The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-05-21
Letter from Monssomery Blair.


The following letter on the Cincinnati
Convention and the future course of the
Democratic party is significant. 1t was
addressed to prominent Democrat of
Baltimore:
WASHINGTON, May 7. We will havo
to take Greeley or Grant, and we will
take GreeIey-reuctantly, of course, but
not the less certainly: and he will he the
more certain of election because the
Democrats do not wish to embrace him
at first. AS for their running candi
date of their own, that would be both
disastrous and disagreeahlc. They all
give in adhesion to the Cincinnati Con-
vention, and the most obstroperous Of
Greeley's opponents had their candidate
before that Convention. VOORHEES, for
example, was loud in his advocacy of
Judge Davis and the World was earnest
in pressing Adams.
Now, there certainly can be no greater
departure from principle in supporting
Greeley than there would je in support
ing Davis or Adams, or any other Radi,
cal. There can be, in fact. no motive
assigned for the support of one of these
men, and the refusal to support either Of
the others, but mere personal prejudice.
This is not craftsmanship; it is mere ca
price, if not something worse, which
men can indulge in without loss of pub
lie confidence
For nay own part, / 90 for the move
ment initiated at Cincinnati to arrest the
further progress of Radicalsm 1t is
the only practical way of arresting it -
AS for running in straight Democratic
ticket between Greeley and Grant, that
is dodge that will not be allowed to
succeed. That can be done only in the
small field of local politics. where the
contest between the real aspirants is per-
Sonal, and has become emhittered But
the contest between the Republican and
the Democratic parties has always been
a sectional contest, one party represent
ing the North and the other the South.
And while.that contest retains that char.
| Gcter Republican success is assured by
the census. 1t is only by dividing the
numerous North and allying itself with
the more liberal division that Democra
cy, representing the South can hope for
the recovery OF the right of self govern
ment for its section. The moment that
The Democracy shall set up for itselfthe
North will close its ranks again, and the
only effect would be to sacrifice the lead.
ers in the Liberal party who had attemp-
ted to help US. This would disgrace us,
and so help to defeat US. Not only now,
but hereafter.
OF course there will be some honest
Democrats who will not regard the sub
ject in this light, and who will prefer to
stand by their guns, etc. But the noisi-
est fellows will! be those who are in the
pay of the Administration Chandler
said recently, ] hear on good authority,
that there would be . straight Demo
cratic ticket. and lie would give $4,000
to start it himself There are q good
many Democrats Of the Tweed order,
ready to tske his money and bel p to keep
the statu quo which is profitable to them
fellows who understand manipulating
claims quietly. The Administration has
the public purse at their disposal, and an-
ders'andA them and how to make the
most Of them.
There were over one hundred Office
holders of them, Grants emissaries, in
Cincinnati working for Adams They
were nearly all from Washington / can
furnish the names of about fly Of them
The strategy of Grants friends was to
secure for him the Irish vote by putting
Adams on us.sHd so compensate for the
loss of the Liberal Republican vote
But he failed, and they are furious. The
great majority of Adams supporters did
not understand it, but the public mind is
now thoroughly aroused and when this
is the case the power of purChasable in
dividuals and of the venal press is in
considerable.