The Portland daily press., 1872-05-03
The Cincinnati BurlesQue.
THE CLOSE OF FIRST DAY.


THE CLOSE OF FIRST DAY
The comments of "Perley' and others on the
first day of the Cincinnati Convention are not
such as are calculated to cheer the spirits of the
earnest reformers. "Perley' says of the OPEN
ing act Wednesday: A @-
The Cundurango Convention has not vet
proved itself a panacea for all political Ills
The attendance was small No distinguished
personages made their appearance, the speeches
by Grosvenor and Mathews were fiat, and the
only redeemable feature was the refusal of Mr.
Schurz to crafty the crowd by speaking at
length. Such played out political acrobats as
John Wentworth, Jim Ashley and Jim Sco-
vile displayed themselves on the sawdust
which covered the stage, and it only wanted the
presence of George Francis Train to complete
the burlesque of a national assemblage of
statesmen. 1t was no great uprising of the
people, but convOcation of played out pOliti-
clans, defeated office seekers, and disgruntled
nobodies, half of them brought here by free
tickets and rations, and having assembled, they
were sent away again because the handful of
smart men who are anxious to run the machine
in the interests of free trade had not been able
to make terms with the protection magnates.
THE STUMBLING BLOCK.
The tariff plank is the great stumbling block.
On the protection side, Horace Greeley smash
ed David A. Wells proposed compromise by
positive telegram. On the other hand the Ger
man and other free traders insist on the out and
out free trade plank of the Missouri Conven-
ton and at present protest against any compro-
mise .eT5hEI EaEA 80 81
THE PROSPECTS OF THE SEVERAL AsPIRANTs.
The Davis men, having gained a little
strength in the Virginia and Iowa delegations,
feel encouraged, while the Adams men also
boast that they have received accessions of
strength from among the Southern delegates.
Horace Greeley will unquestionably receive a
his election New York will vote solidIy for
him on the first ballot, the delegation having
decided to vote as unit He is also great fa-
vorite in the Southern States. rg-rer
Gov. Browns Missouri friends rallied in his
support this afternoon, but made no progress.
The story that he appeared at hotel dinner
table last fall, SO tipsy that he buttered slice
of watermelon, thinking that it was bread, is
generally believed here, and is cited as proof
that while he may lie we'll qualified to act as
Governor of Missouri, he would not be suita-
BILE person to fill the Presidential chair. 1t may
be, however, that he will be nominated as Vice
President on the Adams ticket. - t
Ex-Secretary Cox of Ohio is the reserve can
didate of the free traders, but unfortunately for
them he is native of Canada and not Of the
United States As the son of American par
ents, residing only temporarily in foreign parts
he may be entitled to all the rights and privi-
leges of an American citizen, but according to
the Constitution his qualification for the Presi-
dency would be matter of doubt, subject to
the decision of the Supreme Court.
Judge Trumbull is the second choice of the
free traders, and his friends do not give up his
chances yet although Mr.. Horace White is said
to carry a letter from him declining the nomi-
nation. The free trade strength has been man
jfested here in the contest over the PLATFORM
and they may elect Trumbull, Adams or Cox
EsH Ga I STALE ACTING. aG Is Il
Judge Mathews made the apologies about be-
ing unprepared although he had previously
furnish the Associated Press with a copy Of
his remarks, which were very heavy and prosy
He especially rejoiced that the time had arrv-
ed when a portion of the American people had
resolved that they would not be dogs to wear
the collar of party. Judge Mathews was per-
mitted to speak his piece quietly until he allud-
ed to the wrongs of the South, when there was
applause, enlivened by few of those old secesh
yells which every Union soldier remembers so
well. 1t is rather solemn occasion for bap-
tism, especially when at the close of his re-
marks Judge Mathews deliberately sat down
in the arm chair which John Adams once sat
in. ~, .-rs- 4lif
PIG IRON CARED FOR.
The Pennsylvania delegation had an impor-
tant meeting Wednesday night at which it was
resolved that they would not even cast COM
phmentary vote for the Presidency, until the
resolutions had been adopted. This has rather
longed balloting land then at the last moment
to put through series of resolutions with
cunningly hidden free trade plank. 1t was al
SO voted after Pennsylvania has cast compli-
mentary vote for Curtin, she will vote for Da-
wis., 1T this vote of the delegation is not re-
considered it will help Davis much, and may
ensure his nomination.
AN INCIDENT sft5
1 innocently inquired of a gentleman who sits
at the next reporters table, who would make
the opening prayer. ''Prayerl' he answered
fiercely, in an unmistakable German accent,
- se.1 lrx~o
ers." What ''mucker'' is have yet to learn.
ADAMS AHEAD-GREELEY's FRIENDS CHARGED
11. 7 ad WITH CHEATING. ae-
The second day of the Convention finds a
material change in the situation. The eau
cusing was kept until very late hour last
night on the Presidential question, and when
the days work was at last brought to an end,
out of the turmoil of the chaos came the fact
that Charles Francis Adams was decidedly the
strongest candidate SO far named. roL
Mr. Greeley's friends were exceedingly active
and appeared to be making some headway until
their dctatorial course in the New York caucus,
in excluding the delegates selected to represent
their own Congressional districts from the lists
of the official delegation because they were pro-
nounced revenue reformers and opposed to Mr..
Greeley's nomination, became known, when a
reaction set in, and many men who had signi-
fled their intention of supporting Mr.. Greeley
declared their purpose to oppose him. Out of
the sixty-eight New York delegates selected by
the Greeleyltes, but three are revenue reform
ers-Messrs. Selden, Lloyd and Pomeroy-and
their names would have been stricken off the
list had not the weight of Judge Selden's name
been desired. As arranged by the various Con-
gressional delegates to suit themselves, the rev.
enue reformers had about twelve delegates,
whose names were handed to the committee ap-
pointed by the State caucus to receive them
and to report the same to the caucus. When
the committee made their report last night nine
of these names had been stricken off and those
of others inserted, who are well known as
shrewd tricksters of loose political morals. The
Greeleyites sustained this change, and it was
carried through the caucus by the gag law.
Judge Selden was SO indignant that he an
nounced his purpose to leave for home this
morning, characterizing the whole perform
ance as the most infamous outrage.
Mr.. Schurz denounced the proceedings as ex-
traordinary, and as indicating that the reform
movement, so far as New York is concerned, is
virtually in the hands of lot of political trick
sters, who came here not for reform but for
nil