Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-06-19
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The following is Henry Wattersol

The following Is Henry atterson's
editorial upon the nomination Of
Gen. Garfield:
Whatever may be said to the dis
credit of the republican party, it must
be allowed that, during twenty years
sailing upon dangerous seas, it has
encountered extraordinary good for
tune aud displayed unusual skill in
emergencies. The nomination of
Garfield is an inspiration. Iu no
other direction, through no other
Echannel. could the Chicago conven-
tisn-driven about by the cross-winds
Of Interest and beaten by All ever-in-
creasing flood OF passion-have found,
il not safety, atleast escape from the
immediate perils of the storm. Scylla
aud Charybdis having, in the person
OF Grant aud Blaine, been weathered,
such breakers as Sherman, Washburne
and Edmunds need not be considered;
u sort of harbor has been reached ;
and we may be sure that, in good
time for the Northumberland, this
wonderfully lucky and admirably
handled political craft will show not
q trace of the rough usage Of the ele-
ments that the deck WILDE cleared
for action ; that the guns will be
shotted, and that every man will all
swer to his name when the rolls of
oficers, suilOrs and marines are
called.
The nomination of Grant was GER
tain defeat. 1t was worse; it was
! ultimate destruction in civil war, for
the conspiracy Of the third-termers
contemplated confusion of the re-
turns, a revolt against the count of
the vote and q resort to arms The
scheme, of which Conkling was the
author, and Cameron aud Logan were
accomplices, must be conceded a de-
gree Of subtlety along with its au-
dscity. But it miscalcuIated tine tenn
per of the times aud Ovcrshot the
mark set III the common sense of the
people for statesmen to aim at. Mr..
tCOnkliHg lie, indeed, not a statesman;
he is III artist in brilliant political
persifage ; a ready and snowy adven-
turer, too vain to be sincere aud too
self-consciousGto be sustained and
Mr.. Cameron aud Mr.. Logan differ
from him merely in being less gifted.
The three have made u mistake fatal
to their, future. They have d~isparagcd
themselves in the confidence of their
party. They have lost. if they cvcr
possessed, the popular esteem. They
have tarnished the name and fame Of
their chief. From the Inscriptions
which must inevitably clingto a dcs-
perate n unsuccessful attempt to
outrage a venerable tradition they
Will never be able to free themselves !;
from the reproaches alike of friend
and foe they can never run away ; AS
senators, they will be known as COIL
spirators, and 60 out of place never
TO return.
1t is well for their country that
such al end has come upon t cir reck-
less disregard of duty and honor.
For. though their disaster gives their
party a living chance to win in the
coming struggle, which a victory to
Them would have denied, it insures
!; its existence ever though d fealed,
and relieves the minds of men from
the suspense impending civil war. [,
= takes q man out Of the way who,
whilst he seemed to be a possibility
: was a menac to the peace of The
I country. And, though it magniGe.
E aud multiplics the difficulties of the
: situation for the democrats, it doe.
not by any means make that si,ua
! ton hopeless. On the contrary, we
E eau beat Garfield as easily us we lie /.
Hayes, of whom, in truth, CARTEL,
is II large likeness ; a brainier, and
because Il brainicr, u better man
but yet a sleek embodiment o
the insincerity. the intolerance an.
the loose fitting morality Of latter
y day republicanism. As amiable u,
r Blaine. aud more plausible, though
g less intrepid; IA smiling and n.
e smooth as Washburne as cool, war,
and pains-taking as Sherman, and al
most as acute and trained AS Ed
munds. this new leader, which some
Ir thing like a destiny has ralsed up fo
the republicans, will unite the part
and poll its full strength, because Ii
is the logical expression of its nature
te its shrewd and nimble intellectually
'e ITS canting moral tone; its pushing
70 commercial spirit its canmy Thrift
and wheedling Zeal in enterprises
great II small ; in one word, il
D genius for commonplace, which il liza
, educated into a popular idiosyncras
and would elevate into a nations
l ! characteristic. Garfield Is the middl