Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-06-19
Democratic Support of Greeley


The indications now are that Mr.. Greeley
will receive the nomination for President by
the Democratic Convention to assemble in
Baltimore in July. No considerable meeting
Of Democrats, since the Cincinnati Con
vention, has declared against him, while
during the past week the Democrats Of Yer
mont. Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri and
other States. in their State Conventions,
have pronounced so unequivocalIy for Greeley
and Brown, as to set at rest all doubts as 70
the action TO be taken at Baltimore.
Some phases Of this revolution in the
Democratic party are particularly worthy Of
note. There is an evident purpose not to
abandon the party organization, but so far
as POSSIBLE the old drill and discipline Of
the party will be made available in bringing
out full vote for Greeley. 1t is not, there
fore, wise for Republicans to. make confident
calculations on getting many dissatisfied
Democrats to vote for Grant and Wilson.
The Democratic party takes Greeley as the
strongest candidate it can now name, and an
orpanization which has been kept tolerably
intact through successive defeats is not likely
to lose its cohesive power when it has a
chance Of success.
In local nominations she Democrats are
exhibiting unusual wisdom. They are not
only nominating men who are only OBJ
iectionable because they are Democrats,
but they are making in such States as Penn
syIvania and Indiana, always doubtful States,
very strong nominations. Buckalew would
certainly carry Pennsylvania against Hart
ranft if it were not the presidential election {:
and Hendricks. just nominated by the Demo
Gratis Of Indiana for governor of that State.
is one Of the strongest men in the party
The liberal Republicans ~ do not ask for
local nominations; they expect to vote tie
Democratic local ticket as an equivalent for
the Democratic support Of Greeley. It will
thus be seen that these local nominations Of
Democrats will keep the party together and
call out a full vote, and can only be looked
upon as the result Of the shrewdest policy
Indeed, it begins to look as though success
siye defeats had hammered some sort of sense
into those who have hitherto managed the
conventions Of the Democratic party, and
that they were now going into the campaign
lust upon US with some reference to getting
votes. Ii was easy to beat Mcclellan and
Seymour, for each Of them represented the
most obstructive elements Of the Democracy
as it was before and during the war; and
vet they commanded large aggregate sup
port. But at Baltimore the party will not
make it's former mistake of building a plat
form in itself full of obnoxious provisions,
aud It will nominate a candidate who GER
tainIv has not been hitherto distinguished
for adheriDg to the Objectionable principles
Of the Democratic party. 1t is clear that
new elements will thus be brought into the
campaign, and new issues viii be made upon
which the people viii divide. At present,
it seems reasonably probable that the Re
nublican ticket Will have sufficient strength
70 command success and it Is possible to do
much to strengthen the ticket before No
yember. One way to do this certainly Is for
the psrtv everywhere to profit by the wisdom
Of its opponents and recognize the impor
tance Of nominating its best men. There is
no surer way to inspire confidence in the
future Of the party than to supplement- its
promises Of reform by presenting for Office
those who will make it their highest and FIRST
duty in Office to bring about reforms
The Republican party cannot afford TO
despise its antagonists, or to neglect any
reform or any wUTk tlIes VIII I-s--~ -.~-1a-oy
TO render Grants reelection more desirable.
We must win the campaign upon the strength
of our own cause and not the weakness of
our adversaries. 1t will not be enough 10
say that the proposed change is not for the
better; we had better he able TO show by the
record the administration viii make before
November that no change is needed. 1t i
well to succeed is is infinitely better to
deserve success.