New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-09-05
HUNTSVILLE.


The louisville Convention thought it would
not let off Mr.. O'COnor so easily. In spite OF
his unalterable resolution to remain in private
life. it nominated him for President by
acclamation, and informed him, in rather
peremptory telegram, that it " held him
abound" We don't exactly understand how;
but Mr.. Duncan held Mr.. 0'COnor bound;
and all the Louisville delegates determined to
vote for him, whether he likes it or not.
And really we don't see why they should not.
If they meant to elect anybody, it might be
proper that they should have candidate will
inc to accept the Office. But the movement
being nothing but blind, the acceptance is a
matter of no consequence whatever. All they
want is name that will look well on ban
ners and handbills; and if they had seen fit to
nut up Andrew Jackson in place OF MT
| O'Conor and the late John Quincy Adams
in place of his respected grandson, they might
l'have voted for those departed celebrities
with lust the same effect as their votes are
now likely to nave, and with a great deal
more comfort Indeed, a dead candidate
would on many accounts serve their purpose
much better than live one. The name OF
Mr. O'COnOr, however, was the only thing
which gave the Convention an appearance OF
responsibility, and it is not at all wonderful
that the Convention should refuse to give it
lid at the demand of the owner The starving
thief excuses himself for the theft of a loaf
of bread; and Mr.. Duncan may justify the
appropriation of Charles 0'ConOrs name on
the principle that self-preservatiOn is law of
nature.
The Convention also formally committed it
self to the doctrines of Mr.. OCOnor's extraor-
binary letter. These are:
l. That Grant would make safe President
for a second term, because the measure OF his
ambition would then be full, and he would
have no temptation to continue in his present
| lawless course.
Q. That Bourbon Democrats ought to vote
for Grant because he has uSurped authority,
and decentralization is one of the leading
principles of the Democratic faith.
8. That Government should do nothing which
can possibly be done by private individuals,
and therefore that carpet-baggism should be
continued.
4. That no money should ever be borrowed
under any circumstances by Federal, State,
County, or Municipal Governments.
| D.
paid instantly by the men who fight them, and
of all public Improvements by the men VINO
build them,-whether they can or not.
6. That the Louisville Convention is fraud,
which will do no good to anybody except
Grant, and therefore those who cannot vote
for Grant and do not like him ought to sus-
tain it for the sake of promoting his election.
Having thus adopted platform which dis
putes all the old Democratic doctrines, and
expressly asserts that the Bourbon party has
no excuse for its existence, and having forced
the nomination upon a gentleman who twice
formally and peremptOrily refused it, 1t seemed
difficult for the Convention to do anything
sufficiently grOtesque to sustain Its high
character for absurdity. But they rose to the
level of the occasion, under the pressure Oh
Mr.. O'COnor's second refusal, and nominated
for President man so ridiculous that he
could not himself escape the conviction
of his own fantastic unftness. Even James
Lyons locally knoYn as the American Lamar
tine, declined the honor of a candidacy from
this distracted mob. From the moment when
Mr.. OCOnor peremptorily forbade the use OF
his name, the Convention did nothing but fly
around in the eccentric fashion OF decapltated
poultry. Of course, in accordance with the
eternal relations of things, Mr. George Francis
Train could not be absent from such scene.
The fast and furious orator appeared for only
a moment; but his shrieks and struggles as he
was borne from the hall, shaking his eloquent
arms and tossing his rhetorical legs above the
heads of the enraged assembly, lent
picturesque aspect to the closing scenes.
What they may do to-day, if they conclude to
meet again, cannot be fOreseen and is of little
consequence. They are capable of going back
to Mr.. OConor, or of nominating Gen. Grant
and paying thus Loyalty for their free passes
and their board bills. But there Is danger in
any longer delay. Brevity is the soul OF farce,
and if these low comedians want to be kindly
remembered they would better get of the scene
at once and let the campaign go on.