New-York tribune., 1872-02-29
THE CAMPAIGN IN MTSS0 URI.
THE REPUBLICANS VS.. THE BoLrERs

SIR: In recent issue OF THE TRIBUNE
communication appeared over the signature Of VIM NJ
Grosvenor Of NewYork, formerly Of Missouri represent
ing the recent socalled Liberal Convention in Missouri
to have been large and significant gathering represent
ing an important and powerful element Of the Repub
can party in that State. The manifest object OF that
communication in view OF the actual facts clearly was
to encourage the organization OF similar movements IN
opposition to the regular organization Of the party else
where. That nobody may be deceived by tho absurd
statements of Mr. GrOsvenOrs letter. ask brief space
in your columns for reply.
First II should be known that your correspondent Mr.
Grosvenor an agent the Free Trade League, recev
ing salary Of 5000 year for doing the work OF that
mercenary organization. The tendency Of Republican
opinion in the direction OF Protection and OF Democratic
opinion in the opposite direction, make it the policy of
the Free Traders to break down the Republican party
and to build up the Democratic party And Mr. Gros-
venor In seeking to disrupt the Republican party. Is
simply doing the work assigned him by his employers
The pretensons of fidelity to party principles which he
sets up are only cloak TO conceal his real purposes
and to mislead those who have sympathy with the
Free Trade Democracy 1t is too short time since he
was an active lobbyist at Jefferson City to secure the
election Of Frank Blair TO the Senate over ex-senator
John Henderson for him to successfully play the role
he now That he did, by adrot and artfu man
agement succeed i'll turning Missouri over into the
hands Of the Democracy is OF course admitted but that
he has any standing or influence in thst STATE or
that any considerable number Of those Republicans who
supported the Gratz Brown movement in 1870 were rep
resented in Mr. Grosvenor's Convention. have any
sympathy with its purposes emphatically deny. And
propose TO show that that Convention the verest
myth and sham designed only TO affect aad mislead
public sentiment abroad.
And first, assert that there is not single known Re
publican in the State Who supported the regular organi
cation in 1870 who has abandoned it since. 50 that the
Liberal organization has gained strength from that
source On the contrary that nearly all OF the
leading Republicans Of the State who participated in the
bolt Of have abandoned it, and that II Is utterly
without even respectable appearance OF strength For
proof OF this have only TO refer TO the proceehes
the State Convention held yesterday, which appointed
delegates TO the Philadelphia Convention. The leaders
of the Liberal wing in 1870 Senator Schuz W M
Grosyenor Gratz Brown, LeutGOv. 5tansrd, Johh u
Quick Speaker OF the House Of Representatives d. p
Dyer s. H. Boyd and G. A. Finkenburg members from
the IXth WITH. and lid Districts; John b. Henderson,
ex-Ipited States Senator; ex-GOv ThOs. c. Fletcher
Samuel Hays State Treasurer; J. o. Domeyer Auditor
Theodore Bruere ]. NJ. Clements, Geo X smith, ana
Judge Fyan All of these men, except the hrst three
schurz Grosvenor and Brown-particpated in the Con
yention OF yesterday. Twothirds OF the Liberal Com
mittee Joined with the regular Committee in calling the
Convention and all the state the County Conven-
tions were characterized by unusual enthusiasm and
harmony and fact that there had ever been bolt
was scarcely percepDle except in the generous rivalry
OF both wings manifest their determination TO forgive
that the who the late supporters OF Brown and
schurz are almost unanimous in cOndemning the Con
venton which Mr. GrOsvenOr labOrs so hard to make ap
pear 20 have represented somebody
About one-thrd OF the Republican newspapers OF the
state supported the bolt of 1870 OF these only two in
dorse MI Grosvenors Convention. while ell tho rest are
in accord with the regular Convention Of yesterday One
Of the two papers referred Is Senator Schurs and
the other is The STATE Times which the Democracy have
secured by giving the publisher half interest IN the
State printing.
schurz ia almost entirely abandoned by the Repnbi
cans whom he deceived in 1870 Nor Ia 1t strange that
this is so They followed him in good faith. But the
Gratz Brown Administration is essentially Democratic
one Its influence helped to send Frank Blair to the
Senate while nearly all the appOntees have been the
most extreme DemOcratsthe last one being that OF
Democrat to the Supreme Bench of the state, Demo-
crat who the candidate OF the Democracy for the
same place in 1868.
do not desire to be understood as even mtimatng
that these Republicans favorable TO Cen Grants
nomination Generally they are not. They only insist
upon acceptance OF the action OF the Philadelphia Con
yention They will abide by that whoever it may nomi-
nate though they prefer some one else than Grant HIS
nomination would he especially unfortunate for Missouri
The Republicans can carry the State with nomination
that win command the hearty support OF all classes OF
since then than 10000 colored men have been en-
franchised while Immigration has been largely In their
favor 1t Is pretended that above 1000 Rebels were
enfranohsed by the adoption Of the constitutional
nation which will command the hearty support OF those
who have felt sggeyed at the action OF the PRESIDENT
the Republicans could hardly fall 10 carry the State by
ft cannot be denied that Missouri Republicans have
much to complain Of The appointments OF the prnci
pal officers have been peculiarly unfortunate IN
STATE Scarcely Of the wSe old SS
unheard Of before have been promoted & Three IN OF the
known 70 be Republicans. and who perasps
never voted the Repnbican nGke, until alter thea n
since However this may be- 1t is an admitted TACT
that they are entirely "o III amd, ana RnhcaD
administration In OF these ohce having from 100
to 200 subordnates, more than one.hs are Democratic
these men have the ear OF the President and chiefly
troll the appointments, while the Congress Representa-
appointment Goss roads postmnsters and other minor
officers 30 completely have they been dsregarded that
n MssoDrSn in WsshDRson i almost a. much stranger
as he would bo 10 Rome or st. Petersburg. They are
nowhere 70 be found & 10 The Department % There Is
holding place higher than the lowest grade Of clerk
| ships, and not more Than six eight Of those.
fortunes of the Republican party Missouri OF course
do not look with much eageness 10 continuation OF
I Sf ts eoSrse Of tSose who hTsStsn 10 bolt
| aud multiply misfortnnes by defeating the party
entirely We do not believe 4 good policy %
portion OF 10, and who cannot harm0ose sll the ele
msns that compose IL. There s more than good
in country and We have several close States 10 carry
states that are essential t1 success, and which few
hundred turned sgRinst IA viii lose 10 us. Can
then safely nominate one whose nomination will be
endanRer In the states whh VIII turn the scale
OF victory defeat and where se real struggle IL " be
| While these are the views Of the most thoughtful
| Republicans Of Missouri they have no sympathy with
| their Owu way Yours, Joah Is. CLARE, Jr,
WaShLagton. u. D.. ROB 20. 1872.