The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-07-06
THE FARMERS AND THE PRESIDENCY.
{ From the N. Y. Times. !

THE FARMERS AND THE PRESIDENCY.
From the ". Y. Times
There are bnt two alternatives to the
choice of General Grant as President;
either Mr.. Greeley, or some consistent and
well-known Democrat. 1t is possible that
the choice of the nation will have to be
made between the great General and the
flighty editor as their chosen leader; and it
is also possible that there will be
"straight :" Democratic nomination at
Baltimore, and, therefore, three tickets in
the field.
The whole nation knows Mr.. Greeley
thoroughly. His life has been under an
intense magnifying light during the past
twenty years. There are probably few
faults or weaknesses in his character which
are not thoroughly familiar to the people.
1t is this thorough popular understanding
of Mr. Greeley's mind and character which
will constitute his especial weakness in his
struggle for the great office. The people
know him. The farmers-who decide
our elections-have certain personal in
terest in him, from having read his jour-
nal so long, or listened to his rural "lec-
tures," Or laughed over his agricultural
follies. Great numbers of them still hold
him to be an honest man. They respect
him, too, as member of the working
classes, who has raised himself to a conspic-
uous position. But beyond this they
would not go. Our farmers are, peculiarly
a common sense" class of men. They
have great respect for solid judgment.
They do not like wild theories and cratic
movements. They are conservative. They
would be the last men in the country to
choose as President man whose Judgment
has been fatally at fault in every great
crisis that has arisen in his time-and such
man is Horace Greeley.
Again, the laugh of the world is some
thing that even backwoodsman does not
like. He loses his own self-respect when
he thinks of his President as boor. We
are persuaded that this consideration is
going to tell vastly more in the canvass
than most people suppose in the outset.
The flood of low comic caricatures of Mr..
Greeley, and of all the possibilities of his
future career as President, which is pour
ing over the country, shows that this sense
of the ridiculous, as connected with his
administration, has been aroused. So far
as we can recall, no previous Presidential
canvass has had this feature so strongly
marked.
But more than this, the rural classes will
dread the possible escapades and wild
erratic performances of which Mr.. Greeley,
if President, might be guilty. They want
no more revolutions, or sudden changes of
policy, or theocratic legislation. They
recall him in his past career as occupying
so many inconsistent positions; as wild in
his youth for socialism; as anti-slavery,
and then trimming and doubtful; as urg-
ing on the struggle with slavery, and then
failing in courage when the first reverse
came; as negotiating with Rebels, appar-
emily to leave slaves in the lurch, and bail
ing the great Rebel leader, and then pres
sing the KuKlux laws; as covering up the
sins of Tammany, and entering into an
alliance with it to reach the Presidential
chair. AL these strange inconsistencies
have weakened the confidence of the mass
es in Greeley's Judgment, and sometimes
in his principle. AS an editor they like
him; as President they would dread him.
On the other hand, General Grant is
almost equally we'll known, and has the
immense advantage of having been tried in
the fire of the most terrible events of the
century. Every one knows and respects
his public qualities. The farmers and bus
mess interests have confidence in his integ-
rity, his wisdom, and steadiness of pur-
pose. If his administration has not met
their highest ideals, it has at least been
safe and creditable one 1t will make no
sudden changes in anything. AS between
him and Mr.. Greeley, the people will not be
doubtful in their choice.
But supposing a third candidate in the
field, pure Democrat. What then? With
three tickets it is of course among the pos
sibilities that the election might be pushed
into the House. And there General Grant
is certain to succeed. Still, we believe
there would be nearly as great a detection
from Democratic ranks, if Hendricks or
Groesbeck were put up, as there would be
if Greeley were the sole candidate. The
nation would submit to anything sooner
than an old, unrepentant Democrat in the
Presidential chair. The whole business
class, and the conservatives everywhere,
would dread it as they would CONFUSION.
The party of freedom would look upon it
as second Bull Run in politics. The
South would be in ferment. The negroes
would fear even reinstatement. The
bondholders would see reputation in the
very air. All the elements of rascality,
corruption, revolution, and treason, would
be in active movement again.
No. Under no circumstances will this
people make one of the old Democrats
President-the choice will be between
Grant and Greeley. What that will be,
we need not doubt. 1t is the choice be-
tween a safe mana man of common sense
and man who, in the practical affairs of
life, is little better than baby.