The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-05
THE LOUISVILLE CONVENTION.

THE LOUISVILLE CONVENTION.
The attempt of the Greeley journals to
sheer down the Louisville Convention, is
suggestive of the attitude of Noah's incor-
rigible neighbor at the time of the deluge,
who, when he had fled to the highest emil
hence and climbed the highest tree to escape |
the rising waters, called out to the intrepid |
navigator to $50 to thunder with his old |
ark, as there wasn't going to be much of a
shower after ALL" They dub the Louis
vile Convention as q mere " side show
to the great Greeley tent, and try TO brush up
courage they do not possess, when the fact
is that the "side show" as they call it, has
all the elements of Noachic flood in it so
far as the Greeley movement is concerned,
and threatens to drown out the entire Lib
| eral show before the end Of the present
month. The ticket which the "Straight-
outs" have put in the field is ,undeniably a
strong one, and one which ninety-nine
Democrats in a hundred would prefer to
that of Greeley and Brown. And precise
| ly here is the danger which threatens the
coalition ticket. Let the tide once turn in
the direction of the Louisville nominees,
and away goes the entire Greeley super
structure, foundation stones and all.
There will not be so much of it left as the
"baseless fabric of vision.' 1t will be
like the gossamery threads of a spider in
the wind-the first resolute breath of pop
ulsr opinion will sweep it utterly away.
And why? Simply because the "move-
ment,' so-caled, has not a particle of
moral strength to it. 1t is based on no
principle, and has no coherent power beyond
that which the greed of Office may at any
time effect among the antagonistic elements
of disrupted and broken party ties. Gree
ley was nominated on square Republican
platform by set Of men who had become
dissatisfied with General Grant, simply be-
cause he dispensed political favors in a way
that disappointed their expectations and ig-
nored the inordinate demands of their
| friends. There was no principle at stake
in the movement whatever. An attempt
was made to vitalize the pernicious dogma
of free-trade into fictitious sort of life in
the movement, but it utterly failed. The
whole thing was undertaken to give greater
political prominence to Mr.. Sumner, Mr..
Schurz, and Mr.. Trumbull in the Republi-
can party. The hope on their part, at one
time, was not to make break in
the Republican party, but to force a
higher recognition Of these three men
and few of their political retainers.
This was the entire length, breadth, depth,
height, and superintendent pressure Of
the movement, as originally intended and
designed by the chief movers. In this they
ANONYMOUSLY failed. General Grant was
not made of such plant stuff. Sumner could
not bend him Schurz could not intimidate
him Trumbull could not turn him hair
and, as for poor Upton, he could make no
impression anywhere-not even a " dent u
upon the surface. And, hence, the Cincin-
natl Convention.
At Baltimore there was worse demon
stration still. The Democratic party, as
i there represented, made an entire and alb
soute surrender of every distinctive princi
4 pie of Democracy for the sake of LITTLE
promised plumber. 1t consented to 60 upo1
Republican platform, more obnoxious
anything than that which was promised a
Philadelphia, and shamelessly to belle its
whole past record, in the hope that Mr.
, Greeley would give them some kindly
L recognition in case Of his election. Neve
was there baser and more ignominious
surrender of principle than was there made
1t took such dsgraced Tammany leade
. as Hoffman to make the surrender--to pas
u over the titlc-deeds to Mr.. Greeley. Ii
{ such movement as this there can be n
. vitality. Parties live and grow by virtu
. of the soul of principle which animate
n them. Without such an anmating princi
:. pie they are dead, inert masses and 20,
= might as well enthuze thousand year oil
=. mummy as to wake such a party up t.
u living life.
Il The Louisville Convention is suggestiv
= of live campaign. 1t gives evidence G
II an earnest purpose to preserve the Demo
Il cratic party as distinct and living body
'' one organized for future political achieve
u ment, if not for future honor and glory t
~ itself. 1t is an indignant protest agains
:, the pitch, asphaltum, and mummy cloth o
III the Cincinnati embalmers. 1t is a live
y straightout body, that offers to give a Wig
ie orous kick before it is buried, and it pre-
Is poses to kick its woud-be entombers
,o some purpose before the campaign
is through with.
r =------
THE fact that General Grant don't scar
r worth a cent is exceedingly provoking
coroe IF tho frinndc of Mr. GraaIpv Th