Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-08
About the republican Parry.


II ,ros NO, sxncrtei that the New York Trib-
pne would feel happy over the nominations at
Pbilsdclnbia. Mr. Greeley may have supposed
,nere was nothing left of the republican party
.oor he Jeff IL: but the party has seen men of
mueh more power and personal influence go ont
of if. without weakening it in the least Sal
mon P. Chase, moved by the :unacy of ambi-
ZION. went out of ii and offered himself TO the
democrats; but the influence of his departure
was not sufficient to create in the party con-
seriousness of his absence. Mr.. Chase injured
nobody but himself. His old friends have suf-
fercd nothing save regret that the presidential
monomania was allowed to disfigure his great
record and iniure his reputation. 1t was not
'siust for handful of silver" that he left us,
but for democratic votes, which, he believed,
were ready to make him president. 1t was, for
such a Salmon P. Chase, a fearful mistake; but
it has been disastrous only to himself. Mr..
Greeley has been a republican Of much less
personal power and value than Mr. Chase, and
the influence Of his detection is still more insig
nihcant.
There can be nothing more prepOsterous than
for some prominent republican TO rise up before
the country and talk as fhe made the republican
party and has power to destroy it; as if he owned
it and could do with it what he will; as if it
must listen to him and do his bidding or become
ruin; in word, as if he were the beginning
and end of the party, its light, life, and WISDOM
the master of its destiny. The republican party
was made by its principles. 1t makes and UNI
makes these men who are led by the illusions
OF egotism to assume that they own it. 1t can
use them or do without them as circumstances
may require without losing particle ofits power.
Therepublicans can do without MIR Greeley much
better than he can do without them, as lie is like
ly to learn before he is year older, and as the
Tribune is already beginning TO learn in lessons
that are extremely unpleasant. The political
action of republicans is regulated, not by the
vagaries Of prominent men VITO stupidity as
sumo to own them, but by their devotion 10 the
principles and aims of the republican party
No ambitious Chase or Greeley will ever be able
TO substitute himself for these: and the attempt
to effect substitution OF this kind, will ouly iIl-
cite repu blicans to amazemeut and indignation
at the treachery that would hetray them.
The Philadelphia convention has shown 81
concerned that the republican party is Hnitei
and powerful, and that it goes inso the presi-
dental canvass with no abatement Of hope, per
pose, or enthusiasm. The New York Tribune
sees this with sorrow, and cannot treat he sub
iect with tone in which there is even the men,
orv of candor It asserts that every delegate
was selected by the administration that it was
an office holders convention and the like. |
Some innocent people cherish the delusion that |
Greeley and the Tribune are very honest"
Well, these assertions illustrate such honesty /
as they have. There never was a national con-
vention of the party, which was less affected BY |
administration influence or more completely |
controlled by the honest opinions and wishes
Of the party itself. The administra-
ton had no more influence on the election of
delegates in Massachusetts, than the Tribune or
the Cincinnati platform; and so it was gener-
ally The Evening Post has the candor to say,
as well see, that the character of the party
was fairly represented, and that "Gen Grant is
unquestionably the choice of the lay as well as
OF the official members Of the regular orgaRiza-
ton" Mr.. Greeley supposes the condition of
opinion and feeling in the party ought to be
different because he has spoken against Gen.
Grant; but morbid egotsm is a delusiye lunacy,
which is constantly installing fact for fiction.
He is not in a condition TO talk candidly of that
convention, or to express an honest judgment of
its character and significance.
The New York World adopts a tone towards
the convention similar to that of the Tribune.
We eau sec in the comments Of these journals,
not what is true, but what they impotently de.
sire to have true. These critics show nothing
but themselves; and, we dare say, they will fail
10 become reasonable even amid the oyerwhelm-
ing disasters which are sure to befal them, in
November. The republicans now have in the
field the strongest presidential ticket that could
have been selected; the strongest, because it
fairly represents the preferences and wishes of
the party; and this ticket will be elected BY
such majority as will astonish if not instruct
lis critics. In the coming election, the republic
can party will show an increase rather than a
dlminuhon of strength 1t will lose very little
through. Greeley's apoStacy, while, on the
other hand, its ticket is sure TO gain many votes
which were not given for Grant and Colfax, in
1865. The time has not come when the people
OF the United States will consent to place the
control of the government in the hands Of ex-
rebels and their abettors.