The Ottawa free trader., 1872-06-15
Editorial Conference at Peoria

convened at Peoria ou Wednesday of The
present week the object being to arrive at
some common understanding and agreement
as TO the proper course to be pursued by the
Democratic press of the state in these times of
political uncertainty and TRANSMISSION. The
meeting was an adjourned one, from similar
meeting held at Chicago two weeks ago.
Some twenty-sc' en- editors were present, from
all quarters of the stale, from JOnesnorO to
Chicago, and from the Mississippi to the
Wabash. The meeting was held at the City
Council room in Peoria, and was called to or
der by its former chairman, Gen. d. Cameron,
OF the former meeting at Chicago were con-
tinued as the officers of the present meeting.
The objects of the meeting were stated to be
two-told: lst, To place the Democratic press
Of Illinois upon some common political
ground; and o TO form permanent Illinois
democratic press association. The latter
point was speedily disposed of by the ap-
pointment Of a committee to draft constitu-
ton for such association, to be reported at a
meeting to be called by the committee On
some future day at Springfield. Under the
second heading matters were not so readily
Sccommodated Two parties soon manifested
themselves in the conyention--Onc in favor Of
declaring in favor Of Greeley ard Brown out
right, and nobody else the other insisting on
l,a of hnip ~,
favor, in the present political aspect, of the
endorsement of Greeley and Brown at Balti-
more with another declaration, that should,
however, the Baltimore convention, in its
wisdom, decide it lnexpidient to endorse
Greeley and Brown and make another nomi-
nation, the editors present would abide by
such decision. The former contcndcd that,
as delegates enough had already been ap.
pointed to Baltimore in favor Of Greeley and
Brown to secure their endorsement, and from
present indications, many more such dele
cations would he sent there, the endorsement
Ct Greeley and Brown at Baltimore could
only be prevented by dishonest political
manUuyre or trick, IN which case no cditOr
should stand pledged to support it. On the
other hand it was contended that many con-
tingencies might arise between now and July
9Th to render an independent nomination at
Baltimore both proper and necessary, while
1t manifested an unworthy and undemocratic
want OF confidence IN the character and hon
es.y ofthe great democratic council of the ma.
ton to assume in advance the probability of its
action being the result of an unworthy ma.
nTuyre or trick. The latter considerations
after good deal Of debate, seemed to weigh
with the convention, and the following reso.
lutions were UNANIMOUSLY adopted
EeSOiced, That We as Democratic editors OF
the State OF Illinois, repose full faith in the
cardinal principles of the National Democratic
party, believing that on it depends the resto.
ration of the Administration of our Govern.
ment to purely Republican principles and the
continuance Of American liberty that now,
above a.! times, its organization should be
maintained entire, nationally and locally
that we have full faith in its incorruptlblity
as an organization that its cOunscls in this i'm
portant iuncture of American politics should
he guided by honest patriotism and wisdom
We, therefore, pledge ourselves and the
respective papers which we may control, to
support the Baltimore Convention, and to use
our utmost eilo,ts to carry the party unitedly
for its nominees
HeSo!red, turher, That, in the opinion of
TINS Convention, the nomination of third
tcket at Baltimore will not subservc the IN.
tcreSts OF the Democratic party, and should
the CINCINNATI nominations be endorsed at
Baltimore, we pledge them our earnes. sup.
port.
The editors present, almost without cyccp.
tlon, concuwed in the statement that in their
respective localities .he democracy generally
were favorable to the endorsement of Greeley
and Brown at Baltimore. In the middle and
southern parts OF the state this feeling seems
70 be especially strong, many of the editors
from those localities insisting that there will
be no boiling from the Cincinnati ticket
among the democracy il ratified at Baltimore,
while they are confident full 20 per cent Of
the republican party will vote the same way.
Several instances were named where republ
can Greeley clubs had already been organized
drawing in fourth of the republican voter.
of their respective localities.
We confess we went to Peoria with many
misgivings as to the feeling and disposition