The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-03
THE DTsTRIUT ATToRNEYsHIP.

the 3D. of September, last year, there wa
a National Convention at Louisville
Ky., by some called 'Straightout Demo
cratic by others Bourbon Among
other things it resolved: W
| tHThat we proclaim to the world tina
principle is to be preferred TO power tina
| the Democratic party is held together bJ
the cohesion of time-honorsd principles
which they will never surrender in ex
| change for all the offices which Presidents
can confer. The pangs of the minorities
are doubtless excrutiating, but we wei
come an eternal minority under the banner
| inscribed with our principles rather than
an almighty and everlasting majority pur
chased BY their abandonment -
ssMr. James Lyons, of Virginia, the
newly-appointed district-attorney, presided
over that convention. 81 aa
ssThe delegates to the Colored Mems
national convention, to whom, on the same
day that this appointment was sent in,
President Grant remarked incidentally that
if they did not gain their civil rights, ii
would probably be because some extreme
measure will be urged BY person claim,
ing to be O particular friend OF the colored
man, will be more than delighted to learn
that the Presidents latest appointment was
of man who presided over o convention
that bolted the nomination of Horace Gree
ley because he was an abolitionist.' We
do hope that no colored person will be SO
forgetful of his duty to the administration
as to 60 counting up on his fingers, as any
one-armed colored soldier can, the number
of appointments, to balance this, given to
the colored men whom Horace Greeley did
so much to ee.''--N. Y. Tribune.
The Hon. James Lyons referred to in
the above article, is an eminent lawyer OF
Richmond, Virginia, and was, we believe,
previous to the late war, distinguished
Wing. Subsequently he acted in concert
with the Democratic party of that state.
But in 1872, when the conspiracy was pro.
iected to destroy that party, he co-operated
with the iStraigktom Democratic move
Having Joined Mr.. Lyons and Colonel
Blanton Duncan, of Kentucky, and other
esteemed gentlemen in disinterested
effort to defeat that conspiracy, / shall
brave the imputation of seeking notorietY,
by a few comments, on the above sneering
ebulltion of The Tribune. -v rg5.s
By the quotation of one of the resolu-
tions of the. Louisville convention, The
Tribune would seem to imply in Mr..
LYONS some delinquent consistency for
accepting office from General Grant.
The Democratic party, by the nominal
ton Of Mr.. Greeley and the adoption of
the Republican platform dictated by him
Ito the extent of their ability-committed
political suicide. A new hybrid party
was the result of this coalition. 49,
y The people, las we predicted they would
rebuked with an overwhelming and un-
tparalleled majority, the disregard for prin-
ciple and consistency which inspired that
homogeneous amalgamation OF hostile
elements. EfgJ
The mistake of supporting Mr.. o'Conor
was fatal to the organization OF 0 Straight-
out Democratic party. That mistake the
Louisville convention committed, owing to
the unauthorized assurances of some of
the New York delegation that Mr.. O Conor
would be induced finally to accept his
nomination. ili5iF ~ sr5 %. a
When it became palpable that the
,Straightom organization could not be
maintained, Mr.. Lyons declared his inten-
ton to support the administration of Gem
eral Grant, determination which short
time previously also had avowed.
Mr.. Lyons, in his letter of the l4th of
February, 1873, to the Hon. j. B. Sener,
said: CT propose to render to General
Grant and his administration fair and
candid support. 1t is utterly impossible
that can support the Dolly Warden party.
The history OF parties both in England and
in this country, attest, that a coalition party,
is the very worst for the welfare of the
country. Formed upon no principle, but
that of getting power and retaining it, it is
always purchasing friends at the expense of
principle, and, as was said by Mr.. Canning,
pays twice as much for them as they are
WORTH" q
Having thus from sense of duty and
upon principle, united with the friends of
General Grant, there is nothing in the res
olution of the Louisville convention quoted
by The Tribune, to preclude MIR. Lyons
from accepting the office rendered him.
Conformity with the sentiments expressed
in his letter to Mr.. Sener, would require
him to accept q position for which he is so
eminently qualified, and the duties of
which no one could discharge more ac-
ceptably to the government and the coun-
try.
AS drew the resolution referred to, l
am able to say what it meant, better than
any one else. s,r.s. .s.e-
The resolution was intended TO rebuke
the abnegation of principle in the coalition
originated.
With blind infatuation its authors be-
lieved that it would succeed; and that
office and power would reward their sac
rifce of themselves and the rights and feel
ings of those whom they represented. The
high positions in the government, according
torumor) were parceled out among the con-
spicuous leaders and. success which so
often glorifes the advent Of usurpers to
power, it was confidently expected, would
gid with its halo their triumph.
The resolution was aimed at these sci.
fish and vaulting aspirations together
with other denunciations of like import,
made from the stump, assisted to produce
that general revolt and indignation among
the Democratic masses, which eftectually
paralyzed their support of the coalition.
The resolution condemns, not the accept
ance of office, but the abandonment Of
principles for the sake of office.
The Louisville convention did not, as
The Tribune says, bolt "the nomination
of Horace Greeley because he was an abo-
litionist.o That convention would have
refused to support any Republican nomi-
nee of the Baltimore convention; and they
could not have refused to support Mr..
Greeley "because he was an abolitionist. p
Co.. bo x,arar x.vas opx, c,ab th;,,n M