The New York herald., 1872-08-03
POSITION OF THE WRANGLERS.
Who Will the Dolly Warden Democracy
SuppOrt---Grant or Greeley?
Assertions and Denials That O'Brien Has Sold
Out to Grant-A Statement Of the Position Of
the Contending Parties-The Greeley Mem
Confident and the Assumed Supporters
Of Grant Stubborn-Great Things
Expected from the Louis
rl vile Convention.

n the Presidential campaign continues to be the
a absorbing topic of conversation In political cir
cies. The course adopted by Mr.. wickham, in
attempting to read the communication from Tam
many Hall In defiance OF the wishes of large num-
ber Of the delegates, at the meeting ON Wednesday
night is severely commented upon by the friends
Of Senator O'Brien, while on the other hand the sup
pOrters of Mr.. Wickham and the Greeley men are
equally severe in their condemnation of what they
call the tricky and unfair means which the Senator
adopted to control the organization during the
proceedings of the evening In the early part OF
the meeting O'Brien had decided advantage, and
was almost certain of gaining his point, but before
ITS close the of opinion changed and those
were oudest in their objections to any letter being
read from Tammany Hall were just as fervent
against the acceptation Of Mr. Wickhams resig-
nation when that gentleman rendered it, 1t
Is pretty evident that there have been plots and
Counterplots, by both sides in the dispute; and
while Mr.. Wickham has been in communication
with Tammany Hall and the leaders Of that section
Of the democratic party Senator O'Bren, 1t is cur
rently reported, has been approached in the in
terest Of Grant, and oveftures been made to him to
which he has not turned a deaf ear The plea ad-
vanced by himself and those who support him. that
they await the action of the Louisville Convention
OF Straightouts, which is to assemble in
September, and by which they hope to
true blue democratic candidate for the Presidency
Is not generally relied upon by the knowing ones,
who claim that the mention of such remote pro-
liability is only feint by which they hope to cover
their real designs and the support of the
Apollo Hall party for General Grant The issue is
not square one, they say. There are two can
aidates before the country Grant and Greeley, and
between them they have got to choose; there is no
middle course left, for it would be madness to sup
pose that at this late day anything will be done to
change the complexion of the campaign.
THE HISTORY OF THE INTRIGUEs.
The following, near can be ascertained
rOm the current rumors that a6oat, is the
history OF the complications which have arisen In
the party that did such good service for reform in
the great struggle OF right against might in this
city last fall II is said that about three weeks ago
General Grant, in conversation with friend at
Long Branch, expressed his desire to come to
terms with 0'Bren and the Apollo Hall party, which
the latter prOfessed to control. At the same time
the President did not like TO commit him
self to any definite proposition until he
had ascertained how the regular republicans OF
the city would relish the appearance in their ranks
Of one who has always been q staunch democrat.
How far this story may be true it is impossible to
say but the probabilities all point the conclusion
that the action OF O'Bren has certainly not been
taken without his previously counting the cost
and Weighing the chances.
q These statements are entirely denied by the
friends OF the Senator. They assert he has always
been faithful to his party, and has endeav0red to
advance its interests by all the means In his power
and that what he is now doing in opposing Greeley
originates solely from desire OF doing good and is
undertaken from the pnrest motives. There is
every probability that serious split win be the
suit OF the controversy, which is already becoming
III.
racy will share the fate that generally attends all
organizations which are started to effect parti-
cular purpose.
WHAT THE GREELEY MEN SAY
HERALD reporter yesterday called upon a
number of the prominent members OF the party and
succeeded in getting statements from both sides,
the Greeley and the antGreeley men. The follow
ers OF Mr. Wckham, who may be called the leader
Df the section which endorses the Baltimore Con-
vention, believe that the action of Senator O'Bren
Ii an act of political suicide and that 1t will seri-
Dusy impair his usefulness and destroy his
chances OF political power in the future. Said
one prominent democrat yesterday leader of
opinion In the Sixth ward, why, sir, If Senator
O'Brien thinks that his action on "Wednesday night
will help Grant he is greatly mistaken. NO one
wishes TO deny the great influence he possesses,
particularly with the Irish portion OF our citizens;
but, great az is his influence with the Irish, do
G Cseye Soes in that the he sixth 0@ ward carry on % n
present platform. No man has done
more for the Irish than he has. He has looked
into their wants and made himself acquainted with
all their grievances, and If there was any man in
the city of New York whose lead they would follow
in question that did not involve any great prin-
ciple it woud be his. But, SIR there IS great
principle involved in the choice between Greeley
and Grant. The Irish people have made up their
minds TO vote lor Horace Greeley, who has
been the lifelong friend or their race, and
no power upon earth VIII shake them from
that determ nation. II Senator O'BrieD had done
the wise thing the other night, he would have
moved the unanimous endorsement Of Horace
htf alI. Han Du snn
so he would have increased his popularity tcniod.
There is no ONCE lie might not aspire TO in the u-
ture II he had done So but as IL Is, his chances are
greatly impaired. and he will never be Mayor OF
this city, an ONCE TO which he ardently aspires.N
Other gentlemen, members OF the Apollo Hall
party, give utierance TO the same opinions, and
furthermore state that large majority OF the
members are decidedly for Greeley, and that II II
tair expression OF opinion had been allowed at the
meeuhg on wednesday night the Philosopher
would nave been endorsed 10y a sweeping vote At
Tue same time they think that the conduct of Mr..
Wickham in refusing to entertain motions which
were perfectly in order was, to say the OF it,
unwse, and gave an opening for senator O'Brien
to introduce the thin end OF the wedge
In O'Briens own district the democrats are by
while lower down town his conduct is fcrcey
assailcd The number OF delegates entitled to
attend the Apollo Hal meeting was 2io, but OF
than half were present. and the balance or the
attendance was composed of those who had no
right TO tfke part in the proceedings.
The great bone OF contention seems to be the
suspicion which, real or pretended, the 0Bricn
men enCertaln IOr Idinmany Itdl anu any proposal
that emanates from 1t. The Greeley men say that
this IL all a farce. The Tammany party In ITS puri
Bed state cannot be compared TO the Tainmany
party which the Apollo Hall democracy waged war
upon. It's new lst Of sachems comprises the
pnrest men OF the democratic party. such men as
Charles O'Conor Oswald Ottendorfer, Samuel
1ilden and John Kelly are not likely TO lend them.
selves to any corrupt scheme, and the antGrant
men pronounce all such assertions TO be shanls,
which are too transparent to impose upon any
except people who are extremely silly and blind
men who refuse TO see. The dispute Is daily be-
N
tavern II Is being eagerly discussed with more or
less bitterness, the prevailing opinion being that,
however unanimous the Apollo Hall democracy has
been in its war upon local corruption and fraud IN
the great national question there will be two sides,
every one choosing his own candidate
The absence OF senator O'Bren, Judge Hogan
Alderman Mehrbdcn and other prominent members