Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-05-04
GR3EIRY AND GRAFT BROwN-wELL,
WHAT OF TT

The Cincinnati s'Oonvention" was q mass
meeting of some sixteen hundred people, assem-
sembled at the call Of a similar, but very much
smaller gathering, held in Missouri, last winter
by number of those men who had split the
Republican Party in that State, elected rebel
Legislature, and sent Frank Blair to the q. 8.
Senate. In order to be delegate at this Con
vention," the only credentiAl needed was the
fact that the person had taken interest enough
in the affair to come to Cincinnati II was mat
ter Of indifference that nobody had sent him. that
no public opinion, feeling, interest or principle
was delegated to bis representation that his
action was totally irresponsible, and entirely
regulated by the necessities of his own case =
all this was Of no consequence, in the face Of
the fact that he had come in answer to the call,
and was present to help swell the crowd.
Such a trayesty upon the character of "Con-
vention' was naturally composed Of all the odds
and ends Of politics. Even Jim scovel, of New
Jersey, Morrow B. Lowry, Of Pennsylvania, and
Susan B. Anthony, were not out Of place. Aeck
Mcclure and Theodore Tilton wrre prominent
figures in it, and there were hundreds OF COM
mon trading politicians, such az the New York
EUening Post, friend Of the movement, char
Acterized as s'bummera."
Watching over this rare assemblage near at
hand,was Committee of prominent Democrats,
including number of congressman, and some of
the leading Democratic newspapers of the coun-
try had been advising, oounseling, and comforting
with its most active Spirits for weeks, until they
openly spoke Of each other as 'Allies, in the at
temptto "beAt Grant and the Republican Party,
The chief bond Of sympathy which had brought
the odds and ends together was personal cha
grin, and political disappointment. An had q
private sore or selfish purpose not ten pei
cent. of the whole gathering were either honesl
or patriotic men. Such as Edward Atkinson ani
Stanley Matthews probably mean to be both, but
they and their peers were only small part Of
the gathering.
And now these scrapings of the Nation hav,
nominated Horace Greeley for President The,
might have nominated worse, it is true. Blu
who will vote for him He is a candidate whom
the Democratic Party win repudiate. They ar
brought face to face with the question, now
whether they accept him as their nominee 70
the Presidency, and decline to make another. o
course, they will call their Convention, aHd se
up their party candidate. Possibly, if Adam
had been put forward, the party leaders woul
have accepted MIN. II Davis had succeeded
manipulating the discordant elements he nigh
have suited. But certainly it is too much I
expect the Democratic voters of the Unite
States to declare that they choose Horace Gre'
ley for President. The idea is an immense jok
"a stupendous cause for laughter.
Unsupported by the Democratic strength, VIII
becomes Of Greeley So long as he stays in IL
field he simply threatens the injury of the R
publican candidate - he merely serves to drs
on from the support Of the Republican oAuse,
small percentage of voters. He becomes an al
of the Democracy, indeed, serving them as fait
fully as, and more effectively than, any of the
own men, since he does work that none of the
could in the slightest degree accomplish.
In such position Mr.. Greeley stands, or W
stand, very soon. 1t remains to be seen whet
er he will thus serve the Democratic Party, (
certainly the contingency that they will ser
him, with their votes, is beyond expectation
belief