Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-09-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Democratic converts fem the Republican
Party-Who they are-The secret OF their
ConversIon-TiIden's Friends Explain his
Prnudu ent Income Returns.
Washington, D. c., Sept. 81, 1876.


FrAudu. ent Income Returns.
Washington, D. c., Sept 81, 1876
The organ of the Democracy, in \
New York City, publishes, with fam
ing head lines, list of names, some |
fifty in number, of gentlemen who, |
according 20 the World, were the |
leading members of what was known
in by-gone times as the Independ-
ents'' II "Libera's," and with much
satisfaction announces that these
notable gentlemen are now acting in
concert with the Democratic party.
Why the list is so short it is hard to
understand, for it could just as easily
have been extended to five hundred
or thousand names, as to have stop
ped at fifty 1t claims that these
gentlemen were originally republic
cans, and were forced to desert that
party on account of its maladminis-
tration of national sffairs. A glance
at the list fills one with a variety of
emotions. First, there are names of
parties that were supposed to have
faded olt of existence years ago
having been so long unheard of.
Again there appear names that are
| 81, al 81 49,
inquiries fails to acquaint us with
their previous record. Then there
are others whose names have been so
long identified with the Democracy
that the oldest can scarcely remem-
Der that they ever acted with any
other party. In almost every in
stance where there is name repre-
senting recent convert of Democ-
racy, the explanation, if not alreay
known to all, csn be given in word.
In most eases it will be found that
they are ex-office holders, who were
retired to improve the service. Let
us glance at a few of the names. At
the head appears that Of Charles
Francis Adams, and little further
down those of two of his sons. 1t
seems to be crowding matters a little
to mention all three when the fathers
name would have carried equal
weight, for, until now, the country
was unaware that that gentleman was
| blessed with SO many heirs to his
fame and fortune. Charles Francis
has accepted the Democratic nominal
ton for Governor of Massachusetts,
and throws whatever Of influence he
may be able to WELD in favor of that
party, the consideration being, it is
generally understood, promise of
something better in the event of
Tilden's success. Next in order
comes Ex-Governor Curtin, of Penn,
sylvania, than whom a more disap-
pointed office seeker can hardly be
found. Then David a Wells, the
noted free-trader, who prepared for
Mr.. Morrison, Chairman of the WAYS
and Meang Committee of that present
Congress, that so called Morrison
Tariff Bill bill so clearlylin the in
terest of foreign manufacturers and
New York importers, and so posi-
lively against the interests of our
home industries that its bare intro
dnction in the House of Representa-
tives called for such a general cry of
indignation that both its author and
introduccr were found to abandon it,
or at least postpone any further eff
forts to secure its passage until
further accession of power by the
Democratic forces Next, Gideon
Wells, name long ago written upon
his political tomb stone b. Gratz
Brown, who was so Overwhelmingly
repudiated four years ago. Geo
w. Julian, who left the Republican
party because 1t refused to provide
soft place not only for himself but for
every one OF his numerous relatives.
Then follows lot of names whose
regulations, if they have any, are con-
fined to certain small districts.
Among them appear that of Col.
Nicholas Smith, whose claim to
notice above the other members of
the Smith family, is based on that
fact that he married one of the
daughters of the Democratic candi-
dates for Presidential honors in 1872.
He is Ida Greeley's husband. Further
down we come to "Fighting Joe"
Hooker, a once gallant officer, but
who became so thoroughly Demo.
cratic in his habits if not in his princi.
Piles, during the late war, that the
authorities were forced not molly to
retire him from the command of the
Army of the Potomac, but from
active service altogether. Since that
event he has naturally been much Of
Tended with the Republican party,
and has on a number of occasions
civil leaders, but upon n" The " offfaoe!fFss
who succeeded him in command, and
who carried the war to successful
termination in spite of Democratic
assertions that such result was i'm
possible. The list closes after another
bunch of unknown names with that of
Franz Sigel who deserted the Re-
publicans because, in the interest of
economy, they legistated him out of
one office and failed to proved him