The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-04-05
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS.
WHAT THE PAPERS S4Y OF THE LIB
ERAL MOVEMENT.
Horace Greeley Gives up Protection as
a Plank In his Platform.
NEW YORK, April 4.

Horace Greeley says in to-dayis Tribune
ITO all who would wish to fill our columns
with their notions of what ought to be done oil
the Cincinnati Convention, we say send dele
gates that will present your views to the con
ventton or 60 yourself and submit them" BE
reiterates that he does not seek or desire any
utterance from Cincinnati in favor of protec
tion, and he says that he doubts not that the
convention will recognize rule allowing
/ each supporter of the movement vote on
economic questions as he thinks fit. One OF
the foremost Republicans of New York, Mr.,
Isaac Sherman, he says, declined TO sign the
call because 1t did not commit slgners to free
trade.
An Inspiring Example of Political
Courage.
From the New York SWorld.i
One act of courage, at last, by the Liberal
Republicans outside of Missouri I! We hope
| the New York endorsement OF the call may
redeem the movement from the peril In
which 1t was put by the passive supineness OF
some of Its prominent leaders. We had ex-
pected that Mr.. Sumner and one or two other
eminent anti Grant Republicans would have
committed themselves publicly and uneqniyo.
to the Connecticut election and In season TO
have some influence on the result. In crisis
which demands, above all things, boldness.
we were surprised and disappointed to ina
signs of haltIDg tlmidlty. To be sure, the CID,
cinnati Convention Is no affair OF ours, and
| Democrats have no title TO crillcise It except
| from the point of view OF spectators. But II
would be sheer afectation to pretend that we
are Indifferent spectators. There Is posi-
bility, and we at one time thought
strong probability, that our National ConVen-
tion would endorse and adopt the Cincinnati
ticket, If wisely selected. But this, of course,
depends on whether the Liberal Republicans
are able TO give their ticket a strong and in
dependent support. Until The publication of
the New York call. The Missouri invitation
seemed like q motion which nobody cared TO
take the responsibility of secondlng; all Its
well-wishers seeming inclined to walt until
after the close Of the contest IN Connecticut,
and keep open way of retreat If the stress
of political weather should make 1t expedi-
ent to seek refuge In the Grant harbor. The
New York Endorsement of the Missouri call re-
lieves the situation, and sets an inspiring ex.
ample Of political courage. Without waiting
to see how Connecticut goes, the influential
sgnars OF the New York call commit them
selves publicly and irrevocably 10 the Clncin-
from the peril 10 which 1t was exposed by the
suplneness and apparent pusilianimity OF
some of liz leaders. This act of timely In
trepldity has saved the movement, and there
Ia still chance, almost certainty, that the
Cincinnati Convention will organize for
mldable Republican opposition to Gen. Grant;
or course Mr.. Greeley will now be the chief
cuphants. Mr.. Greeley has. on many previous
occasions, made good his title 10 be considered
as man of rare political courage and indepen-
dence; but on no previous occasion mas ne
acted with such sigaal and decisive boldness
as In signing the New York call without walt
ing to see whether Connectlcut endorses or
repudates the administration. II Mr. Sumner
had, ten days ago, evinced equal intrepdity,
we should regard the success Of the Cincin-
natl movement as secured. But Mr.. Greeleys
Influence Is superior to Mr.. Sumner's; for
while they may perhaps have equal claims as
founders Of The Republican party, Mr.. Gree.
ley, as editor Gifts ablest and most powerful
party organ, wields an influence over the pop
ular mind which no other Republican slatts-
man can pretend to rival. The NeW-York call
is signed only by Republicans, and addressed
only to Republicans, which betokens q just
discrimination as to the character oil the move.
ment. Democrats are mere lookers-on ana
action until the meeting Of their National Con-
vention.
Names that Give Weight and Dignity
to the Movement.
TFrom the Washington Patrlotl
The New York Liberals have answered the
call for the Cincinnati convention, and In a
spirit which cannot fall to attract favor. This
movement has been we'll considered, and Is
the result of much interchange OF oplAion In
and out of the State. 1t bears the exierna!
evidence of concerted and reSsluie purpose
10 defeat Gen. Grant at all hazards. The names
of many leading men, some OF whom have al
weys been conspicuous in the Republican
party, and others who were associated with
the anti-slayery cause, give weight and digni-
" to demonstration which is destined. 10 one
form or another, TO exercise large Influence
divide and destroy the Radical organl.
zsion In New York. It would b. ab-
surd to suppose that the Cincinnati Con-
yention, any more than the Labor Reform
Convention could expect to elect its candl-
dates without the aid of the Democratic party.
II, therefore, any Intention OF desire exists to
bring about cordial cooperation among all the
elements of opposition, it may be taken for
granted that the prudent Liberals, who mean
Something more than frothy declam ..tion, and
who aim at a natior al triumph, will consider
how this object is 10 be best attained. II The
class, who are the bane OF all parties, and
who seek 10 rule or ruin, should unfortunately
dominate, all hope of any such union may be
abandoned from the outset. The great con-
servative opinion of the country, which occu-
pies the middle ground between political
extremes, and always decides Presidential
elections, cannot be led In any such way. It
would be criminal in presence Of 80 grand an
opportunity a. now exists 10 repeat the exper-
ments which defeated the Republicans In 1856
and the Democrats In 1868.
Its Meaning to tho Democracy.
from the Philadelphia Agel
Calls multiply. In New York, Horace Gree
ley and large number Of active and influen-
tlal Republicans invite all Republicans who
agree with them to cooperate In the move
ment of the Liberal Republicans" who will
assemble at Cincinnati on the lst of May. II
Ia significant of the depth and extent Of the
dissatisfaction in New York that among the
signers of the manifesto In that State is the
Hon. Frederick A. Conkling, gentleman Of
high personal and political distinction, and
WHO is q brother to Senator Conklng, the
administre ton leader In New York. Another
call has BEEN issued 10 tine sConventions of
the Liberal Republicans aud that Of The Re-
| union and Reform organization" The Ian
| guage of the New York Republicans indi-
Gales purpose to resist and avert the
| dangers and evils they name by liberal
| and independent political action. The
| course Of it is, and will be-, watched
| with great interest BY all patriotic Democrats.
The position from which they will regard 1t Is
their own political standpeint. Their test of
l ha pla f,rrn ornu1 tud yrill ho he rrn