The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-04-28
GEN. GORDON. OF GEORGIA.
what he Says of the Greeley Move
rnent of IS72, and the
Present Presidential
Outlook.

The authors of the Liberal movement
of1872, though not successful at the time,
builded wiser than they knew, and laid the
foundations for the victories of 1874, with
their cheering promise of eliminating in
Waterloo defeat Of Radicalism in 1876.
This opinion is becoming the settled be-
lief of the country and men are embrac-
ing it who arrayed themselves in opposi-
ton to the movements when it was
inaugurated. Among the number are
Gen. Gordon and Senator Bayard. The
N T. Herald says:
''Senator Gordon, who was at first OPP
posed TO the Greeley nomination, now
considers it the wisest political movement
il our history. His explanation of this
opinion is philosophical, and will be found
in another column. The Greeley canvass
certainly made a wonderful revolution in
the old Democracy, as well as a serious
breach in the Republican ranks"
We have room for the following ex-
tracts only from the explanation of Gen.
Gordon, which, by the way, we have read
with heightened estimate of his sagacity
and patriotism:
81 opposed the Greeley movement at
first, but am not one of those who in
sist now that it was a mistake. think
that it was
THE wIsEsT POLITICAL MOVEMENT
In our political history. 1t was the car
rying out of the policy Swallowed in Lin
coins memorable words-"We have con-
quered them with arms let us win them
by magnanimity. heard Senator Bay
ard who, you will remember, opposed the
coalition bitterly and denounced it on the
floor of the Baltimore Convention, say in
the executive session of the Senate, Just a
few days ago, that after seeing its fruits,
he estimated the Greeley movement as a
wise, polite and patriotic movement. 1t
gave the South the ear OF the North and
West. This was all he wanted We did
not need arguments, we only lacked an
audience.
x x The movement failed lust
then; not because the liberals and con
servatives did not do their part, but be
cause there was not sufficient time allowed
to bring the democratic party to believe
that the movement was a sincere an
honest effort for reconciliation and resto-
ration.
The elections of last fall were the Ie-
gitimate and the necessary results of that
coalition. Something like the Greeley
movement was absolutely necessary"
Gen. Gordon thinks that with a con-
sentative platform which would allay the
apprehension of the North in regard to
the disturbance of the questions settled
by the war, a straight Democrat can be
elected to the Presidency in 1876 with
the cooperation Of such Republicans as
Schurz, Bryant, Fenton, Evarts, Ferry
and their adherents.
In reply to question if he would con-
sent to the use Of his name in connection
with the Vice Presidency, Gen. Gordon
emphatically said:
81 will not, under any set of circum-
stances. Even if l were nominated
should withdraw my name. My reasons
for this statement, to-day made public for
the first time, are that [ believe that a
Southern man on the ticket would weaken
it. And as much as personal ambition
might tempt me to yield to the partial
suggestion of my friends, would not
for all the honors in the gift of the Amer
lean people feel that | have been the
means of driving one man from the sup
port of that ticket on whose success de-
ponds the future peace and prosperity of
my country. | have but one object
that is the re-establishment of harmony,
Of good will and of good government.
To this end all things also shall be sec
ondary."