all sense of
right and wrong. Morally as well as poltl-
cally, their whole natures seemed to have
changed. Men who, while acting with the
Republican party, were upright and honor
able in their conduct, and exhibited scrupu-
lous respect for truth, the moment they de-
serted it, and were relieved from the moral
restraint it imposes upon its members, have
become the most reckless falsiiiers and
coarsest and vilest assailants Of the party.
Horace Greeley forms striking illustration
Of the truth of this assertion. While Re-
publican he maintained the reputation of an
honest and truthful man, and a fair-minded,
if not always a just, politician.
But since he started for the enemy's lines,
under the shallow pretcxt Of liheralizing and
reforming the Republican party by destroy
ing it, he has become the most malignant and
INSCRIPTIONS libeler of his tellowRepubli
cans, and Of every measure, as well as the
whole policy, of the party. In the malice
of his assaults and his contempt for propriety
and decency, he has gone far beyond the
most Jealous Democrat Of the nation, and
as one of our contemporaries declares, his
association with the New FORK ring thieves
has thoroughly changed and demoralized
him. From becoming respectable and re-
spected Republican editor, he is transformed
into very INSCRIPTIONS Office seeker, wan
derng about the country advocating his own
CLAIMS, meanly seeking votes, and recklessly
maligning his old party, scolding like drab,
and employing the vocabulary of the Five
Points Democrats, with whom he is now
"hail fellow well met"
We unite with the same paper to which We
have REFERRED in saying that his recent
electioneering tour is one Of the most dis
graceful and disreputable exhibitions in our
politics, hardly excepting Andrew Johnson's
famous swing around the circle. And we
agree with it, also, that no Presidential cam
didate, with due self-rcspect and sense Of
the delicacy of the situation, would go upon
such an expedition. But Greeley went forth,
and has returned, and during his pilgrimage
uttered sayings which might have been in the
highest degree becoming in Democratic
sheet, but from Horace Greeley were in the
last degree shameful. His slanderous words
regarding the soldiers and sailors convened
at Pittsburg on the 18th of September were
| such as to draw upon him the dislike of that
great body of his countrymcn. But at Scran-
ton, Pennsylvania, he went further, and
accused the Republican party of running this
campaign at the expense of the Treasury Of
the United States.
| In addition to that, he took up the stale
Credit Mobilier slander--that great exploded
lie of this campaign-by which the attempt
was made to inculpate such men as Horny
Wilson, Schuyler Colfax, and Henry L. Dawes
in corruptly receiving money for their intlu-
ence as Congressman. And Greeley en-
ployed it as only a man could who has de-
serted the Republican party for the Pres-
dencv, and made his bed with those whom
he denounced as thieves, gamblers, prison.
birds, and scoundrels of every degree.
Greeley upon the stump, employing only
proper modes of speech, and treating his old
friends with decency, would have been a
spectacle no way agreeable; but Greeley
going about as tramp, retailing the ISLANDERS
and exploded falsehoods Of the Democratic
papers, is revolving sight. And many who
read the Tribune think il has fallen lower
than its old conductor. 1t is more vile and
untruthful than ordinary papers of the Demo-
cratic persuasion. Theyare often vile through
the force of habit but the Tribune and Gree
lev have become so in order to obtain stand
ing with their newfound friends.