The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-26


ne sought nomination from no parry and had
changed or abandoned no conviction. When ths
interview was over, without consulting Mr.. chase
further, furnished newspaper correspondent with
a general outline OF his views which was tele-
graphed from Washington, June 2, to the NEW YORK
HERALD, from when it was copied III most OF tne
papers OF the country. l went South on business
the Sth OF June, and, after passing through every
State east OF the Mississippi, reached Washington
again the Both Of June. ! found the business
OF the South ready to accept any KIM OF nOml-
nation and any form OF government that would re-
move the military, restore peace, revive trade ana
give them opportunity to repair their shattered
fortunes but, unfortunately, business men are not
generally politicians. The judges. the merchants,
the manufacturers OF the South, as general tnng,
preferred Mr. Chase as the nominee OF the New YORK
Convention, believing that he could unite in har-
mony more OF the dlscordant elements OF the nation
than any other individual. They were willing to
accept reconstruction with negro suffrage and only
rest at stake in the South than any. other,
SAID and it WAS sad p hour for them and for
the nation when the delegates to the New York Con-
vention from that section, instead OF being taSen
down party hacks editors, lawyers and unrepentant
rebel soldiers. l saw Mr.. Chase again July !, and
what have told you about the feeling or the busi
ness men, but that a powerful reactionary element
was at work in the South, which threatened MIS-
chief, particularly in Alabama; that ! was never
more deeply impressed with the wisdom OF Con-
gress In giving the black man the ballot; that 1t
| was q check on the rebel element more effective
than bayOnets; that the black OF the South were
the only agricultural laborers in that section; that
they were really the 'workng mem OF all the cot
ton States, and could only be protected in the fruits
OF their toll by the elective franchise. then in
| qured what he would do If the New York Conven-
ton put forth the theory of the Southern reaction
lists, that this Is only "a white mans government"
and proposed ito deprive the colored people IN any
section OF the country or any right privilege they
now enjoyr' He answered unequlvocally that sin
such an event 1t would be the duty OF every patriot
and OF every friend Of humanity to rally to the stan
dard of General Grant" To retrace my path little
Iwsh to call your attention to the fact that from the
there were two factions in the democratic
posed posed maialy Of the Eastern democrats and
| business men OF the cotton States, but 1t
| had more or less strength in every State in the
Union, embracing, as 1t did, nearly all the German
element OF the democratic party. The other
was reactionary and composed mainly OF all those
rebels who are still unrepentant, who learned no.
thing by the sad experience Of the war, and OF the
| great mass OF Western democrats who supported
| MIR. PendetOn The progressionists favored an en-
tire change of party front and the inauguration OF
new party on new progressive idears practically ad-
uniting that the old democratic party dead. and
must pass away, as did the wing and Know Nothing
however to retain the old party name and to found
| new party which should bear about the same rea-
tons to the old democratic party as the republican
party OF 1860 bore to the Old wing party They pre-
ferred an entire abandonment of every great ques-
! ton upon which they had been defeated. 1t was
proposed to recognize impartial manhood suffrage,
without distinction Of race color, as cardinal
| principle of the democratic party, TO be regu-
themselves. 1t was proposed by peaceful means and
moral suasiOn to secure the removal OF all dsabli-
ties and disqualification In the South, now existing
by reason Of participation In the rebellion, ana to
| break down the power Of class legislation and I'M
equal laws throughout the country. 1t was proposed
to settle the financial question by restoring the
country to such condition Of peace and prosperity
| that specie payments could be speedily resumed,
and that large saving In the national expenditures
and corresponding reduction IN taxation should be
gained by sacred pledges OF the nvloability OF the
fna mus sba re- on 50 soa
bonds not bearing more than three or four per cent
| interest In coin, which would be taken mostly in
Europe, thus turning loose the large amount of
American capital now invested in govern
ment bonds which would then ind employ
| ment in developing our immense resources,
both agricultural and mechanical. 1t was
proposed, as correlatlve part OF his
sbIy could from the Old World to our shores, and to
give national aid to all OF those great railway Inter-
| ests which tend to make US more homogeneous
people, and to bind North and South, East and West
together In the belief that the material development
of the nations best interests under such a policy
want. The policy OF the reactionsts the reverse
Of all this. II was proposed by them to advocate the
black man. his family and his property might exist
| here in peace but that he should be governed by
laws, punished by laws and taxed by laws in franz
ing which he should have no voice; and where this
voice had been gwen him by Congress, to deprive
him of it by any means, peaceful or warike,
as circumstances might render necessary. 1t
was proposed to overturn the Southern State
governments established under Congressional
new ones by rebels and that rebel, whether repent
ant or not must be regarded good man as any
body else; as worthy TO ill office in the government,
and as nt subject To make laws for the widows and
orphans whose kindred he had slain IN battle. 1t
was proposed to abolish the national banking sys-
TEN; to issue greenbacks enough to red all
the fve-twenty bonds in circulation; but confess
have never understood what was to become OF the
greenbacks, though take 1t Tor granted 1t was the
Intention TO destroy them fast they reached
Treasury III payment OF taxes Just as u farmer de-
pays IL of with proceeds his crop OF wheat or
corn. This Is q beautiful theory; IL that OF the
perpetual motion, or navigation oil the ar IN balloons
When either OF these theories successfully reduced
to practice nation will much prosper and will
wax fat upon the larks that are caught by the falling
skies have now given you general outline
Of the internal condition OF the democratic party
when 1t met In Convention at New York on July 1.
! do not think mistaken In my statement OF the
CASE for had unusual facilities for observation and
studied the question most carefully. Before pro-
coed to show you how ana by whom the progression
lists defeated in the convention wish refer
for the last time to Mr. Chases connection with the
movement" He was prompted by no resentment
and by no unworthy ambition. lie wanted quiet In
all the land and he wanted TO equal and exact
justice rendered unto all men. The causes which
produced the movement In his favor far deeper
than his personal influence and power extended. Tor
they originated IN political atmosphere that he did
not breathe they grew out OF the necessities Of the
OF the wisdom some democrats had acquired
through sad experience. II no such man as MT
have existed and would have made themselves felt
In national politics. Mr.. Chase has made no poit-
cal mistake, aud has taken no backward step. An
opportunity was presented whereby the most sacred
OF the political convictions Of his lifetime might be
realized and made secure through their adoption on
the part Of those who had always opposed them.
Here seemed q chance to lead the people in safety
through the Red Sea Of their difficulties and TO settle
ut once and forever the vexed negro question: by
fixing his statue hencef0rth az that Of an American
citizen, possessing equal rights and mmunlt,es with
all other citizens The progressionsts Of the demo-
cratic party SIMPLY said TO him. 1--WE ask no sacrifice
on your part. We are going to adopt u0w ideas.
We intend to acknowledge tho correctness Of your
views. Win you represent us before the people
| II We do thisr No nobler and purer Impulse ever
guided o statesmans action than that which
| prompted Mr.. Chass to give an Affirmative reply
| to this appeal liz would have been unworthy
Of himself and unworthy OF his country n he had
| done otherwise lie has been much abused BY some
| radicals, but they are chiefly OF that class which
| joined the republican party after the war broke out
They those men who fought the battles of slavery
in the North and did the dirty work OF their southern