New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-26
BOURBONISM REPUDIATED.
FOR GREELEY. NOT OCoNoR.
ANOTHER ELECTOR OF THE BOURBON CAM
DALE DECLINEa TIE HONOR.

sence OF several months in Europe TO find my nams
printed a Presidential ticket eectOr for the Stats
OF NewYork the principal names being those OF Messrs
Charles O'Conor and John Quincy Adlms. This has
been done without my authority or approval and.
although grateful for the distinction which It Is pro
sumed Is intended to he conferred constrained 70
respectfully decline its acceptance
Appended TO tho ticket platform adopted at Loss
vile, Sept 1872 and several communications from Or
OConor, which together set forth the principles and
views OF the socaled straightOut Democracy. Judging
from tho names on the electoral ticket some Of tho
Straghtout Democrats OF conversion TO tAs
faith for notice more than one among them who eVoa
within the past year, has acted with the Grant Repub
cans. My Democracy, though perhaps neither so resn
or intense that Of my collectors, for am no poa
clan and desire OF Office has at least the merS
of superior age and it does not recognize in the utter
Of my much-respected feow-citizen, Mr. OCOnor
however eloquent and patriotic they are views thAs
harmonic with the principles Of the party. One OF
these principles government by the people for the
people that IS government adapted 10 tho ntelectua
and moral status OF the people governed. "The most
carefully framed Constitutions are worthless unless
they be embodlments Of the popular character.
and governmental arrangements In advance OF tho
time will inevitably apsesntO oongruty with the time"
Instead OF following this essentially democratic prD-
ciple Mr.. O'COnor as understand him, would protect
the country against misrue by establishing code OF
laws as laws be enforced which rise higher than
the source from which they emanate-the people Mr..
OConor would totally prohibit those powers winch
cannot be efectuay regulated by law" Have We net
tried this plan long enoughi This country Is already
oyeburdened with laws and beyond furnishing occupa-
ton to printers and lawyers what good have they donct
Suppose now rush TO the other extreme ana pro
hibc all the powers which these endless laws have aled
TO regulate. Shall have Federal Government be-
cause Presidents and Secretaries have abused then
powers shall we prohibit state Governments because
Governors and Legislatures have been detected In audt
shall we interdiot governments OF the cities because
municipal officials have often proved to be rasea's'
Mr. OConor's views in this respect may possess more
strength than have been enabled to discover but thes
certainly lack the merit OF being democratic Tor tbey
| point not TO self-government, but 10 revolution
His views on taxation seem 10 me equally unsound
and un-deInocratic. He would abolish duties excuses,
and all indirect taxes and obtain all revenues neeAeo
for the support OF the Government and at the e lbey
were needed by direct property. This pan ne
contends would enlist the propey-owners on the side
OF economical government, and induce surveillance
that would result in destroying legislative corruption
and elevating honest men TO office Long ahd pateol
study" he writes has convinced mo that on tue pras
ticabty Of establishing precisely this popular surVei
lance rests the last hopes Of Republic Any opinion
that Mr. OConor has gained by long and patient study
Is entitled to profound respect but am forced to re-
mark that in this instance Mr.. O'COnOrs study mus
| have been limited to schemes and deliberations not
derived from the history Of governments am confident
that no man who has had the least experience In the
actual administration OF government VIII hSSis"N W
condemn as mpractcabe the policy OF raising reyennef
az the moment of expenditure. Suppose money needed
for great aud expensive public wOTkssuch as the open
ing paving. sewering and piping OF numerous uf"an
avenues the building OF great brdge-and 1t is MOI
convenient pay it all down at once. must tic improve
| ment be abandoned Should We have abandoned the
| cause Of Union because it impossible TO raiss
$500 10000 year while the war continuedf OF SHOULD
the Conederates have abandoned their cause because
they had bonds to support Must each gen
GRAFTON 1--we only for itself and never be planted
| because only pOsterity can see the oak mature
Take his next proposition, that OF initial property
tax Surely Mr.. O'COnor must be aware that our IA
merous and city governments are supported By
precisely this mode Of taxation II It possesses the
he claims for it, he is bound, If he would DO log
cal to approve Of the recent administration OF thu
states OF South Carolina. Georgia. Arkansas, &c. and Of
the cities Of NewYOrk New Orleans &c. 1t ~ because
taxation real estate Is so extensively relied upon ~
The state and local governments their support that
the Federal Government obliged imports
ufactures &c. and no material change eau now De made
i'm the system without occasiOung enormous and Vide
spread hardship All taxes distribute themselves IrJuy
fairly in the long run. but this Is N'Ik OF time; asd
the present Indirect taxes OF tie Federal Govern
ment changed. eli her suddenly or slowly to taxes ca
real estate even such change possible under cur
people aud unusy ruin thousands, without Ia the least
S5rt t9 p genera eommteI ITSELF to any such de-
rine. aud Mr.. OConor stands alone IA his Democracy
Mr.. OConor condemns, on grounds Of morality, the
sudden coalition of parties; but such coIdemnalion
party has frequently invited ana enected sudden cOd-
TONS, only OF parties but OF indiyiduas II has CD
cOuraged aud promoted immigration ana the quick
metamorpnosis OF the immigrant INTO the voter on The
higher principle that this continent belongs not 10 pa
teular nationaes, Tut to the world az Large;
that IL home for mankind and dwelling place for
refugees and the oppressed OF all clmes Inis as I'M
dersand it, is American Democracy; while Mr. OCOnOrs
principle OF exclusion II carried 10 its logical conciusion,
would end In prescription. Mr. OCOnOr appears 10 for
get that in addition 10 those doctrines which app to
fundamental questions OF government and wncI II adj
heres TO still, the Democratic party Les from time 10
time adopted addti NAL and less basic doctrines sucn as
those relating TO bank paper money slavery ete Nhieh
longer adheres IN fact, which II has since even
opposed Tue abandonment Of these doctrines or " Is.
sues" simply marked changes IN the OF
the people which rendered them no longer tenabe 0ut
according to Mr. oCouor's Judgment OF the Baltimore
Convention. their Abandonment amounted To ulshOnest
action" and betrayal and was deserving only of In
eyItable failure"
The general unsoundness OF Mr.. OC'onors position
seems to me this That IN common with men VINO have
passed their lives in the study than TIE world OF
action, he seeks degree OF perfection IN government
greater than that possessed by the the people
who create the Government. To use his own words,
1.-THE perfection happy individual destiny Is spend
In our allotted place blameless life OF honest effort and
at its END 10 perish nOby cODtendng IN the lAefmOpyo
of an honest cause" such sentiments are calculated 70
they fail INSPIRE respect from others Tue states
man is not expected to perish in noDy conendng ior
any cause however honest unless IL he cause that IN
voves the practical welfare OF his countrymen And IL
seems me this matter that MIR. oConor entirely
misapprehends the function OF government, winch 10
not the negatOn or even the medication OF
doctrines OF merely possible remote Application now
rather the Cancellation aud harmonious arrangement Of
conflicting interests actual aud pending; the prOtecton
OF the weak. the reward OF merit the reheI OF nsfsr-
tune and the punishment OF crime.
There is in country with whose views, pre-
ylOus % the present campaign, my Own were more at
variance than those OF Mir. Greeley. He h pub
can have been since the war Democrat. tOOA
active and public part IN the canvass HOratlO bey
mOur MI Greeley strongly advocated Tie other slde
Yet, Republican and Wing as he has always been, and
Democrat as have been, deem ms elcctiOu 10 mo
office President essential the welfare OF tho
country and shan Yote Tor hn' ana do my best other