Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-08-16

HE is INVITED TO ADDRESS GREELE
MEETING,


The Greeleyites have claimed a
very large number Of the public and
patriotic men of the country, and among
them Gen. John A. Dix, whom they re-
Gently invited to address Greeley meet
ing, to which he made the following en-
phatic response
WRsTHAMPToN, July q, 1872.
Depr Sir:-Your letter of the 18th
inst, asking my aid to procure a speaker
for Greeley meeting at Hancock, was
sent to me while was in New England,
and | have been unable until now to
acknowledge its reception. | do not I'M
derstand ON what ground you considered
yourself authorized to address such re-
quest to me. If you had been familiar
with the course of my public life, and
equally so with MIR. Greeley's you could
not have supposed me capable of advo-
eating his election to the office of Presi-
dent of the United States without i'm
putting to me the utter abandonment OF
all political principle. | am opposed to
Mr.. Greeley
l. Because | believe him to be as ''un-
stable as water" perpetually founder
ing (to carry out the scriptural fgure)
amid the surges of opinion, and deficient
in all the requisites essential to firm,
steady and consistent administration of
the government.
2. Because he has usually been found
among the most extreme ultraists on the
great questions of political and social
duty, which have been brought under
public discussion during the last quarter
of century.
8. Because he has been the advocate
(and in this instance persistently) Of that
most unjust and unequal commercial sys-
tenn which is destroying our mercantile
and shipping interests, and heaping up
enormous accumulations of wealth in the
hands of the protected classes, to the
oppression and impoverishment of all
others.
4. Because he is associated, in rela-
tions more or less intimate with some of
the chief plunderers of the city of New
York, justly warranting the apprehen-
sion that, through his completely or his
facile disposition, the same system of
fraud and corruption which has disgrac-
ed the municipal government of this
may be carried to more infamous ex-
tremes in the administration Of the fed
eral government and,
5. Because in the darkest hour of the
country's peril, when a traitorous com.
bination had been formed to overthrow
the government, be openly counseied the
cowardly policy of non-resistance, and
an acquiescence in the dissolution of the
| ODlul, WH6HGNST bHe COtt0u hobdbcs shoulu
make up their minds to 90.
The coalition which has been formed
to promote his election is one of thu
most extraordinary in the history of par
ties, in respect both to the discordan
elements it embraces and the surrende
of principles it involves. The Cincin
natl convention, called to bring before
the people important measures of reform
dominated him, greatly to the surpris
of the whole country, knowing him tt
be an implacable opponent-nominate,
HIM, too, against the wishes and judg
ment of the chief promoters of tn
movement, who accepted him, either will
; an avowed or an ill-concealed disgust
which would be far more creditable t
their feelings if the act of acceptanc
were not utterly irreconcilable with thei
; principles. The democratic convention
at Baltimore endorsed and commende
! him to the support of their party-no
as the exponent of any principles the
have advocated. but as known an
bitter opponent of both the man whC
; perhaps of all others, has been the mos
malignant of the democracy, impeacf
ing its integrity, traducing its motive
e and vilifying its character. The adoI
( ton of such man as their candidat
8 for the chief magistracy of the Union
8 the most conspicuous abandonment {
s political principles known to party col
q tests. 1t remains to be seen whether tn
: great body of the democratic voters, an
{ the true friends of reform, can be mad
r parties to this INSCRIPTIONS coalition b.
e tween political leaders.
i That Gen. Grant has committed mi
e takes his most sincere friends admi
But if his errors had been four-fold MOI
numerous he would, in my opinion, be
h much better Chief Magistrate than M
k Greeley. He has, in that capacity, dor
e much for which he deserves the thanh
l. of the country. Above all, he has keI
it at peace, Notwithstanding the efforts
r sensation journals and popularity-seel
u ing politicians to provoke hostilities vii
Spain on the question of Cuba. and vii