Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-06

Mr.. 0Conors letter to the Louisville conveu.
tion is document whose like has not often
been presented to political assembly. 1t is, in
the first place, remarkably calm and dispassion-
ate, the product of an observer rather than an
actor in politics, and, aside from the well known
character of its author, judging it only by in
ternal evidence, it would be impossible to sus-
pect that it covered any purpose of self advance
ment or any scheme of devious policy. The
political theories it contains are perhaps i'm
practicable; they are certainly such as no other
Statesman would have ventured to PROFOUND to
convention which was expected to nominate
him to the highest office. Mr.. O'Conor, how
ever, would have risked nothing, even if he had
desired anything. The convention had more
need of HIM than he Of it, if he had been ever
so DESTROYS Of the honor of nomination. The
strait in which the convention found itself was
Unprecedented. There can be no doubt that il
represented the earnest convictions of many
thousand voters; but its members had so set
their hearts on 0'Conor's nomination that they
could not be satisfied with any other. His per-
emptory refusal disappointed their hopes and
depressed their courage. With O'Copor con
senting to be their candidate they would have
poed respectable vote in many states. and
perhaps carried TWO or three. With no other
candidate could they do SO well, but there are
several others who might be named, of respecta-
Die talents and character and national reputa
tlon, for whom no one Of such political princi.
piles as the straight OUT democrats profess
need be ashamed TO vote.
IL must have been ludicrous and at the same
time somewhat pathetic spectacle, to see those
six hundred entediluyian democrats listening
patiently, though uncomprehendingly to MIR.
OCOnors essay, and at the end offering to make
it their platform, as the only way, since they
could not understand it, of surely having party
creed 10 which he could not object. No men
ever expressed more plainly their need of lead
er, Or offered 10 commit themselves more nnre.
berFediy to the guidance Of the man of their
ehoice' Yet all this selfsacri6ce and those
pa'heuc appeals were wasted Mr.. O'ConorJs
resolution TO decline the Candidacy nroyod m.
alterable. He will give lis influence ord ro,o
TO the ticket, but viii not consent ,ha, =, .''',,
bear his name. y 'ii"'i
LIS possible, however, that Mr.. O'Conor mas.
even now allow himself To take difFeror, -.
OF his duty. Since he has expressed so stron,,,,
his conviction that the movement is important
1t is not easy to see how he can be willing 10
sacrifice il 10 his own personal wishes. He
may, without being charged with inconsistencv
or improperly, say to the committee, which
formally requests his acceptance, that he was
not aware how much importance was attached
TO the use Of bis name as a candidate, aud now,
finding the movement would come to nothing
without #, he withdraws his objections in defer.
'cnee not only to the convention, but to the
whole body Of voters who we're represented by
H. and who, without a candidate, would be
virtually DISTINGUISHED by his act.