Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-19
sATURnAY. oCToBER Ie, Ia


At the present time, there IS no more curious
political study than that furnished by the demo-
cratic and assistant democratic talk about Cen
traliEation" It is by means of this, chiefly, that
the Greeley democratic party contrives to estab-
lish that important thing, "bond of connee-
tiou." The old talk of "state sovereignty"
would not sound well in most of the states. II
originated the secession treason, and the war TO
destroy the national government, which has
made it so infamous that even specializing
aoctriaarjes no longer venture to make a
show Of skill in political philosophy, by
expoundiug ii, This old doctrine, however, is
not dead among the Bourbons of the south, al
though il has lost pow er to control the politics
of tile country; but it appears now with
changed face and modified speech. Its old bus
mess was to defend slavery against interference
from any power outside of slave state; its
present business is TO shield kukluXism against
interference from the national government, and
protect the purpose of southern Bourbonism to
nuIliiy certain amendments of the national con-
stitution.
For the national government to protect the
rights of citizenship, when they aAe trampled
underfoot by lawless local despotism, is "cen-
tralization;" and Mr. Greeley and his northern
supporters now establish their southern connec-
tons by declaiming and Numbering agains;
Capitalization" They hesitate to speak out
plainly and say what they mean; but their
southern associates make the matter plain and
leave nothing in doubt. 1t means opposition to
the civil rights of colored men. 1t is the
formality of agreeing that the southern
Bourbons shall be left free to deal with
these rights as they please. The doc
trine and policy OF the democrats, on this ques
ton, has been set forth officially by the demo-
cratic minority of the congressional committee
on kukluxism; and, so far as we have observed,
no supporter of Greeley and Brown has spoken
word against this manifesto; nor has the Tri-
bune, or Mr.. Greeley, or any supporter of MIR.
Greeley, had word to say against the atrocious
outrages perpetrated against coored voters, in
the recent Georgia election. No great amount
of intellectual sharpness is needed to understand
what this means.
1t is a noteworthy and significant fact, that
no northern organ of the democratic Greeley
party can be induced to engage honestly in a
discussion of this great issue OF the present po-
litical canvass They dare not discuss it, nor
even refer TO it save in 2eneralities, which is a
fun admission that the Converts" have not been
converted.
The New York World, which appears TO have
''cenuslism" on the brain, has detected a new
and fearful manifestation of it. 1t finds this in
Charles O'Couor and his three associates, who
have undertaken TO prevent the election of cor
rupt men TO the New York legislature. The
method proposed by these gentlemen is novel
and may be open to criticism; but nobody eX-
cephng the Tammany democrats seems to be
afraid OF it. Tammany has already put in nom
inauon some of the most corrupt men in New
York city, and is likely to have in the field, there
and elsewhere, more legislative candidates of
the same sort. This political institution is
making nominations which can not bear the pro-
posed scrutiny. Therefore the World, in its be-
hall, raises the cutlery OF "centrasm, just as ku-
kluxism ulters this outcry when interlered with,
just as corruption and scoundrelism of every
sort cry out against interference with their pro-
eeedngs. 1t is "the latest phase of centralism,"
says the World, sit has all the odous features
OF the Spanish Camarilla, Of the Aulie Council
and of the British Starchamber, those devices
of central despotism." Well, it appears to be
Mr.. O'Conor's device for defeating bad men,
TammaDy manifestly has reason to dread its
influence; and as Tammany and the democratic
party in New York city are pretty much the
same thing, the World very naturally comes 10
the rescue.
1t is not our business to defend Mr.. 0'Conor's
device for securing reform legislature. We
seek only to point out that Tammany alone is
afraid Of it, and that the World sees in it new
and terrible illustration of "centralism." If
there were no murderous kukluXism in the
south, there would be no cutlery against inter-
ference with it. II there were no violent tramp
ling under foot of the rights of citizenship, there
would be no occasion for the national govern
ment to use its constitutional power to protect
them. And SO, if Tammany were certain to
nominate none but good men, or, rather, If
Tammauy were not certain to nominate many
very corrupt men, this notorious political organ
izatiOn would have no fear Of Mr. O'Conors
scheme Tor defeating bad men.
As the proceeding of Mr.. 0'Conor and his
associates is kened to the vilest contrivances of
despotism, we suppose the. World considers it
demonstrations" although it does not say so
in express terms. According TO the organs of
the democratic party, whatever that party finds
inconyenient or obstructive is necessarily un-
constitutional and ntolerable. Therefore, the
constilutonality of Mir. Conor, in this case, is
sure to be called in question. 1t will be IN vain
for him to CLAIM that be and his associates, as
individuals, have a right to oppose bad eandi
dates in their own way. Their crusade troubles
Tammauy; therefore, they must submit to hear
it denounced as unconstitutional"