New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-12
GFRRIT SMITHS ATTITUDE.

There is no man living III WHOSE cooperation
the Liberal Republicans had more reason to
count than Gerrit Smith. 1t seems espe-
cially incredible that a man who made a
Journey to Richmond expressly to bail Jefferson
Davis, and who then uttered loving counsels
of charity and forgiveness, should now be Op-
posing the Cincinnati ticket.
Mr.. Smith evidently feels this, and in a
speech to his neighbors exercises his incOnsis-
tency by violent attack on the Democratic
party. He says:
"By all that is abhOrrent in oppression and cruelty
and murder the Democratic party must be kept out Of
power said however, that the Democratic party
has been kept of power dozen years. and that it is
now time to forgive it, and to let it try its hand at ruling
again. No. 1t IS not. When then, will it be tune 2
Never Neverl What, not il 1t repenti 1t cannot re-
pent. 1t has siDned too long and too deeply to be
capable Of repentance Ii cannot rise out Of the bot
tomless depths Of its political wickedness. AS that
generation Of Israelites which rebeled against
heaven was shut out from the Promised Land.
50 must this generation Of impenitent Demo
Gratis. Of febeionfaToiiSg Democrats. of negro
hating negro-whpping, negrO-hanging Democrats
be forever shut out Of power. Time enough
will it be for the Democracy to come agian
into power when the present Democrats (the
youngsters excepted are all dead Thankful should
Democrats be that the penalty OF their crimes falls
Thankful should they be that under our mercifu Cons
tuition there be Bill of Atander-no disqualfying
OF children because OF the crimes Of their parents
A few years ago Gen. Grant was pro-
Slavery Democrat yet Mr.. Smith has forgiven
him and now trusts to him to defend and up
hold the rights of the Blacks. We think him
herein right and wise. Gen. Grant I'M
doubtedly cherished radically different views
f,ht nd from those hp
held when he voted for James Buchanan. So
of Gen. Butler; so of Capt. Settle, the ex-
Slaveholding, ex-Rebel President of the Phila-
delphia Grant Convention. So OF Col. Mosby
and others who fought for Slavery and Seces-
sion, and are now shouting for Grant. Mr..
Smith cOnsorts with those, fraternizes with
them, trusts them, votes for them, urges the
Blacks to trust and vote for them. So far we
commend his lberality and practical wisdom.
But. CALAIS for the rarity of Christian
"charity under the SUM-" There are Three
Millions of Democrats who have frankly, fully,
publicly accepted the civil and political
equality of all citizens, as affirmed in the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amend
ments to the Federal Constitution, and ex-
pressly recognized and upheld by the Cincin-
natl Baltimore platform. MIR. Smith does not
believe that Messrs. Greeley and Brown mean
to be false to their oaths, their pledges, their
past lives, by giving up the Blacks to oppres-
sion and butchery; but he seems to
| believe and assert that the Three
Millions of Democrats who have just
accepted the Cincinnati platform have done
so in bad faith, and with intent to deceive
and betIay He has no more reason to say OF
believe this of Gov. Hoffman and his asso-
ciates than Of Messrs. Grant, Butler, Settle
g. Co. Mr.. Smith justifes his Inconsistency
by uncharitable, irrational impeachment OF
other mems sincerity and veracity. He will
not let a great party be wiser to-day than il
was yesterday. Nay: he insists that no mat
ter though they renounce their past errors
they shall never be forgiven. This implacablt
malignity is unworthy of any man, but more
especially unworthy of Gerrit Smith.