Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-05-17
GBO. ". CURTIS Ov nOH.fCs
GRFREEr

Harper's Weekly of last week contains
an article from the pen Of George VIM.
Curtis, giving reasons why Horace Greeley
should not be President Of the United
States. Mr.. Curtis thinks Mr.. Greeley un-
doubtedly has elements of strength. but he
Is not strong candidate. His name does
not suggest TO the country either Of the two
great executive qualities-discretion and
decision. Bred In the school of Henry
Clay, whose memory he piously rcveres,
he is naturally timid and compromlser.
He has the credulity which belongs 10 a
certain simplicity Of nature and which
destroys all sound judgment of persons.
His sympatnies are limited; his preludices
deep and strong. He has been always
politician, and of an unsupported personal
honesty. Yet he Is not free from suspicion
Of personal grievance, for he undoubtedly
considered himself betrayed BY the action
of the New York Republican C1nventiou
| IN 1870; and II Is plain that he has felt the
want of what IL called influence with the
Administration and although personal
feeling in politics IL not a thing which
man readily admits, such motives may
sometimes he properly inferred In public
career.
ave invite all thoughtful American citi
zeus to consider the influences that nomi-
mated Mr. Greeley, known to mono so well
as to the best men in the Convention;
then to consider his attitude during the
war, when the real character OF every man
was tried. He would have allowed the
States TO decide whether they would secede.
He sorely perplexed the opening OF Mr..
Lincoln's administration, forcing the army
into the field before 1t was ready. He beg
ged Mr.. Lincoln to try 10 buy peace by
paying for the slaves. lie represented Mr.
Lincoln's action In the Niagara conference
in manner which Mr.. Lincoln declared
put him In false position before the cOun-
try. And he signed letter TO the loyal
Governors after Mr.. Lincoln was renonii-
mated in 1864, substantially asking whether
he should not be set aside and new can
didate selected. Consider such facts as
these, occurring at moments oil great ma
tional exgency, and decide what would
have CHANGED had Horace Greeley been in
the place of Abraham Lincoln
"If there is one quality which is ndis-
| peHsaDle III u ETtSlueHt, II IL SOunu jung
ment. If there is one public man who is
totally destitute of it. it il Horace Greeley.
A certain kindly feeling with which he i
regarded will not blind the country to his
natural unfitness for the Office to which he
has been nominated.
mfr. Greeley himself comedies the per-
sonal rectitude OF General Grant. 1t is the
allegation Of the best men who went to
Cincinnati, not that the President Is dis
honest, but that he Is Influenced by I'M
worthy counse!orS. They would have a
man whose will is adamant. It Is not
enough for them that his purpose is pure.
But is there human being competent 10
judge who supposes that General Grant is
easily moulded by his associates aud that
Mr.. Greeley would not be wax in the hands
of fiattercrs? To intrust the national gov
ernment to his direction would be 10
abandon the ship of state to be blown a bout
by every whimsical gust. The present Adj
ministration may be justly auenable to
censure in some points, us, indeed, every
Administration must be. But il Is incon-
ceivable that the patriotic intelligence OF
this country could substitute Horace Gree
ley for General Grant.