The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-07-06
Political Aftairs.
GREELEY AND ANr1-aREELEY.
Hon. r. B. RoOsevelt's Reasons for
Supporting Horace Greeley.

ouppOEtinS nOtdco 0feeley,
The Hon. Robert D. Roosevelt, member
Of Congress from the city ofNew York, has
addressed letter TO the New York dele
gates to the Baltimore convention, giving
his reasons for supporting Horace Greeley
rs the only presidential candidate who can
possibly defeat General Grant. Alier re.
fcrying to the almost unanimous endorse.
ment Of Mr.. Greeley by Democrats through.
out the country, Mr.. Roosevelt says:
The explanation Of this expression OF
public opinion is to be found in the chang,
ed relations Of parties. The Democrats
having been defeated conclusively in several
Of their positions, have accepted the ex-
pressed will ofthe people and universally
agreed to abide by tho late amendments to
the constitution, and to give the blacks
equal rights with the white men. This
made il possible for them'to unite with the
liberal republicans in the support of Mr..
Greeley, who has always been as prominent
an advocate of universal amnesty as he has
been resolute and determined foe to cor.
rnptAa and peculation in official life, and
who, moreover, was convinced by the lille.
gal course Of The present administration of
the danger to our institutions in the con.
centration Of power in centralized, un.
scrupulous and irresponsible government.
These mutual concessions left but sin.
gle point Of difference between Mr.. Greeley
and The democracy. He was protection.
ist, while they were supposed to be free.
finders. use the words supposed TO be-
adyisedly, for to judge by the votes of Dem.
ocratic members of Congress there was
little party distinction between these and
the Republicans on this question, many of
them being decided and prominent protec
tionists, and voting invariably with the
extreme high tariff advocates of the other
side But this difficulty, such as it is, was
entirely removed and disposed of in the
best possible manner by the Cincinnati
platform ia being relegated to the congress
sional districts, as it is matter purely for
the representatives ofthe people in looking
after the interests of their constituents,
questions Of revenue being expressly conf.
ded to that branch Of the government by
the constitution. At present, heavy imposts
being fiscal nccessity-and much capital
having been tsnpted into unnatural chan.
nels by unwise legislation and not TO be
immediately removed without heavy loss,
the doctrine Of free trade is hardly practi
cal issue, although it is sure to revive in a
few years, if the Democratic party is moi
destroyed.
There are three prominent matters of
dispute at present affecting the country
tho first is the great question Of corruption
IN oiheei the second is Capitalization of
power in opposition to the independence of
the States, and the third is the demand Of
the eolored people for negro supremacy
under special laws placing the whites at a
disadvantage with them. Upon these es-
seniial doctrines Horace Greeley is a Dem
oerat, while upon the tariff both parties
have loose hold on their members. If he
con be accepted he offers US On almost abso.
lutte certainty Of triumph, as he will not
only relieve our party from the unjust in
situations made by our enemies in refer.
ence to our good faith in accepting the re-
suits Of the civil war, but win bring to our
support large body Of dissatisfied Repub.
licans. His strength among the latter,
although apparent already, will not be fully
manifested until he is nominated at Balti-
more, for without that endorsement he has
not the elements Of success, and individuals
are loath to join o hopeless cause.
There are signs ofa great uprising Of the
people TO express the disapproval so gen.
orally felt with the present administration.
But without that, his election, after such
endorsement, IS as near certainty as a
future event can be. Already his probable
nomination has secured US the great States
ofNev York and Pennsylvania, anu brought
about valuable and powerful continuation
IN Iudiaua, while il makes every Southern
State, with one possible exception, ALSO
iuiely certain in his favor. Of Bir. Gree.
iey's integrity and devotion 10 the cause Of
an honest government il is unnecessary TO
speak between US who know him and among
whom be has lived the better part Of his
ilie-. On the other questions involved hi :
opinions are equally well known, and ae
cord perfectly with the acknowledged view
efthc Democratic party. On essential Is
sues be Z, therefore, entirely IN accord with
Va, so that we make NO sacrifice Of duty or |
Of honor in accepting the advances OF the |
party which has nominated him, and asks
for our support and assistance.
On the other hand, ifhe is not accepted
the dissolution Of the Democratic party
would seem inevitable. No strniglioIt
Democrat llas a probability Of election,