The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-10-18

e. Certainly the Democratic par
ze has been improved and elevated |
of the new leaders it has received fro
J. our ranks. To speak only Of men
ID public life, such statesmen as Greels
es and Sumner, Trlmbull and Schur
must benefit any party which the
(, may join. But the character an
20 conduct OF party or com bination
q better judged by the mass of its col
D. stituent members than by its leader
le 1t is more probable that leaders wi
1t sink to the level of their followe,
e than that the masses well rise to th
= height OF their leaders.
A President can not administe
the Government without party ma
chinery, and to use this he must stan
!, on the ground beside it. Govern
ment is of the earth, earthly. Il ca
5 not be conducted from sublime alti
= tudes In the air. Whatever else ms,
: be done By wind power, the Admin
lstration can not be run by it. Shoult
:. Mr.. Greeley become President, b
would be compelled to depend chief,
: On Democrats, and Democrats do no
consent to be used without reciproca
advantages. These must be mutua
> attraction, and the lighter body vii
move more than the heavier. FinC
the proportion Of Republicans snC
Democrats in the combin alton, anC
you may calculate where the two
elements would meet, and what pow
er each would have.
1t is rare coincidence which calls
US to choose between such men as the
opposing candidates for president.
1t is hard to understand how an
American can ,hink Of si.her without
admiration or speak of either without
praise. Men like these come not in
every century. They are the ripened
fruit of the sges, the best product OF
civilization and of republican institu-
tions. 1t has taken sll time to make
them. One, the greatest soldier Of
his age, Of powerful mathematical
mind, scientific training and exact
knowledge, brave and gentle, firm
and just, noble and modest; q master
of war, with great faculties for ad.
ministratlon. The other the first
Journalist of his age, of great knowl-
edge and experience, patriot, poll
tician, 8 practical philosopher, a be-
nevolent reformer, master OF the pen
and of speech.
1t is not necessary to condemn or
defame either in order to prefer the
otner; but as both have great virtues
so both have serious faults. 1t seems
to be no part Of the plan of creation
to make perfect symmetrical men.
Occasionally a well balanced eharac-
ter appears, but generally the equi-
poise results from the absence of
great faculties. The human family
partakes OF and illustrates the imper-
fection Of all things. Men who have
some great qualities usually lack
others. Americans are as good as
any people. We have had many
presidents, yet none perfect. And
perhaps it is well our own imper-
fection could not bear a perfect
ruler-we should impeach, if not
cruelty, him.
or these two great men, one excels
in speculation and in utterance, and
the other in resolution and in action.
One is wanting in capacity for ora
tory, the other in capacity for admin
istration. Greeley seems almost as
i'll qualified for Grants place, as
Grant for Greeley's. To see these
two men change places would be a
spectacle of laughter for the nation.
Greeley with infirm, uncertain hand
on the helm of state and loquacious
tongue in the council. Grant, in tue
ssnctum Of the 7Ii6sse, on the ros-
trum and the hustings-such displsce-
ment Of men would make pie Of the
type of fcrestion. Yet it is seriously pro-
posed to supersede Grant with Gree
ley. There are better uses for Gree
ley. To devote his ripe age to the
role OF presidential failure would be |
cruel to him as injurious to his coun-
try. Is il not enough that he is q
political martyr, sacrificed for the
redemption of Democrats ? how else
could they ever have escaped from
the body Of death ? Greeley consents
to permit them to vote for him and it
will do them good. Let them vote
for that advanced radical Republican.
They never voted for q better man.
They have "none like him-none.'
It must benefit them and can not
seriously iDjure him If he be not elec
ted. He desires it. He will enjoy
it whether elected or not. His phil
osophic stirit may take more comfort
in defeat than in victory, and foI
Democrats to vote for him and fail
to elect him will be the highest evi.
dence Of penitence they could give
without voting for Grant.
The nomination OF Greeley on a
platform is the surrender
of the Democratic party, conquered
by Grant, ss the rebels were con-
quered in 1854; the Democrats now
tender their ballots to Greeley, as
the rebels then rendered to him their
swords; but the Democrats now de-
mand terms as the rebels did then.
What the country wants is the uncon-
surrender of the Democratic
party. Let them surrender to Grant.
or he will move on their works and
capture and parole them as he did
Lee and his armies.
CANCELLATION.
The favorite topic of opposition,
the keynote of Mr.. Greeley's bril-
liant campaign, is concilistion-a
word well chosen, a theme for senti-
ment and eloquence, but it is used In
the wrong quarter. There is no
need Of an apostle Of peace and good
will in the North, no necessity for
such sermons here. We have long
since forgiven the rebels, and almost
forgotten them. The one thing
neeiful is that they shall forgive us.
They are making hopeful progress in
voting for Greeley, one OF their
loudest and most exacting opponents.
No man in civil life has done more
to conquer and reconstruct them.
Let them continue in well doing, and
they will soon see that they have
only to be reconciled to their defeat,
which was for their own good, and
to obey the laws of the land and re-
spect the rights OF their neighbors,
and they will become 80 prosperous
and happy that they must be recon
ciled, and not only forgive, but thank
us for preventing them from destroy
ing the Republic. We can not con-
ciliate them, for we can not abandon
the results of the war, nor one jot
nor title thereof. What else have
we to eoncede AL else wehaye given
them-their lives, their fortunes,
citizenship, and to nearly all eligibilI-
ty to office. The Nation denies
suffrage 10 none One hundred or
two hundred are held ineligible to
office. 1t were better if more we're
excepted. No rebel, though unre-
pentent, is worth excepting. II any
American is 80 silly as to remain q |
traitor, st this late day, he Injuries
only himself. Such 8 man can not |
get, take, nor hold Office. II be still