“It pleases some of the Grant papers to speak of Mr. Greeley as
a Democratic candidate, because he was nominated by a Democratic
Convention. They ignore the fact that he had been previously
nominated by a Republican Convention,--that he has always been a
Republican, and never cast a Democratic ballot in his life. None of
them have answered our query, whether they would have considered
General Grant the Democratic candidate, if he had been nominated at
Baltimore; and if not, why do they make the difference between him
and Greeley?”
The Washington “Patriot,” the Democratic journal at the national
capital, of August 7th, thus explicitly pronounces:--
“The Democratic party have loyally and honorably conditioned to
uphold the Cincinnati platform and all its obligations. _They mean
to fulfil that bond in good faith and to the last letter._ Hence
not a word was altered at Baltimore, not a letter changed, not a
comma erased. _We took it in the exact sense and in all the spirit
of the several declarations, with entire knowledge of the duty
which they enjoined, and an honest purpose to perform it at any
cost._ So far from regarding that acceptance as a sacrifice, it was
welcomed everywhere with joy.”
Are these speakers and these newspapers united in conspiracy to
deceive, or are they dupes? Spurning the idea of dishonest conspiracy,
I cannot doubt that they believe what they say, and that what they say
is true. Again I insist that the sallies of local disaffection or of
personal brutality, however painful or discreditable, cannot interfere
to change the open adhesion of the party, followed by declarations so
authentic in form. On this open adhesion and these declarations I act,
and to the complete fulfilment of all the obligations assumed I feel
that I may confidently hold the party.