Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-10-18
Greeley and the Tribune.


travelling from State to State like a show
man, uttering self-laudatory barangues to
gathering crowds, covering with obloquy
his political rival, and exerting all his
powers to secure his own election as the
wisest of statesmen and the most disinter-
ested of patriots. Even the bad example
OF Andrew johnson, swinging around
a given circle, and on all occasions pour.
ing out his malignant invectives upon a
loyal Congress for not allowing him to
play the role of dictator, furnishes no ex-
ceptional case; for his object was one of
self-exculpation from the damaging
charges brought against him, not to gain
high position by supplanting a hated
opponent. 1t has been left for Mr. Horace
Greeley lat present the most misohievous
person in the whole country to establish
precedent not to be found in American
history, and one incompaTably more to be
honored in the breach than in the observ-
ance. Having got through with his
Eastern exhibitions of himself, he
has been going his rounds at the West,
awakening as much curiosity as a
hrst-class caravan, repeating his ICON
ciliatory" platitudes dd ndusedm. blow.
ing his own trumpet, and vauntingly pro-
claiming his destiny to be the occu-
pancy of the White House ut Washington
for the next four years. The contrast
between gold and brass, in point Of value,
is not more marked than is the difference
seen between President Grant and him.
self in this particular Covered with the
basest accusations as to his official integ.
rity and trustworthiness, the former
might be charitably judged If he should
so far depart from old usages as to meet
his fellow-countryme face to face, at
different travelling stages, or in some
other way, to address them directly in
refutation of all charges of maadminis
tratiOn on his part but he remains as
calm and silent as did Washington under
equally malicious aspersions, trusting to
the intelligence and good sense of the
people, and confident of a triumphant
acquittal in the end. Mr.. Greeley has no
excuse for such "new departure" He
is not the assailed, but the assailant; and,
if it were seen that he has no personal
ambition to crafty, no wish or purpose
to obtain office, but il actuated by the
purest and most unselfish motives in his
arraignment of the President and the Re.
publican party, then, indeed, the course
he is now pursuing might shield him from
the imputation that is now justly brought
against him of vanity, self:seeking, and
unscrupulousness. But, having the
Presidency badly on the brain, and
pluming himself on the certainty of his
success, he may not claim to be consider
ed an unbiased witness, nor ask to be eX-
empted from the rule of judgment ap-
piled to all other persons tempted in like
manner.
1t is time, indeed, to speak very plainly
concerning his conduct. With the watch
words of peace, good will, and reconcilia-
tion on his lips, he is sowing the seeds of
discord and alienation broadcast. His
counsels are as worthless as his preten.
sions are ridiculous. He breaches per-
petual forgetfulness of whatever the
South did in the matter of slavery or at
tempted in the work of rebellion; and is
reused to anger if any facts are referred
to, however admonitory or instructive,
attributing the act to an unforeivable
spirit. To follow his advice, by casting
into oblivion what ought never to be for
gotten, is surely to go the downward
road But the fact is, the South needs to
be better known and better understood by
the North. Our danger lies in this, that we
know so little, and are so liable to be
shamefully imposed upon by sentimen-
tai appeal to our magnsnimity. 1t is
sad truth that slavery, that "sum of all
villainies, was not abolished because of
its accursed nature, or from any COM
punctious visitings as to its inherent
wickedness, but only from military ne
cessity. But for that, its victims would
still be clanking their chains and grinding
in the house of bondage. Hence, as a
people not having remembered those in
bonds as bound with them, we are not so
keenly alive to the perlls to which they
are sure to be subjected should they be
left to their fate by the withdrawal Of the
protecting arm of the General Govern
ment They are still as sheep in
the midst of wolves, and for them
our fears and our sympathies should
be constantly excited. Mr.. Greeley is
for leaving them to the "tender mercies"
of those who have ever looked upon them
as an inferior race, born to be life long
hewers of. wood and drawers of water,
equally objects of traffic with cattle and
swine, and from whose iron grasp they
have been liberated as an act indispensa-
BILE to our national preservation He de.
ludes himself, or tries to delude others.
by assuming that complete revolution
has taken place in the feelings and senli.
ments of the old oligarchical whites at
the South in respect to their former vas
sails. But no such change has taken place
scarcely any change for the better.
Not so quickly are the pride of ancestry,
the contempt of race, the love of domin.
ion, the prejudices of caste, the bitter.
ness of. long cherished sectional estrange
ment, the remembrance of woful defeat
and enforced submission eradicated from
the breasts of such a people. They are
still under the influence of their educa
tion and training. 1t cannot be other
wise. Better to reign in He'll than serve
in Heaven" is still their choice. Moth
ing can exceed the haughtiness of theil
disposition or the arrogance of theil
pretensions, excepting the wickedness Of
their past oppression. In nothing are
they to be consulted in reference to oul
national policy or the management of oul
national affairs. To the counsels Of
freedom they can bring nothing ot
wisdom or patriotism, but only
folly and division. II they are
seen to stoop-as at the Baltimore
Conventional is only that they thu,
hope to conquer and regain their ascend
eDcy over the nation. speak of them ai
class, not as individuals; and that thii
description of them is true none are
better qualified to judge than theil
former victims. What their verdic
is Mr. Greeley knows, and the natioI
knows; and from it no appeal can be sue
cessfully taken, being based upon sad ex
perience, watchful observation, and daily
contact. AS it is for their interest ant
safety to do what in them lies to cultivate
amicable relations with their old masters
they have no motive to judge harshly Of
TO desire strife. OF all people, they arr
peculiarly susceptible of kind treatment
and easily won by any manifestation o
sincere interest in their welfare. Yet
behaving themselves in the most quie
and orderly manner, and so giving nj
just occasion for offense, they are unable
TO discern any essential change in tn,
spirit of those who rioted so long upoI
their unrequited toll They still live il
great apprehension, and see no security
from outrage for themselves and littl
ones but in the re election of Presiden
Grant and the continuance of Rcpubli
can administration. 1t is not in the powe
of Mr. Greeley or MIR. Sumner-it is no
in the power even of the Northern Abo
litionists collectively-top persuade them +