The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-09
Two Democratic Conventions.

Two Democratic Conventions.
During the week two large Democratic
conventions have been held-one in Ohio and
the other in Virginia. Both parties have
been watching the result in the former State,
because for years the Ohio Democracy have
been among the first to hold their conven-
tions, and embracing in the organization
many men Of national reputation and abili-
ty, they have had an important influence in
moulding the sentiment and directing the ac-
ton of theparty in the country. During the
war its leaders were the most outspoken and
determined of rebel sympathizers, and early
committed the party in the State to the cause
OF the rebels-a course that was speedily
followed by the party throughout the
North. After the war it was Mr.. Pendleton
of Ohio who promulgated the 'greenback"
doctrine which was first adopted by the Ohio
Democracy, and subsequently became one of
the leading tenets of the party faith. 1t was
the Democratic party in the Ohio legislature
that adopted the ''visble admixture' law,
and led the party in its violent opposition to
the last constitutional amendments. To
Mr.. Vallandig ham and the Ohio Democracy,
the party owes its ''new departure in 1871,
and the Democracy Of that state was the first
to com mt itself heartily to the Greeley ex
pertinent of last year. Now it takes the lead
in the reformation of the party on its own
line as if there bad been no new departure
and no Baltimore convention and ignores its
supposed allies, the liberals, as though they
had never claimed an existence.
The resolutions of the Ohio Convention
contain nothing noteworthy, except that
they gravely declare for reform, and the party
stands by its principles ''which are suited to
all times and circumstances" and are OPP
posed to secession and notification" In
= addition to this, they soberly declare that the
Democratic party sis in its very nature, and
as necessary result of its principles, party
ofprogress, supporting all measures of reform
or Improvement that are sanctioned by justice
or com mended by sound, practical wisdom"
The fact that this party gave as much moral
aid to the rebellion as Kentucky, enacted
law denying the ballot to any person having
a visible admixture of African blood, re-
fused to sanction the fifteenth amendment,
and has always been distinguished for the
bitterness of its opposition to all real progress
the last twenty years, renders this assumption
the last example Of impudent GOODNESS of the
season.
The Ohio Convention has nominated for
Governor Hon. William Allen, a D emocrat
who entered Congress in 1888 as Represent
alive and served in the Senate from 1887 to
1S49, leaving even before the passage of the
fugitive slave law. He has since that time
been retired politician, adhering to the ex-
IRENE views Of the Ohio Democracy. As
dying organization, it recognizes the fact by
going into its political graveyard for its can
didate. They have failed with anti-war men,
with war men, with greenback men, with
new departure men, with men of ability, men
of nonenity and Mr.. Greeley. Possibly they
hope for success under the leadership of
man who was shelved by his party In 1849.
The Virginia Convention also shows great
reaction in the minds of the Democratic lead
ers. There is now no talk of forgetting the
past, Of granting the colored man equal DO
litical rights no gIsh about ''clasping
hands, that we listened to last year. This
is all over; there is no longer hope to secure
victory by flank movement, Consequent
ly the Virginia Democracy have fallen back
to their old position and make the issue
strictly on the question: ''Shall white Vir-
ginians rule the State?' All the speakers
stated the issue squarely, which is opposi-
ton to negro supremacy, and hostility to all
men who support tho Republican ticket, even
to ostracism.
To show the aversion of the leaders, we
take the following extracts from the report of
the New York Herald:
The speakers Mr. Montague particularly,
announced that the main issue in the coming
canvass was one OF race and color or the saving
of the State from negro rule.
There were no more overtures from the
speakers in favor of Cancellation, such as there
was year ago. when the Greeley Convention
met in this same theatre. They were clear
and explicit III the denuncation Of the radical
platform adopted at Lynchburg. Mr.. Mon
tague summarily disposed of the term SCALA
wag" for native Virgiuians who dest rted their
race and went over to the radicals for office,
aud substituted the name fer them of ''Sback
Nasty Jims." He eulogized Captain Jack as
one OF the greatest men and patriots OF his race
the American Continent ever produced, and
We're It not for the Shack Nasty Jims who be
tureu Captain Jack never surrendered and
he Mr.. Montague) knew the white race of Vir-
gina never would surrender to Bob Hughes
and the Shack Nasty Virgipians fiat deserted
their race and went with him. They were the
Shack Nasty party OF Virginia TODAY. He was
eere to support the nominee of this (jonventio,
let him be whoever he may be. proyiding he
was not Shack Nasty jim. Virginia thsnIr
God, was better off than the remainder Of tha
southern States, because she had pursned a
CONSERVATIVE course, and bad successful, main
'aiueu wnlte mans government in Virginia
General Fitz Hugh Lee then arose as n rom
resentatlve OF the soldier element of the State
and nominated Colonel Robert r. Withers
whose name was loudly cheered The sneaker
then proceeded to present the claims of Colonel
Withers in strong and forcible manner. He
had been the nominee of conservative couven
ton, but had periodically withdrawn from the
canvass for the good of Virginia. and now that
his name had come up again, he hoped the
Convention would discharge its duty to SO able
and trusty a son. This military appeal brought
Mr.. Mofitt to the stand, who again spoke in
favor of Kemper, not because the State owed
him anything, but because he was the son that
could march on to victory as her standard bear
er General Jubal Early, wearing confederate
gray shen came to the stand in Withers favor,
gN'ng precise narrative history of that SOL
ule, = services during the war under himself
and Stonewall jackson.
Further comnent upon the character and
purpose of the Virginia Convention is super-