The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-08
The st. Louis Convention.

For some reasons 1t Is unfortunate for the
Democrats that the National Convention OF
their party Is to be held in st. Louis. The
nomination Of SEYMOUR and BLArR--a nomi-
nation not ct to be made--could never have
been effected anywhere outside OF New York
city. That nomination doomed the Demo.
Gratis to defeat not only In 1868, but in 1872.
The delegates to the New York National
Convention could not separate themselves
from their surroundings. The city was
vast popu,ace Of Democrats. Not only were
there thousands OF visitors from every part
OF the Union, but 1t seemed that wherever you
went-n the streets, the cars, the hotels,
and the parks-none but Democrats were to
he seen. CHARLES T. Boris, Of California,
said there appeared to be Democrats enough
in New York to elect the President. This
was an exaggeration, but 1t will serve to H.
dictate the actual state of things. This actual
state of things was that the delegates to
the National Convention bad no enemies
present from whom, according to the Latin
proyerb, to learn lessons OF wisdom and pru-
dence, The result was-frst, unbounded
confidence In their ability to elect anybody
that might be nominated; secondly, death
struggle for the nomination between the
friends Of the various candidates; and thirdly,
as a consequence the nomination of two men
who were totally unfit to lead the party in a
heated political campaign. SEYMOUR and
BLAIR were utterly destitute OF popularity
of prestige, and of whatever constitutes avail
ability 10 candidates. They were defeated
before the e,ec.iops-before the delegates LETT
New York. They we're simply weights tled
around the neck Of the party. And they had
no trouble in dragging down the party into
the depths Of disaster.
We would fam hope that no such result
will follow the selection of st. Louis as
the sea. of the National Convention. But
when we see how unwisely House OF Rep
resentatives, two thirds of whose members
are Democrats, has acted from the first Mon
day iu last December until now, we are ap.
prebuesiye that some unanticipsted follies
will be manifested at st. Louis. A very in.
teIllgent gentleman of this city fears that two
leading Democrats have by their speeches
In the national House of Representatives
driven off tive hundred thousand voters in
the North from the Democratic party.
Let such "leaders" copgregate together
in St. Louis, and, warmed BY southern SYM
pathizers and northern hAtterers, undertake
to "spread themselves" and there is no
telling what mischief they will do. There
are-too m,ny Democrats in Missouri and
otherwhereS near enough to st. Louis to 60
tbither to a national convention to make it
safe for the members Of that body TO yield
to the seductive Influences of the jury OF
the yicinage. 1t would be much better for
the Convention to assemble in Philadelphia,
or even in Boston, in either Of which cities
the delegates would hear from outsiders
much in the way Of censure and criticism
that would have wholesome Influence upon
their action.
But to be forewarned is to be forearmed,
or ought to be. The place has been fixed
upon. Let the people see to it that discreet
men are chosen as delegates. So shall we
save the party from defeat, and the country
from another four-years of strife, turmoil,
and sectional ill-wil.