Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-01-10


was regarded a. the most prominent advocate.
| Their first move was to arrest the progress
of this policy. but finding it more popular thar
they had believed it. doubts began to
be entertained as 10 the correctness of this
course, and to settle the question a committee
of which Matthew L. Davis was chairman,
was sent from the Tamany Club to examine
the work thea begun, and ascertain the facts
as near as possible touching its practcabiiiy
and the feeling with which it was regarded in
the interior and western parts of the State.
The report OF this committee was in substance.
that ifthe opposition did not change their
course, the consequence would be that the pop
ularity of the canal policy would inevitably
destroy them. instead of their being able TO de-
sroy of defeat it.
This report ~as signal for right about
face, or change of front and from that time
forward the efforts of this party was, TO strip
Mr.. Clinton of the credit that had been given
him as protector and friend of the canal pol
icy, and if possible get the matter into their
own hands, take leading part in its support,
and disconnect him with the undertaking =
and this plan was persevered in until his res
moval from the Office CT President The board
commissioners was effected in 1924. At
the commencement of these movements Mr..
Van Bcrep was Attorney General OF the State
and was well understood to favor the views
of the Tamany party, as it was then designa-
ted. In august 1919 he was removed from.
Office. and in the winter of 1920 placed him.
self at the head of that party and erected the
standard of opposition to Mr. Clinton, denoun-
eng him and his supporters as federalists,and
claiming for himself and associates the exclu-
sive right 10 the name of Democrat? The
democratic party being thus divided, the bal
lance of power was in the hands OF the then
recently disbanded federalists, they constitu-
ted the only floating capital in the political
market. To secure their aid and co-opera-
ton with this fragment of the democratic par
ty that had placed themselves under the CON-
mand and direction of Van Buren, was inds-
source from whence assistance could be look.
ed for or expected. And to secure it to the
extent required without mourning the odium of
the name of federal, along with it, was the
grand desideraum,tke point On which all their
hopes were suspended. Iwithout any Cere>
mony OF publication, the federalists as body
had rallied under the Van Buren, standard of
opposition to Mr.. Clinton, the name and odium
attached to it must have gone with it, which
would have pFecladed the possibility of success.
To reno, all difficulty on this point, an arr
rangement was made early in 1920 between
Van Buren, and portion of the leading feder-
alists, to issue manifesto declaratory of their
conversion TO democracy, and adhe sion to the
Van Rrrsn standard o: opposition to Clinton.
Accordingly an address prepared, and
WITH Accessibility enc of tho roe, no
state appended, was published to the world
calling on their disbanded brethren to follow
their example,, and free themselves from the
foul stains of federalism by dip in this Van
Buren, LAYER of political regeneration, the
virtues of which instantly transformed the
most polluted federalist to the best OF demo
Gratis. The process of conversion in this
school required no change of principle, while
the rewards preferred were the most liberal
and enticng. The enlistment bounty was de,
liverence from the odiou name s. sin of fed.
eralism, and Van Buren, patent title, to the
name of democrat: the regular pay was ''the
spoils of Office" whenever victorious, Under
these proposals every ambitious aspiring fed
era!ist rallied to the Van Buren, standard
and from this germ, this corrupt union sprang
the modern sef-siled democratic party that
has since ruled and attic ed the country, as
we shall hereafter show.