The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-25
BLAIR ON GREELEY.
Montgomery Charging tho Anti-Greeley
Democrats Under Nom do Plume
What the Democracy Might he Able 10
DO by Supporting the Cincinnati


What the Democracy Might he Able to
DO by Supporting the Cincinnati
Ticket.
Montgomery Blair has entered the lists for the
national campaign, the following letter having
been forwarded to the Newark EVENING Journal
under the nom dc plume OF "Sydney:''-
The objections to the support by democrats of the
Cincinnati ticket stated in letter published IN
your paper OF the 18th, signed "A Liberal Demo
crat," are in substance
Ffrst-That II would be an abandonment OF prin-
ciple; the persons nominated being thorough re-
publicans and the nominations having been made
by Convention composed exclusively OF repub-
licans.
Second--That such support is unnecessary, in as
much as the radicals being divided, straight
democratic ticket may be nominated and elected:
mocrac party through its representatives in State
conventions last year. and especially by the recent
actions OF the great States OF Tennessee and New
York, in adopting the Cincinnati platform. When
our party conventions adopt the Cincinnati plat
form and recommend the cooperation OF all who
stand upon 1t, In the elections, the presumption Is
that such cooperation involves no sacrifice OF prin
ciple; and the explanation OF how those who have
heretofore opposed Mr.. Greeley can support him
now is found In the resolve to forego ali further
contest upon the measures which have been the
chief subjects OF difference heretofore, for the sake
OF his cooperation with them in the pending cleo
ton with respect to certain questions which they
regard as important subsisting questions.
The second objection proceeds upon q mistake.
Mr.. Greeley would be compelled to withdraw II
democratic ticket should be presented and the re-
publicans win again unite and east their fali
strength against us Such action as Is proposed by
O Liberal Democrat would be evidence OF bad
faith in two respects
Figst--It would be charged that, az party, the
democratic party had so acted as to pledge Itself
to the leaders of the Cincinnati movement to sup
port them In 1t.
Second-As the party had adopted the Cincinnati
platform In ts State Conventions generally last
year, in what was called the new departure" 1t
would support the nominee II IL sincere In pro-
posing to abandon dead issues.
The partsans Of the administration charge that
by the Tammany trcksters TO possess themselves
OF power, and that If they are allowed to obtain pos
session Of the government they win undo all the
works OF the war, &c.
Unfortunately the men thus stagnatcd had been
allowed to reach such positions in the democratic
party as seriously TO discrcdit the country; and
the elections last year showed that, in spite OF
the adoption of the new departure by the party Its
large numbers OF republicans was proclaimed, but
they dstrusted the democratic leaders, and were
apprehensve that their restoration to power would
reopen past questions Notwithstanding their decla-
rations TO the contrary
The liberal movement has grown out of this con-
ditOn, and lts leaders have been welcomed to the
front by the OF the democracy in spite OF the
general opposition OF the leaders, and especially OF
the New York World, which had taken so pro-
nounced part for the new departure that its sup.
port was logical necessity
Now the strength OF the administration lies wholly
in the want OF faith in the democratic leaders which
Is felt by the Northern people, The power which
has been held by Tammany In the party has enabled
the administration to infect the Northern mind with
such dlstrust IN the organization that when the
World, which was the apologist OF Tammany till
Tweed was arrested led or for what Is called the
new departure" It was treated as q trick. Now,
II through the influence OF that paper and its ass0-
ciates the democracy should refuse to stand by the
new departure for no other reason than because 1t
Is proposed to put the power in the hands OF lib
cral republican instead Of into the hands OF anew
departure democrat, their sincerity may well be
questioned. We can then he chaTgcd-and not
without proof-of double duplicity-
FiYst--With having invited the liberals to make a
stand against Grant with an implied promise OF
support, and then deserving and sacrificing them
by attempting to slip into power ourselves by rir-
tue of the division in the republican camp thus TO-
nented.
.Second-We should be charged with assembling
when we profess to surrender dead issues, and the
proof win be that while we ratly and approve the
Cincinnati platform, we shrink from the test OF com
hitting the power TO those who are as fully commit
ted to IL az we are, hut whose record gives better
guarantee against the revival OF the dead issuea AS
profess TO desire to get rid OF those issues in fact
and certainly wish to avoid them in the canvass,
is the obvious dictate OF common prudence to take
/ candidate who cannot he suspected, and there
| fore we certainly would do so unless we meant to
| cheat.
But Liberal Democrat says "the consent
given to the action at Cincinnati by democrats was
| upon conditions that were not considered at ALL
With the single exception OF the Atlanta tGeorgia)
San, ali the democratic press acquiesced in the
policy OF supporting some nominee OF the Cincin-
natl Convection. But Liberal Dcnocrat'' says
Mr. Greeley was not thought OF even by his friends
Of were radicals, and the only diiIercnce between
them and Mr.. Greeley was that, not having been
editors, they had not offended SO many leading
democrats by criticisms upon them. If po-
ltical principle, aud not personal feeling, is
to be the test, no reason can be given for reject
ing Greeley and supporting Adams, Brown, Trusl-
bull or Davis. All that can be said is, they have
not fought the Democracy so long and so hard
But, per contra, it must he admitted that they have
not fought Grant so efiecually, and just now il is
power to overthrow him that Is wanted. When the
liberties OF the people are In peril it Is no time to
resent individual grievances. Greeley has dealt me
many heavy blows but since he has turned his guns
against Grant, and has come to reseue the country
my heart grows warm to him, and Is purgcd Of all
resentment for the heavy blows he has struck us in
past conflicts, by the reflection that it Is only be-
cause he has been so stern opponent OF the de-
mocracy through life that he has 1t now in his power
to save the country. SIDNEY.