The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-07-13
"THE CAMPAIGN OF PEACE
| from tile Albany Journal

The pretense of REFORM" through til
success of Mr.. Greeley, is simply absurd
The carrion gathering around him render
1t an arrant and disgusting piece of mock
cry. Indeed, so preposterous is it, in view
OF the corrupt elements now surrounding
him, that it has been substantially aban
Toned. Originally the leading cry of tn,
Scinnati movement, we had brilliant
r.o. Tres of the beneficient work, the higl
.Sa,.SSanship, and the lofty ideal which
tha ;naonstration would give us. 1t was
.os. :. s'ration of great "reform' can
.lo s s to restore the Republic to
49, Its early purity and moral
grandeur 1t vas to present us with the
most elevated Sta ,esmanship upon the high
est plane of publis>etion.
How grotesque ansese lofty pretensions
are made by the ridieaons result, Gov
scious of this ludicrous e,str,st tho e,;ou1.
Of Mr.. Greeley Themselves 1oHaoN .H'@''
the legend of "reform" ~, p-a'o
their battle-cries. Instead o. the "csms
paign of reform" they now WI :. .n
campaign of peace" The war $3.50. Ao
the North and South must be ended. Tha
animosities and resentments of ses.
must be Modified. There must be genE.s
reconciliation. This is now the cry. Nh
Greeley's organ tells us that the sentimen
which overbore all others and which nomi
mated Mr.. Greeley was the necessity o
ending the conflict between the North ant
the South, and it adds that then, whel
we have regained our normal state of gov
eminent, we can reform the Administra
ton" Reform is thus dismissed to thu
second place.
But that which becomes the first argu
ment is as baseless and unfounded as that
which is sunk to the inferior rank. 1t is
false that Mr.. Greeley's campaign is a
campaign of peace"-as false as that it
is campaign of reform. What conflicts
exists between the North and South p
What is there in the present administra-
ton which prevents reconciliation Why
are we not now in "normal state of gov
ernment?' Why does not General Grant
represent the sentiment of peace as much
as, nay more than, Mr.. Greeley? Wehave
the reign of civil law all over the land
Every Southern State is under its own
local rule. Amnesty has been extended
practically to the whole people-to all save
two or three hundred of the most conspic-
nous chiefs of the Rebellion. The COM
munities lately in rebellion are in the full
exercise of all their political rights. What
ever influence the National Government
exerts in the South is as mild and benefi-
cient and peaceful as before war had array
I'd the sections against each other. Its
military arm is not extended. No military
tribunal issues its edicts. In word, the
South is as much its own ruler to-day as
New York and Massachusetts,.
Nor, if we go back over the past year, do
We find anything in the action of the Gov
'rnment which shows that it is anv other
han Government of peace and good will.
We appeal to the public acts of General
Grant for conclusive answer to the
harges of despotism and military rule and
ectional antagonism. The only possible
round for an imputation of warfares lies
n the law for the protection of loyal men
f the South against the Ku-klux, and will
be pretended that this measure either in
IS passage or in its enforcement, exhibited
ny spirit of oppression? Never was any
wv executed in more mild and just man.
er. Only in few counties were its ma
hinery and its powers ever applied at all,
nd most of those arraigned under it pub
ely confessed their guilt. If it be recon-
liation and peace and the reign of law to
ermit free play in such outrages, then
ave they failed in measure of realization.
ut this is not what the nation under
ands by those terms. If there has not
cen genuine reconciliation, it is because
me elements at the South would not have
If they crave it as earnestly as Mr..
reeley's organ represents, why do they
't have it? There is absolutely nothing
the way.
Nor is this all. We do not content our
Ives with a negative argument in reply.
e return the charge. We assert not only
at General Grant best represents the
ue campaign of peace, but that the cleo
IN of Mr.. Greeley would be the signal for
vived disorder and renewed bitterness at
e South. 1t would reanmate the old
irit of rebellion. 1t would quicken the
sments of sectional hostility and race
tagonism into new life. We want such re-
nciliation as is based upon observance of
" and right-such reconciliation as would
low the conviction that those who saved
3 Union are still to govern it. But we
not want such reconciliation as means
ut the reactionary elements of the South
all have full play in their lawless course,
d such as would come from the election
Mr.. Greeley.
The Christian Cent? eman.