Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-09-12

sword without mercy, and by prosecu-
lions, trials and imprisonments in dissan
nltentiaries. If Greeloy's pen wa,
unaniaple. Grants deeds have been pit
ilessly cruel.
But what if these shings be true O
oota' We are not correcting the wicked
past; we are providing for the hidden and
awful future We are not to decide what
either Greeley or Grant aoas, but what
they are, and sciN be. This is the cues.
ton, on the answer to which We must
oase our present action, for our future
tate. What was wrong in the. past, we
condemned; and condemn still But it is
beyond recall. The present is ours to
act IN; the future ours to provide for.
Which, then, of these men, Greedy or
Grant, IN character, opinions, and posi-
tso''' presents to US the best hope for the
iuturef Not, which we approve. Mt,
which We would select as against some
other man whom we would prefer to eth
er-but, the choice being present 5etyees.
these taco only, soAicA is Jests As prac-
teal men, desiring the best for the eoun-
try, we must vote between them.
L. As to personal character. Mr..
Greeley is man of ability, of real con-
vlctlons (however much in error he NAV
BE- honest ID private affairs, aud with
all Of faulse direction, which we astri
butte to bis sentiments. man of large
sympathies, and with much of the milk
OF human kindness in his nature. He
may have been fierce and harsh in his
words; but he is neither vindictive nor
implacable in his temper. His instincts
are kind and even generous; and though
his MIND has led him often to extreme
and unsound opinions, the dictates, of his
heart are liberal and gentle. 10 use &
homely adage, "His bark is worse than
his bite"
Gen. Grants character is in strong
contrast He had a noble opportunity
to give piece to divided land, but hes
lent himself to the most relenles and
rsncorous policy that ever cursed a
county Selfish and graspiug, he is i'll
capable of high aspiration, or magnani.
NOUS policy. With words Of peace u pe,,
ais lips he has Inflicted, for four years
upon our Southern land, the virulent
enforcement Of the most despotie acts of
egislation. ellis bite is worse than his
bark"
Greeley helped to strike the shackles
from the limbs of the Confederate Presi-
Gent. Grant his iu!mured in penisentia-
ries number of Sou thern citizens. All
OF Greeley's tendencies have been towards
amnesty since the war. All of Grants
have been the other way. Greedy mas
obviously reached forth the friendly hand
across the bloody.cha m. Grant and his
Cabinet have put down the iron heel up
on have st.s;hed out the mail b. nd and
proclaimed a continual war against. the
Southern people.
2. AS to their opinions. Look at the
two letters of acceptance Of their recpect
i've nominations. Grant promises, that
what has been in the last four years shall
be in the next. Tnezorable and mercleas,
he pledges himself to pursue the policy
Of the present, in his future administra-
lion of the Government. The tide OF
liberal sentiment, which swells from the
Northern main, breaks against the un-
moved rock Of his cold. vigdictige, and
prosecuting policy. The peace he prom
lses, is that he has given-t that OF the
kite to the dove-the suspension of the
writ of ha6eas corpus, oyer whole coun-
ties and districts. as if war still aged
and the prosecution to their hateful doom,
Of citizens, old and young, under tie
forms of law, which the constitution
condemns.
Greeley on the other hand, declares
clearly and openly, for Universal amnes-
ty with impartial suffrage, for the subor-
aination of the military to the civil au-
thority; for tie integrity Of the habeas
,arpus; for the freedom of the internal
policy of the States from Federal subver-
sion; and for the defence of local self
government against cen radiation.
If these letters honestly express the |
present opinions and the future purposes |
IF the two candidates. Opinions and pur-
poses strikingly coincident with the per-
'onal character of the two men as describ |
ID above, J why should we. hesitate to |
choose Greeley as best adapted to meet |
,ur views and Ia promote tho CAUSE OF |
ruth and justice in our down trodden |
5. But we're there any room for doubt |
it is removed by the position of the two |
candidates. No man, who has observed |
public affairs, can fail to know that can
lidate is the representative of the party |
Or movement which presents him-that
be is subject to it, and not its guide. The |
candid ate, when elected, cannot resist the |
i,npulsive power of the movement which |
elevated him. He is born of its ideas |
and must realize them. His coun-
cellors must be selected and his support |
must come from the men who elect him
The air he breathes will be that of his
supporters, and they will more or less
mould, control and guide his administra-
ton.
Now the liberal movement, as it is call
ed, is reaction from the extreme Radi-
cal policy of the present administration.
The country, North and South, signs
for peace. Where the Federal power
has interfered and Radical policy has
been supreme, Southern States are con-
vulsed by lawless and unconstitutional
action. or are .etid with the corruptions
of horde Of hungry aliens, who feed
and f.tten on the people. Men at the
North have seen this--Chase, Schurz,
Greeley, Gratz Brown. Judge Davis,
Trumbull and others, see that peace can
only come by permitting us to live IN
peace, to regulate our own affairs, and to
restore the wasted resources of our DESC
lated country. Liberty, so essential to
nrooress cannot exist without cOnstitu-