The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-05-10
Our New York Letter.

| Prospect Of the Greeley Bro,cn ticket IN Nec
York-The Free-1rade league-WiU they
support Greeley? - Why the Democracy
pretend to support Greeley.
. New YORK, May s, 1872.
The excitement occasioned by the Cincin-
natl movement is rapidly subsiding and there
is nothing to warrant the belief that any start
ling effects are to ensue from the nominations
made there. There have been no miraculous
conversions nor is it at all likely that the
Greeley-Brown ticket will draw off any con-
siderable number of men from the Republi-
can ranks in this State-always excepting
those who have been disappointed in their
quest for office, and they would have done the
party infinitely more harm inside than out
side of it.
What the Revenue Reformers will do is not
yet authOritatively announced. but it is quite
safe to predict that they will not give hearty
support to such determined champion of
protective legislation as H. G. They have
but one aim in view, and that is is reduce the
duties to a revenue standard. They are al
together above the meanness of attacking Gen.
Grants administration with the idle charges of
corruption, but they view Mr.. Greeley's doc
trines of protection as a conservation of class
interests alike contrary to the spirit of our in
stitution and the welfare of the community.
Mr.. Mahlon Sands, the Secretary of the
American Free Trade League, who was one
of the delegates at Cincinnati, is gentleman
of the age of 81. Inheriting business and a
fortune from his father, he married daugh-
ter of Robert B. Minturn, one of New York's
ablest merchants. He has had every possible
advantage of education-has travelled extern
sively, and is an earnest, honest thinker and
scholar. Three or four years ago he threw
his whole force and energy into the Free
Trade movement, and that he might give the
subject his exclusive attention he retired from
business. He not only serves the League as
Secretary free of charge, but he contributes
$4,000 year to its Treasury. He is good
writer and talker, and as nobody doubts his
disinterestedness and sincerity, he has acquir-
ed great influence among political econo-
mists. iro7u ~
Mr.. Sands, Robert B. Minturn the younger
and Charles Fl. Marshall are the master spirits
of the Free Trade League. All three CT them
are young, rich, of high character, great in
telligence and good deal of enthusiasm.
Their antecedents have been Democratic. 1
think neither Mr.. Marshall nor Mr.. Minturn
ever voted Republican ticket, unless it may
have been at the last Presidential election.
Even social influences have failed to convert
Mr.. Minturn from Democracy; and those
have been powerful, for he is the son-in-law
of Robert G.. Shaw and thus the brother-in-
law of the gallant Col. Shaw, who fell so gle-
riously in South Carolina, as well as of Geo.
VIM. Curtis and Gen. Francis c. Barlow
Mr.. Marshalrs father was the second as Mr..
Minturn's was the first President of the I'm
ion League Club, but neither of the sons
have ever enrolled themselves as members of
that body. g. ar III .s -.5l
Between Mr.. Greeley and the Tribune and
the Free Trade League there has always been
persistent and sometimes bitter antagon-
ism. The members of the League cannot be
expected to acquiesce in the election of
President, who will be sure to veto any Reve--
nue. measure that wholly ignored his favorite
theory of protection. Therefore, when a
Democratic nomination is made it can scarce
ly be matter of doubt that the Free Traders
will throw all their influence in its favor.
The purposes of the democracy are trans
parent. They will do all they can to strength
en- the Cincinnati ticket-to widen the divis-
ion in the Republican column-hoping to
make the schism broad enough to enable
them to run in between the opposing factions.
To the success of this nice little scheme,
the popular confidence in Gen. Grant pre-
sents a formidable obstacle. If the people
could forget the splendid military record of
their President, it would still be difficult to
make them oblvious of the firm grasp in
which he has held the reins of government
since his Inauguration. The prosperity of
the country is the surest guarantee that in
spite of all combinations, this administration
will receive an emphatic endorsement, in No
vember. YARMOUTH.