New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-26
THE REFORM THERMOMETER.
Views of Leading Southern Politicians
Enthusiasm for Greeley.


From the New York Tribune.l
Ex-senator Mcdonald, of Arkansas, who
is STAYING at the st. Nicholas Hotel, has not
been actively engaged in political matters
for the past year, but is well informed con-
corning the condition of the various parties
and factions in his State. The two wings
of the Republican party known as ''Brin-
"details" and ''Minstrels," and headed re-
spectively by Senator Rice and Senator
Clayton, are bitterly hostile to each other
and with no apparent prospect of any COM
promises. The Clayton wing, which is the
larger, held convention on Saturday, and
elected delegates to the Philadelphia con
ventiOn. The Rice wing will 90 the same
on Tuesday, and the National Convention
will have to decide which is entitled TO adj
mission. The Liberal Republicans of the
State are not entangled with either of these
wings, and will hold convention June Is
for the nomination of State ticket. The
Democrats meet for the same purpose on
the nineteenth and there will probably be
harmony Of action between the two. In
comparative strength, the Clayton Repub-
licans and Democrats are about equal. and
so are the Rice men and Liberals. The Re
publicans have a majority of several thou
sand in the State, but, in the present posi-
ton of the party factions, union Of the
Liberals and Democrats would inevitably
no delegation 20 Baltimore, or will send
one instructed to support the Cincinnati
nominations.
In relation to the feeling in Kentucky.
the following expressions were obtained
from Colonel z. E. Smith, prominent citi-
zen, and formerly State officer: The great
mass of the people of the State are strongly
in favor of the Cincinnati nominations.
There was general but not unpleasant sur
II - To- .no7o
was supposed the choice of the convention
would fall upon either Adams or Trumbul,
but many active politicians in the State
have told Colonel Smith that they consider
the ticket the best that could have been
nominated. Some of the old party hacks
are working to secure the nomination Of
straight Democratic ticket at Baltimore,
and as they understand the party Organlza-
ton in the State better than the conserve
tive members of the party, there is some
chance of their succeeding. The great
need of the Liberals ana their Democratic
allies is organization. The result of the in
dorsament of the Cincinnati movement viii
be the destruction of the Democratic party,
which has already Outlived its usefulness.
At another hotel the reporter found
gentleman with a national reputation,
known before the war as one of the most
intense secessiOnists of South Carolina,
and during the war as one OF Ine IOr6nOSB
leaders Of the Southern army. Since the
war he has been living in Mississippi, and
is also interested in cattle-raising in Texas.
He had recently been in a number Of the
Southern States, and had the best OpOrt'm-
tiles for ascertaining popular feeling.
Speaking for Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana,
Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina,
he said that enthusiasm fer Greeley is
sweeping everything before it. the people
will vote for him no matter what action
the Baltimore convention may take The
gentleman spoke Of his former belief in
slavery and his hatred Of Mr.. Greeley,
whom he then considered an honest but
mistaken fanatic He was particularly OPP
posed to him on account of his free soil
doctrines. but hewas now willing to admit
that Mr. Greeley was right and he himself
wrong. He had been earnest and sincere
in his former actions, and he now wished
to bury the Ratchet and work for the har-
mOny and welfare of the whole country.
The Issues of the past are dead and ought
to be buried and kept out of sight. No
good could result to any part Of the cOun-
try in keeping alive old animOsities. He
believed the election of Mr. Greeley, who
had been an honest and magnanimOus adj
vOcate Of human rights, would be for the
benefit of the whole country.