Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-08
The Ass;s,an, pcmocra,ic Issue..


The '1iberal republicans" of this state,
headed by Mr.. Bird, have issued an address.
This was necessary, of course, for an address"
is one OF the standing formalities, under such
circumstances; and it is supposed to present the
best defence of their political position that can
be devised by those who issue it. So far as this
address processes to be such a defence, it is a
total failure 1t makes one feel that these gen
tlemen, in assuming their present relations to
the democratic party, have been controlled by
something very different from a calm, honest,
and conscientious study Of the present political
situation.
They seem TO us to have listened to nothing,
considered nothing, and cared for nothing but
the unwamanted and wicked cutlery raised
against the administration by men who had
conspired TO assail the president and the re-
publican party, for purposes, which, at first,
were carefully kept out of sight; men who had
Greeley secretly negotiating with the democrats
for their leader, and the New York Tribune as
their organ. This address actually proceeds on
the assumption that all the scandalous false.
hoods n cd exaggerations uttered against the
president and the republican party by the
Tribune and its abettors, are true; that ell the
men named in the attack are just what they
represent; and that it is permissible for men
who have political purpose to accomplish. to
say and repeat such things without attempting
to prove them. Its "ponts" neither add moi
suggest anything new; but it may be useful tc
consider some Of them.
1. After repeating the customary 'libera" as
saults on the president, the address comes TO tint
cone term" notion put forth by Mr.. Greeley
not as proposition to amend the constitution
but as what he deemed a good eontriyance fol
present use. A constitutional amendment pro
viding that the presidential term of office shall
be six or eight years, and making the president
ineligible for second term, might be good
thing; but this is something very different from
the some term" dodge used in aid Of the demo.
cratic ticket because Mr. Greeley promises not
TO be candidate for a second term,--a promise
which, in view Of his changeful and uncertain
moods, could not he trusted, should agencies
like those which captured the Cincinnati mass
meeting, be moved TO "force upon him" a second
nomination. 1t is not very long since Mr.. Gree
icy himself suggested the denomination of Gen.
Grant. Heput forth this suggestion in a speech
delivered at political meeting in New York
city, aud reported in the Tribune, early last
year; aud he supported il by saying, General
Grant would be much better fitted for the pres-
dental office, 10 1872, than he was in 1868. We
can not trust Mr.. Greeleys moods. Meanwhile,
it is absolutely certain that General Grant, if
elected, would not, like Mr.. Greeley be eligible
for reelection in 1876 and, therefore, could not
DE thought OF by himself or by anybody else for
another nomination.
2. Another thing in the address is an exhorta-
ton to confidence in Horace Greeley's charac-
fer, which most Of us who are familiar with
that gentleman's record can not hear without a
smile. Men who have placed themselves in a
position where they must assume that his polit.
zeal character deserves confidence, are in bad
position, and have in hand labor which would
have baflied Hercules We need 20 back in Mr.
"reeley's record no further than 1860, TO see
now little he can be trusted and how dangerous
IL would be TO place him In control of the roy.
eminent At the beginning of the war, his
IDEAS were 80 loose, his nerves so weak. and his
patioue Feelings 50 lost in cowardice. that he
uttered great number Of violent screams in
favor Of breaking up the Union. This nervous
fever was manifest in what he uttered even
when supporting measures employed 10 crush
The rebellion.
The same intellectual looseness and aeue O
cowardice sent him to undertake that notoriou
peace negotiation" with the rebels, at giapar
Falls, aud, also, engaged him in a movement +
defeat the denomination of President Lincoln
Consider all these things carefully, and it will 1
easy to see what fearful calamity would hay
belallen the country II Horace Greeley had bee
president oi the United States at that time.
Is not by clear thinking, intellectual consistenc
or calm courage in days Of trial, that Mr.. Gre
ley has won reputation; nor is il by sagacity
judging men or executive ability Of any kin,
A. 10 his Judgment Of men aud his selection
men for important offices, his recommendation
now on Gle tell " something. Take one. whc