The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-09


The supporters and political managers Of
Mr.. Greeley appear 10 be falling into the so me
error into which the friends of President Grant
were led prior to the North Carolina election
They are showing signs of over-confdence and
over-boastfulness and closing their eyes to the
serious work that lies before them. Some
weeks ago the administration party laughed at
the idea of Greeley's nomination as huge
joke and promised the world that the North
Carolina election, with majority larger than
had ever before been given to the republicans
| in that State, would efectually prick the Dub
BILE of liberal reform. The vote elects the re-
publican Governor by thousand or fifteen
hundred majority; yet, in consequence of
these extravagant promises, the result falls
like q wet blanket on the republican hopes
and is regarded as practically an administra-
ton defeat. A similar unwise policy has been
pursued by the liberals from the start. When
the Cincinnati Convention assembled it
was found that the experiment of an
independent movement was m actual success.
The Convention was largely attended, and the
| avowed opponents of the administration num-
| bored among them some Of the best known
names in the old republican party. Imme-
diately bonfres were lighted, gunpowder was
burned, and amid general rejoicing it was
declared that the doom of the administration
was already pronounced. But soon came on
interval of doubt and apprehension as to what
would be the action of the democratic party.
It was felt that without the practically united
support Of that established organization, with
its three million voters, the liberal movement
would become nothing more than diversion
in aid of the democracy in the Presidential
fight The opposition of the democratic organ
in this city and its trenchant assaults on
Greeley; the bitter speeches Of Dan Voorhees,,
taking such strong ground against the Gin
cinnati candidate and putting in powerful
protest against his acceptance by democrats
rendered the prospect unpromising, to say
the least. But the whirlwind at BalG-
more in favor not only of the candidates
but of the platform of the liberal republicans
again revived the spirits of the opposition, and
the fires were rekindled and the noisy demon
STATIONS renewed. Then followed the card Of
the boiling free traders with Carl Schurz at
their head, calling o conference at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, and again a cloud came over
the sky of the liberal heavens; but it quickly
cleared away when the dreaded meeting took
place and it was found that Schurz, Grosve-
nor and all the leading spirits endorsed Gree
ley, leaving only disappointed political aspir-
ant to the nomination and handful Of am
bilious young men in the soreheaded conclave
| This 1apnar curmOunta1 Tho 1act Ohcto c1a II,
the way of success seemed removed-for the
Duncan straight-out farce was never deemed
worthy of consideration the liberal re-
formers became almost beside themselves with
exultation. The constant accession TO their
ranks of leading republican politicians who
had not originally united in the liberal
movement, including Generals, Senators and
members of Congress- and embracing such
names as Fitzpatrick, Sumner, Banks, Ira
Harris, A. r. Stewart, Dewitt C. Littlejohn,
Alvord, Farnsworth Of Illinois Tappan, of
New Hampshire, and others Of similar
prominent standing, kept up the excitement
and served TO increase the confidence of the
free lances of liberalism The North Carolina
| election came next in order, with its false
hopes too readily received and its premature
powder-burning and Boosting. All these
things combined have induced the Greeley re-
pubLcans and their democratic allies to sup
pose that the Presidential contest was virtually
over, and they have loudly predicted fabulous
maiorities for their candidates in November
and have not been disposed to concede more
than four or five States in the Union to Grant.
What has been the effect of this blind and
unrehecting enthusiasm? The liberal candi-
date for the Presidency has been sent forth on
tour which, interspersed with woodchop-
ping and clambakes, has been relied upon to
excite popular Juror TO which the noisy
campaign of Tippecanoe and Tyler, too, was
to be as Quaker meeting to q Tammany
primary. The liberal and democratic
committees have been wasting their
time in firing premature guns or in sending
forth gushing addresses instead Of devoting
themselves to quiet and effective work. As n
natural consequence the slightest obstacle in
the way of their screaming political engne-a
switch misplaced-an administration baggage
wagon on the rails, freighted, it may be, with
fraudulent votes-is sufficient to throw the
liberal train from the track and to cover the
ground with its debris. There is no doubt that
the North Carolina election has resulted sub
stantally in a republican check. If the repub-
lican ticket has really secured majority of
fifteen hundred which cannot be overcome on
the official canvass or set aside by the Legisla-
ture on proof of fraud, it is still fact that
the democrats have gained the State Legisla-
ture, United States Senator and probably o
majority of the Congressman and that the re-
publican loss on the staN vote since the last
gubcrnatorial election is over seventeen thou