The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-07-01
The Fifth Avenue conference. ,.

The Nation of last week has candid review
of the late conference at the Fifth Avenue Ho-
tel, New York, from which we make the fol-
lowing extracts:
''It is to be remembered that it originated in
a desire on the part of some who were dissatis-
fled with the nomination of Mr.. Greeley at Gin
clnnati to procure second nomination by a
Convention of Notables'-thgt is, small body
of prominent men in sincere sympathy with
the aims of the Liberal Republican movement.
But when the arrangement came to be made,
Mr.. Schurz insisted that the Conference should
be made up of persons favorable to Greeley as
well as those opposed to him, and his demand
was acceded to, thus repeating over again the
mistake made at Cincinnati when Greeley's al
lance was deliberately and sedulously eOurted.
The probably disastrous consequence of that
alliance was explained thus, a fortnight before
that convention met in letter of great earn
estness and lucidity, by one of the chief pro-
motors OF the movement, whose sad forebod-
ings have all been fulfilled, but who is never
theless, himself at this moment one of Gree
ley's most ardent advocates and adherents. 1t
will thus be seen that nobody can go very far
in this 'benefcent revolution without having a
good thick moral hide, and those who went
thus provided into the conference of last week
had day of pure enjoyment. For those, how
ever who think as we think, that something
like decency, consistency, sngleness in the use
of language, respect for truth, for character
conduct of 'benefcent revolutions there was a
great deal that was repulsiye as well as laugha-
ble u
''The object of the Cincinnati movement, as
this object was set forth by divers independent
journalists and popular orators was to purify
the administration by putting in Grants place
person identified by his character and ante
cedents with certa'n loudly-preached reforms,
and to purify the government generally by en-
bodying those reforms in legislation. The gem
tleman nominated was universally acknowledge
ed at the Convention to be in no way legiti-
mate expression of the aims of the movement.
Tn other words, he was not reformer in any
sense in which that word was used by its pro-
moters
Moreover, the proceedings of the Convention
were opened by an eloquent speech from Sena-
tor Schurz, in which he proclaimed the eleva-
ton of our politics to higher plane to be its
purpose; repudiated in strong terms the use of
the body for the mere purpose of beating
Grant; and, indeed, laid it down that if that
were to become its sole purpose, it were better
it had never met. 1t may therefore, be imag-
ined, though it would be difficult to describe,
the effect produced on a spectator gifted with
an average sense of hnmor and some slight ca
pacity for honest indignation, at hearing Mr..
Greeleys supporters rise one after the other at
the Conference to say what they could in his
favor, and not one of them say anything in his
favor except that he was sure to beat Grant.
Only one gentleman attempted to show that he
believe, gave both the orator and his audience
genuine pain. The question: which one of all
the Objectionable measures of General Grants
except the San Domingo
scheme, Greeley had not supported? was ask
ed by Mr. Parke Goodwin The answer came
from Maine Greeleyite Democrat, Mr.. Pills
bury, and it was the sort of answer by which
smart loafer evades his adversary in corner
GROCERY debate-that the Christian world
never quotes st. Paul previous to his CONVEX
sion.' 1t throws some curious light on the
moral complexion of the 'benefcient revolu-
ton that Mr.. Greeley's friends thought this
excellent and laughed over it heartily; his
convention be it remembered, having taken
place as soon as he heard he was nominated 1t
would resemble Pauls if the voice which Panl
heard on his way TO Damacus had cried, Saul,
Saul, what will you take to Secome a Christian?
and Paul had replied that he would become a
fair, lukewarm Christian for pretorship for
Dne term and leave the question of persecution
to the people in the COmitia. One gentleman,
when stating what led him into the flor him)
singular position of supporter of Mr. Greeley,
acknowledged that all he expected from Mr..
Ireeley's election was "a change which was
curious admission, for George Francis Train
would furnish "a change as well as Horace
Greeley. To crown ALL Senator Schurz in ex-
planning his position in the evening, acknowI-
edged that he expected no reforms from Mr..
Greeley, would not predict any, and that he be-
eved he was surrounded by bad men,"