The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-09-11
Our Agents in Charleston.
TIE SPRAIGHT,0UT DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION AT LOUISVILLE.

CONVENTION AL LOUISVILLE.
The Democratic Bourbons have
held their Convention at Louisville
KY, and havo nominated for their
Presidential candidate, Charles
O'Conor, in spite of his perempt-
ory refusal to serve, and for the
Vice-Presidcncy, John Quincy
Adams; and have adopted for their
platform of principles, O'Conor's
letter to the Convention, setting
forth his own views Of national
policy. To the candidates, OF to
the platform of principles adopted
there could, under other circum-
stances, be no valid objection, but
that a handful Of the discontcnted,
representing no constituency but
themselves, should set themselves
up to speak for the whole Demo
cratic party, and lay claim to be
the only true succession, and the
only exponeRts of the true faith
would be only farcical, but tor the
danger that the influence of a few
prominent names, may distract
Democratic counsels, and thus do
some injury to the cause OF the
Liberal Reform movement, After
all, however, we believe that the
danger is oaly imaginary, and that
the Louisville Convention will only
Bserve TO demonstrate its own weak
ness, and that, as an independent
movement, the policy there inaug-
urated will soon disappear altogeth-
.eE
That the Convention was entirely
powerless to achieve any good re-
suit, is apparent, from the want of
any popular backing, and the alb
sence of prominent names, to give
character and influence to the
movement. It.professed to repre-
sent twenty-four States, but only IN
the sense that Stokes and his fellow
delegates, may be. said to have rep
resented South Carolina. Self
constituted, the delegates were au-
thorized to speak for themselves
alone, and not for the whole Demo
cratic party, nineteen twentieths of
whom whom repudiate their action. The
sense Of that party was fully repre-
sented at Baltimore, and found true
expression in the platform then
adopted, and the standard-bearers
there selected. They were the
BEST that could be adopted under
the circumstances, and as such, raj
lied to their support the popular
strength and the prominent leaders
of the party. The dominant idea
which Influenced the action Of that
Convention, was the necessity OF
uniting all the elements of opposi-
ton to defeat Grant, and as such,
the necessity of mutual concession.
and compromise. Now, in the face
of this wise and patriotic action,
which has been endorsed by the
popular voice everywhere, comes
this corporars guard of the discon-
tented, with neither leaders at their
mead, nor followers in their train,
to make a strict party fight upon the
impractieable dead issues Of the
past.
None of these impracticables
hope to elect their candidates.
They perceive that the issue is be-
tween Greeley and Grant, and
whatever Of strength is taken from
the former, enures to the benefit
of the latter. Yet in the face of
all this, they throw whatever little
infuence they have, in the scale OF
the administration. Indeed many
of them announce their preference
for Grant. Some of them may be
patriotic in their adherence to ina
practicable distractions, but mort,
fed vanity, and love of notoriety,
would seem to be impelling motives
to the foolish action which culmi-
mated in the farce of the Louisville
Convention.
a. .--------~SD~----
{ FINE GRApEs.-We are indebted
toour friend, Mr.. Robert E. Bowie,
for q basket eff delicious scupper-
nong grapes, from his well-knoWn