, 1872-10-14

In Judging whether the present Liberal CAM
paign iB, thus far, success it is proper to con-
slider what would have been the present cordi-
ton Of parties If no Liberal movement had
been inaugurated by Republicans, nor eny "new
departure" been taken by Democrats, but the
two old parties had entered On the campaign of
1879 Oh the same old issues as had existed be-
tween them in 1856, go, '64 and '63. 1t is diff
cult to say which would have been most laugha~
ble,-for the Democratic party to appear aa tho
champion OF slayery seven years after slavery had
been abolished, or as the defender OF State Soy
ereignty in the earlier sense OF that term, eight
years after twelve states had been subjugatod,
and their Governments revolutioalZed by the
Federal power. Either would have been as een-
sible as for the Republican party to keep on sup
pressing tile rebellion, abolishing slavery, and
giving the ballot to the negro, after those results
hud beon fully and finally settled. Had this
mode Of campaign been pursued, no Cincinnati
Convention would have met, the Democrat
ic National Convention; il it thought
it worth while to meet at all, would have nomi-
mated some such ticket as Hendricks and Hail.
cock, or O'Conor and Adams, with the full con-
sciousness Of the participants that It was put up
without reason or purpose.
Meanwhile, the Republican party, while re-
tanning its organization and majorities, won}d
have shown that it possessed no statesmen
Eho had the vigor and manly honesty
to attempt to stem the tide of corruption of
which the Republican party was becoming the
channel and viaduct. With Greeley, Sumner,
Tsumbull, Schurz, Blair, Julian; Curtin, Grow,
and tile independent Journals OF the country, all
acqniescing in the misgovernment OF the South
and the corruptions ut Washington, the most
partial observer would ba compelled to admit
that Republican institutions we're ravellinS out
into shoddy; that there was not enough mnn-
hood even to protest against the most manifest
outrages Of party despotism.
Contrasted with such 3 pusillanimons and tie
moralizing condition Of politics in both parties,
tie present campaign has been invigoratlag,
ennob1irg, and III some respects even sublime.
It ia invigorating to zoe Republican statesmen
burst the shsckles OF party, and arraign at tie
bar of public opinion the errors, corruptions,
or crimes of so-caNed Republicans, which seek
shelter under tho cloak of party fealty. 1t
ia ennobling to see go large T. proportion
OF the Democratic party willing to accept as
final political results against which they have
fought for twenty-five years, and to cooperate
with those. of whatever antecedants, WHO are
willing to work with them in restoring peace
and prosperity to the whole community. It is
even sublime to see the white population OF the
South renewing their loyalty to the Union,
whose troops in the stern necessities Of war
have deso1ated their section, and asking no
other inducement than the restoration Of their
rights Rs citizens md their deliyerance from
robbers, for whom nobody dareB to apologize.
In estimating the progress thus far made, and
the probabilities Of the next three weeks, let it
first be borne in mind that every man in the
Liberal campaign, whether Of Republican or
Democratic autccedents, has had to be in some
degree converted, in order to range him for
Hendricks, or Buokalew, OF Greeley. It did not
follow that, because man WAS Republican OPP
posed to Grant, or Democrat, lie would be
Liberal. Many Democrats and Repub-
Ecans had preiudices against cooperating
with each other, though they felt that there WAS
unity between them on all existing questions.
Both sections Of the Liberal party have had not
only to form their lines in the face Of tile enemy,
but actually to enlist their troops, by persuadng
each man separately Of tile Justice and e1pedl~
ency Of The Liberal movement, and Of the feasi-
bility OF its success. Our appeal has been to
the intelligence. humanity Christianity, honesty
and virtue of both parties. Our work
has been at once missionary aud militant. III
! no campaign that las ever occurred in this or
any country has so great progress been made in
individual conversions. There 1as been in mill
! ions Of instances q sacrifice of old prejudices
| for the sake Of country, and a. blending of men
nj tho North and the South whom ths issues
growing out Of slavery Ind formerly made enc
| mics. The result shows that, it the good work
| prospera for even three weeks more as it has
for six months past, hlr. Greeley can be elected
| We have formed d new party On living Issues,
which very nearly sweeps the country ere it is
fully formed, and may yet win in November If
our standards are kept full high advanced We
have STRUCK atalwart blows ct abuses, which will
| inspi.e the respect Of our enamies eTen il they