New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-08-08

tnat nc IS the better RepuDIcan Ol tlic tN"!
"MR. FREDERICK DOUGLASS would like
to vote for Mr.. Greeley, only he is not sure
whether his vote would elect Mr.. Greeley the
old-time Abolitionist, or Mr.. Greeley the
leader of the Democrats and in this state of
uncertainty he gives Gen. Grant the benefit
of his doubt. We are sorry for Mr.. Doug
lass, who, if he will stop and think long
enough to count ten, must see that he acts
very incOnslstently, to say the least. He
should know that Mr.. Greeley has not changed
his opinion on the great question of human
freedom, and justice to all men Of whatever
race, complexion, or religion. He should
know that the Democrats have adopted Mr..
Greeley's platform, and have chosen him as
their leader instead of his choosing them.
And for Mr.. Douglass to say he does not
know which Greeley his vote might elect be-
cause the Democrats of 1872 think differently
from the Democrats of 1860, and see fit to
make him their standard-bearer implies an
obliquity of judgment OH his part that we
did not expect, or that his prcjudices have
got the better of his principles. Does he not
see that the world moves: And surely it is
not the fault of Horace Greeley if the Demo-
Gratis have moved with the world and have
caught up with him. But Mr.. Douglass can
support Gen. Grant, an old-time Democrat,
was cast for James Buchanan, and who said
that if the war was waged for the liberation
of the slaves he would sheathe his sword or
join the rebels. He knows exactly which
Grant he votes for, does he? And he is not
troubled by the Democratic votes cast for
him! And he joins with others in appealing
to the old shareholders and secessiOnists to
vote for the reelection of this same Grant,
who is just as much of a Democrat as ever!
And this is Frederick Douglass idea of pc.
litical consistency and craftsmanship! And
so the great Liberal Reform Movement will
leave Mr.. Douglass behind, jumping up and
down on the old boards and vociferating the
old platitudes as though the world had stopped
eight years ago."
We do not despise the pity of the Golden
Age, though we cannot accept it as we'll or
wisely bestowed. Frederick Douglass Is not
| ashamed of his doubt of Horace Greeley nor
his faith in U. S. Grant. The head of 4 man
on the body of snake is puzzling mon
strosity. Greeley at the head of the Demo-
cratic party is a fact so strange and stunning
as to explain hesitation and raise doubt. 1t
matters little how the two came into their
present anomalous relation. The fact before
us is, that Greeley is the head and the Demo-
cratic party is the body of the opposition to
sense and self-deception to assume that if
elected by this Democratic nomination and
by Democratic votes, Mr.. Greeley will be
| anything else than Democratic President.
The few or many Democrats who may vote
for Grant will vote for him outside of all
| I;cnuctoI with tho
amphibious thing into which their party has
been converted. They will vote for him not
as the candidate of the Democratic party, but
of the Republican party. There is nothing
equivocal in such support. No obligations
arc contracted Or incurred by it. A man who
cannot see difference between Democratic
support to Grant and Democratic support to
Greeley in the premises implies an Obliqu-
| ty'' Of vision which INSCRIPTIONS PARTISAN
ship may explain but cannot excuse. The
mere fact that the Democratic party has
adopted the Cincinnati candidates and plat
form does not convince us, and ought not
convince anybody, that the democrats OF
1872 think differently" or feel differently
from what they did in 1860, or in 1868, or at
any time prior to the making Horace Gree
ley their candidate for the Presidency. The
human mind and heart are not capable of in
Simultaneous change unless under extraordi-
nary and almost miraculous power. No such
power is manifest in the alleged conversion
of the Democrats. Away with all humbug.
Mr.. Tilton, you know very well that the
Democratic party has taken Republican
leader not because it loves him, but because
it hopes TO win Office and power under his
lead. You know very well that that party
would have secuted Greeley if it could have
won under a Democratic leader. The mem
bers of the party have not changed their
principles, but their mode of supporting them.
The "old platitudes" of truth are much to
be preferred to the platitudes of falsehood
and disqualification by which friend of the
negro would bcguie him into the old Demo-
cratic party. 1t is better to cling to an old
truth chan to a new lie.
Letter Of Senator Sumner TO Sun
dry COlOred Citizens.
There is no DENYING that Senator Sumner