New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-31
POLITICAL MISCELLANY.
DOM PIATT TO JUDGE BLACK.
n. y m

| My DEAR JUDGE: cannot say that / was
surprised at the appearance OF your letter declining
accept my report OF conversation anent the
| nomination Of Mr. Greeley. You will remember that
when mutual friend informed you OF the fact that you
threatened with an interview you said: Wen, my
boy III tell what mean to do. II you report cor
rectly what did say, III that 1t is not true But
IL you will invent something really nice, will own up
that said it,"
For twenty-four hours, my dear friend hung doubt
full between my of truth and my anxiety to please
you.
There is no man living whose appreciation would make
me moro content with myself than yours. But this
hesitation terminated abruptly when remembered that
my poor powers inadequate to tho task OF an
imaginary conversation that would have tho wisdom,
terseness and epgrammac forco for which you are so
Justly celebrated. then ran my pen over my memory,
and put to record well could. your views as you e1-
pressed them.
do not pretend TO assert that this done correctly
You must remember that an after dnner talk
and due allowance must be made the circumstances
do not mean to insinuatc that your views or memory
were at all affected; but how much owe to the ntox-
cation of your talk and how much to the inspiring in
nuenccs of tho wine, cannot well be ascertained
There was fact that annoyed me- and that was to
see how completely had failed to put on paper the rich
hmor that favored the interview on your part Much
that said in jest appears startngy earnest when
printed and not that you shrink from being
considered the author
lam willing, however, with one exception, to drop IL
all. Saving remark, am content to have IL con-
sidered agnary conversation, and in this instance
am prepared 10 make affidavit 10 the very words you
uttered And will procure the afdsvs OF thousand
men, sensible well acquainted with you, who did not
hear word of talk and will to the best
of their knowledge and belief that did it, because
1t Is fact and you just the to recognize and an
nOunco it,
It's therefore, not only true in fact, but true in cha
racter
You said that the platform adopted at Cincinnati was
a Democratic Platform, and upon which you could
stand.
II this So how can you say that we seek to have
the Democracy surrender its organization into the hands
Of its enemies. Are its enemiesi
My dear Judge, was born aud brought up in the Dem
ocratic party. AS used to say upon the stump, was
rocked in hickory sugartrough and hurrahed for Jack
set end. continued true to the faith
until tho Democratic party went South for Itself and the
platform was narrowed to one plank that said the chief
end Of white man to catch niger then, sor-
r0wfully enough gathered up my carpetsack and UNI
brea and wendell my way to the camp of the enemy.
In all this time taught that Democracy was prin
cplc that the organization was tho only means or ma,
king principle practice thls be true how can you say
that the bravo assembled in Cacinnat who framed
platform of such high principle that meets with your
appreciation arc enemies how say that the support OF
that platform would In any way damage the organization
OF the Democratic partyf suppose you VIII insist that
the trouble in the nomination Mr. Greeley Is
acceptable to you, is he TO me- but II he accept
principles not bound under the circumstances
TO accept him. or shall have personal preferences
override our duty TO both party and country To organ
ize to effect any result through organization, we must
consent to harmonic certain differences not essential to
the cause, and this is one
To take any other course Is simply political suicide
There is sense OF fair play in the American people
largely developed in the Democratic party, that is in ex
cess of even devotion principle. When tho thought
full and patriotic Of the Republican organization, suffer
ing under tho degrading desposm ola senseless military
Administration threatened revolt the Democratic party
through it's organs upon the stump and through the press
gave them every encouragement They were invited to
march on, and the Democrats would be their earnest
allies Whether in answer to this not these men did
revolt. Turning their backs upon old political assoc
ate they organized for For days before and during
the emby Of that Convention, We heard no word OF
discomfort; tho contrary much was said Of encour
agemeDt.
Indeed Mr. August Belmont himself, Chairman of your
National Executive Committee, appeared in lCincilnati
giving aid and comfort Men Of acknowledged standing
I'm the party and OF National reputation for ability ac
lively aided in the nomination or Mr. Greeley ana now
that we have burned bridges and in the field to
call off Democratic party and leave us TO fight alone
II not reacherous the act has at least such flavor that
You cannot do this Judge. The attempt If seriously
entertained can only result in the breaking up OF your
own organization 1t would be defeat TO us and death
70 you II at the end OF another four years Of military
rule with It's army of punderers and close organization
OF oceholders and sycophants enough Of the Republic
will left struggle for question you can answer
better than I.
The country wants peace. 1t promised us by the
present Administration only to DO broken. need not
saw TO YOU that under this Of factions and the
tyranny Of O military Government how deplorablo Is
our condition.
Taxation grows burdensome as trade gets less,
and every form Of indebtedness is openly and shame
fully repudated save that which the ruling class is
directly interested.
With soldier at the head of the Government, the
weakest European nation insults with impunty,
while our attempted diplomacy in the way Of treaty
has made us the aughingstOck OF the civilized world
Our judiciary has been packed the Executive made up
of stupid family In the hands Of rings Congress Is
openly run by lobby and our entire Government re-
solved into mere Job all of which you find set forth In
orr Cincinnati platform, that go 10 make up our prin
ciples And ask you what avas the salvation OF
the Democratic party If in such saving the Republic is
lost The effort however 1 maintain, is loss OF
both.
Iappeal to you with earnestness that lack words
70 express. Your lifelong devotion to what you con-
sidered principles have lifted you above the tempta
tons Of common ambition, and held you firm against
the unreasonng passions OF the people when to be ind
ferent was TO be disgraced open opposition meant
death In all this you commanded respect, for,
differ as we might we knew that you were honest in
your opposition.
This has given YOU deservedy, hold upon the afec
lions OF your party other boast Of The time
bas come when this influence be or great service to