The Portland daily press., 1873-07-30
DenlOraliZel,

The Greeley experiment of last year not
only ruined or as Mr.. Groesbeck of Ohio puts
it, spoiled the future prospects of the Demo-
cratic organization but so brought it into dis
repute that no leading man, in several of the
States will accept its nomination as Governor.
The greater part of the wise ones consider
that its surrender at Baltimore was final even
if not intended. Others, it is true like Mr..
Thurman of Ohio do not SO regard it but they
practically admit it by declining to be made
the party standard bearers.
The same is true of the leading and more
influential Democratic leaders in Maine Mr..
William 81. Simpson of Belfast, our towns
man, Hon. Charles p. Kimball and other
Democrats of character, ability and reputa-
ton liz business or professional life, will not
accept the nomination except as matter of
personal devotion to such associates as are
stupid enough to believe that the party has
all actual existence and IS not entirely in the
hands of the historian. These gentlemen to
whom we have referred have sense enough to
see that any nomination they may accept is
practically leadership of a surrendered or at
best paroled army.
There are men enough of certain class
who have nothing of reputation to lose, whose
vanity and ambition would be gratified to see
their names at the head of the so called Dem
ocratic ticket. They belong to that class of
immature politicians who delight to air their
eloqusnce in the resolutions of county conven-
tions, and who will be equally elated to have
Al l.~I q -.
est man or best dressed man or any other
man, provided they could be endorsed by
convention and placed under the head of nom
nations in the party journals. The fear that
one of this class will push his way to the
front and carry off the nomination in August,
we are informed, has given the old and re-
spectacle leaders no little concern. They
clearly see that the nomination of one of this
aspiring class would give to the funeral-like
soemnity that has hitherto made the average
Democratic nominations for governor respec-
table and seemly, an air of low comedy.
The Democracy of Ohio are in the same
condition, Such respectableleaders as Messrs.
Thurman, Ewing and Groesbeck decline to
carry the party standard. A few fabbergasted
fellows like Sam. Cary and Lew. Campbell are
willing to accept the party leadership, but,ev-
en- to lead forlorn hope, the Democracy will
not accept of them. In addition to this there
is very spirited dispute between the Demo-
Gratis and the Liberal Republican leaders. The
latter desire to break up the Democratic
party, brt the chief organ of the old organi-
cation informs Mr.. Halsted, the most promi-
nent Liberal leader of the West, that he and
, his little squad of Disconnected Republicans
are of no account. To this Mr.. Halstead re-
torts in the Cincinnati Commercial that
''three terms of General Grant would be pre-
ferfed to restoring the Democratic party to
power"
In view of these indications Mr.. Groes-
beck in his recent letter truthfully says of the
Democratic party that ''blundering constant
ly during the last ten years, and shattered by
many defeats, it surrendered finally at the
last Presidential election. 1t cannot recall
that surrender or the confessions then made,
and it has no longer strength enough for vic
tory Like him, many Democrats would
like to see the Democracy move out Of the
old organization into new one;" like him
they do not expect success until such change
is made; but alas, the majority prefer to
s'tarry the balance of the century to fix the
meaning of the resolutions of 49," and like
him the minority will tarry with them; but
disheartened, faithless, those who hope not
for better things will be only means of de-
moralization in that 'dilapidated homestead"
that has ''no banners upon its walls and no
victorious shoulings Within"