New-York tribune., 1872-08-13
GRANT'S "DEMOCRATTCo BRIGADE

Sometimes we thlnk ana sometimes VIC
don't think that there will be Fogy Demo
cratic National Convention in Louisville, KY,
on the 3D. prOximO. If worst should come to
worst, BantOn Duncan, esq, is fully equal to
the holding of a Convention solitary and alone,
acting as his own Temporary Chairman, Per
manent President, ce-President, and Secre-
tary; and, after his adjournment, he can resolve
himself into National Executive Committee
of One, and put out an Address even longer
than that which he has lately issued. For
Blanton Duncan, esq, is very great man.
We recall several interesting little specu-
lations of his in Washington, in which,
fierce Democrat as he now pretends to
be. he had the aid of such Republicans as
Messrs. Butler and Dawes, and was smiled
upon by the great DR.. Grant himself. 1t would
be strange if gratitude should not now stir
his manly bosom, and if he should not do his
best to help the 0fice-Holders' Party by dis
turbing the substantial unanimity which pre-
vailed at Baltimore. IL he would come out n
souare-toed Grant man, we would MT say
word. Such a man should be in the Grant
division, in which he would find plenty like
unto himself who are in politics for the sake
of the money which can be made out OF them
A little history will show what manner of
man is now aspiring to be a whole National
Democratic Convention in himself
II WAS the fortune of Mr.. BlantOn Duncan
TO have his property confiscated during the
war. he having been in the Confederate SER
vice. Gen. Fremont was then endeayorlng TO
get aid from the Government for the Memphis,
El Paso, and Pacific Railroad. Fremont en-
ployed Duncan, who always had been and is
now. we suppose, a rampant Rebel to engineer
the Bill through Congress He was made a
Director of the Company and received GER
tain amount of bonds and stocks, with the
promise of more. This promise not having
been kept, he has threatened a suit, If he
has not already commenced one, for the
recovery of 100000 due him for services
rendered to the road, and especially for a
heap of communications furnished to The
Washington Chronicle which was in the pay
of the speculation. So, too, Duncan manipu-
lated a certain Commercial Convention which
indorsed his railroad. All this time the unre-
constructed Rebel was very intimate with
Messrs. Blaine, Schenck, Butler, and other
brethren of the Grant congregation, which
now NOUS htDtl5 III SuCu uhoptohdpiO op-
borrence. He got his confiscated property
restored, minus the income while it was in
custody of the Government. To prove that
he was upon the most tender terms with Gen.
Butler, Blaine, Dawes, and the rest, we may
cite one instance in which he rOped them
all in to sign petition for the appointment
of n friend of his to office. DoOrkeeper Dent
also lent his valuable name, worth probably
all the rest. This time, however, the Home
Department was inexorable, and the man was
not appointed but this does not alter the
fact that Duncan the Democrat and Duncan
the unreconstructed Rebel was hand in glove
with the Presidents party, as substantially he
is to-day. He would certainly have been hug
ging and kissing at Philadelphia if it had not
been thought, most enormously, that he could
do better service elsewhere He is simply
managing q split in the interest of the Office
Holders Party for which he will be well paid,
always provided he is sharp enough to get
his wages before the election. If he should
wait until after the defeat of Grant, we do
not believe that he will be able to collect one
cent.
Now, we are in position to read and to
appreciate the Louisville Proclamation issued
and signed by the .disnterested Duncan. 1t is
so full of public virtue that if We did not
know the man We could hardly refer to it with
out reverence. There is q great deal in it
about "honesty." Mr.. d. weeps like baby
over "the sad evidence of Generalization and
" corruption" afforded by the nomination of
Mr.. Greeley. He affects to abuse the GRANTEES
and the Liberals equally, and be is stupid
enough to think that this pretense Of
impartiality which would not humbug a
schoolboy, will have some effect upon the
minds of thinking people But you find out
after reading n little of Duncan's Proclama-
ton, that about all his real wrath is reserved
for the Liberals lie has Mt word of censure