Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-10-23
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE OF BASE RECON.
MGynFn

The Chicago Times, the leading Demo
cratic organ Of the Northwest, II not of the
whole country, has as little encouragement
for Mr.. Greeley as II had last July when the
Democratic party surrendered to him at Bal
timore. In late number II analyses the
electoral vote and ventures To dispute the
statement Of Mr.. Greeley's own newspaper
In New York, that the Liberal candidate is
certain to carry seventeen States and one
hundred aud scvcnty.eght votes. Its own
estimate Is that the Sage will get only eighty
six votes, and from the following Statesi
Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky,
Maryland, Missouri. Tennessee, Texas and
Virginia. This It believes to he q most
liberal calculation, for Of these States, Della
ware and Virginia may be fairly elassed as
doubtful, "beCause many Democrats there
have rejected crow from the first" 1t also
classes Arkansas, Missourl aud Texas
doubtful" for the reason that "Greeley
Ia already beaten aud many voters will hasten
to array themselves on the winning side
The Times Is In favor Of dropping Mr. Gree
ley altogether. 1t argues that in case he
should be dropped, as he ought to be, matters
would wear altogether different face. II
then goes on to say: with the philosopher
and his lost cause out of the way, 1t would be
possible to carry Alabama Connecticut,
Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York,
West Virginia, Indiana, California, Nevada
and New Hampshire for 0'Conor, In addition
TO the States set down for Greeley In the
above list, giving him 199 votes, or more
a., t.., m. ,-tII
carry fewer States and receive fewer cleo
torAl votes than any respectable Democratic
candidate that might be substituted for him.
He is merely dead weight and his can
dldacy from this time out will be more
damaging TO Democracy everywhere In
the local elections not less than the gem
eral - than II would be TO finish the
campaign without any Presidential candidate
at oil. The substitution of 0'Couor and
Adams for Greeley and Brown would In a
great measure counteract the damaging
moral effect OF the October rout, inspire some
hope Of success by introducing the element
Of principle into the campaign aud insure q
larger measure Of success In the State and
/ Congressional contests than can be expected
II the struggle Is to be flushed ~ II has hlth,
erto been conducted, on the basis OF spoils
Let the Philosopher clear the track"
The advice OF the Times comes entirely toe
late to DO accepted and acted upon. Their,
can be no doubt that such course has beer
In the minds Of the leaders OF the party, but
no one OF them was bold enough to take the
responsibility of taking the lead In II
so far a. the Republican party Il
concerned, 1t matters very little To 1
whether Mr.. Greeley Is thrown overheard OF
not. The result will be the same. The Dem
ocratlc party Is dead beyond all hope Of res
direction, an can never get back Into power
II will have lost everything In the presen
campaign, prlnciple-such ~ IL was-organi
ton and the little prestige Il possessed. Hal
It had the wisdom to select some such q mar
as Groesbeck at Baltimore instead Of "a thu
Times says, taking Mr.. Greeley merely fol
" the spoils," II would have made pretty
strong campaign and held lts followers to
gether. Il would DO in position to main
tain q strong opposition during the next fou
years; bat the Baltimore business was q
transparent fraud and humbug that /
dlsgusted everybody and rendered the party
powerless for good or evil In the future. The
Democracy has gone into Its last Presidential
campaign. There Is no possible way Ia which
1t can recover from the defeat that will BETA
II next month.