The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1872-08-22

Co. - 49, lannnR.
Some notice has E ikea Of this let
ter IN the telegraph, ~ he letter itself
10 the topic Of coa1sfsGeioo in. tie East,
and the text for wide eomaeat in The
public pres. We give il. there6ore, in
fall, that our rea6ssS may know What Il
ID. ~
The General was called upon to ID
dress Greeley meeting at Hancock, n.
T., and to that invitation be made the
following response:
WEST HAMIfuN, July q.
DIAN Sin Your letter of the Sd
inst, asking my aid TO procure . speak.
er for greeley meeting at Hancock,
was sent to me while was in New Eng.
land, and l have been unable until now
to acknowledge it, reception.
l do not understand on Whist ground
you considered yourself authorised to
address such . request 10 me. If you
have been familiar with the course Of
my public life, and equally 90 with Mr..
Greeley's, you could not have supposed
me capable Of advocating his election to
the Office of President Of the United
States, withoa: imputing to me IN utter
abandonment Of Ill political principle.
I am opposed to Mr.. Greeley.
First, Because l believe him to be ~
unstable as water, perpetually founder
ing amid the srges Of opinion, and def
Gent in all the requisites essential to .
firm, steady, consistent Administration
of the Governnent
Second, Because be has usually been
found among the most extreme on the
great questions Of political and social
duty which have been brought under
public discussion during the Last quarter
Of . century.
Third, Because he has been the advo-
cate, and in this instance persistently, of
that most unjust, unequal commercial
system which is destroying our mercan-
tile and shipping interests, and heaping
up enormous accumulations Of wealth in
the hands Of the protected classes, to the
oppression ard impoverishment OF all
others.
Fourth, Because his associates and in.
innate relations with the thieves and
plunderers OF the city of New York,
justly warrant his completely or his n
clle disposition, the same system of fraud
or corruption which has disgraced the
municipal government of this city, may
DO carried to moro Infamous extremes in
tho Administration of the Federal Gov
eminent.
Fifth, Because in the darkest hour Of
our country's peril, when traitorous
combination had been formed TO over
throw the Government, he openly coun-
scled the cowardly policy Of non-resist-
ance, and an acquiescence in separation
whenever the cotton States should make
up their minds to 60.
The coalition of which haa been form
ed to promote his election is one of the
most extraordinary in the history Of
parties, in respect both to the discordant
elements it embraces and tho surrender
of principles it involves. The Ci1cin-
natl Convention, called to bring before
the people important measures Of re-
form, nominated Mr.. Greeley, TO the
surprise of the whole country, knowing
him, in regard to one of those measures,
to be implacable, and nominated him.
too, against the wishes and judgment Of
the chief promoters Of the movement,
who accepted him either with avOwed OF
secretly-concealcd disgust which would
be more crcditablc 70 their feelings II
irrcconcilable with their principles.
Tho Democratic Convention at Balti
moro indorse and commend him to the
support of their party, not rs the expo
men tot any principle they have professet
or any measure they have advocated
but as the known and bitter opponent d
both-the man who, perhaps Of oil, has
been the most malignant enemy Of De
mocracy, impeaching it's integrity, traduc
ing it's motives and villifying its charac
ter. The adoption of such man Is thei'
candidate for Chief Magistrate Of thu
Union is the most conspicuous abandon
ment of political principles known te
marty contest. 1t remains to be seen
whether the great body Of Democratic
voters and the true friends OF reform
can be made parties to this unscrupulous
coalition between political leaders.
That Gen. Grant has committed er
rors. his most sincere friends admit
but, if his errors had been four-fold
more numerous, he would, in my opin
ion, be q much better Chief Magistrate
than Greeley. He has, in that capacity
done much for which he deserves thu
thanks of the country. Above ell, he hal
kept it ut peace, Notwithstanding the ef
forts of sensation journals and popular
ty-seeking politicians to provoke hostili
tics with Spain on the question Of Cuba
and with Great Britain on the Alabama
claims and fisheries. II, regardless o.
these things and his invaluable services
during the late civil war, should Get him
aside Tor Greeley; if tho latter, . mere
cratic politician, untried in any impor
tant public trust, should be elected Chic
Magistrate of the Union, Union which
would not exist had his counsel beer
followed; and If the man who, Of al
others, has done moro TO preserve i
should be discarded for such successor
80 lily qualified and unscrupulously sss