New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-18
sick and willing to die, and We are all Wiling he


quiry from Mr. Reed, of Windsor Locks, as to that
gentleman's position on the Greenback question.
Mr.. Reed seemed to be hard-mOney man. and TO be
disturbed over a statement which had been pub
lshed to the effect that Mr. Durand claimed to be
half Greenbacker.p Mr. Reed wanted the eandl-
date to come on the platform and state his position
before ballot was taken, but his suggestion was
codly received by the delegates, majority OF
whom were very clearly of the opinion that the
Greenback question was not safe one to discuss IN
any such free and easy way.
Mr.. Lusk, of Danbury, who claimed to be an old
fashioned Democrat, and did talk like man who
was in the habit of voting regularly for Old Hickory
came TO Reeds assistance and insisted that Durand
should out and define his position, as ne Luskl
would not vote for any man that had hair on his
head that wasn't Democratic.
Mr. Mooney, of Newtown, another old-fashioned
Democrat, with uncommonly fine brogue. came
to the rescue of Reed and Lusk, but was sat down
upon by the chair.
Then Cleveland came forward once more with
the air of man who was running the convention
and owned the candidate, and gave his word that
M. Durand should come forward and explain his
position as soon as he nominated. and that If his
Democracy were not satisfactory to the convention
he should withdraw from the ticket. He sat down
with wise wink to the reporters " I'll show em,"
says he, chow TO run a convention. made up my
mind when those fellows cleared out and left things
all at loose ends I'd just take the convention and
run il myself" @ Am l doing 1t ~ he inquired
as ne slapped his manly breast and glowed
with great and satisfied content. " ask you, am
doing it ~ And he was doing it really; he made
all the speeches, nominated the candidate, and be-
came personally responsible for his Democracy. The
proceedings generally were of a gloomy character,
aud rani
as an undertaken in a sckly season.
Mr.. Durand did come III and make speech - de-
filming his position" 1t was confusing sort OIL
speech and at the close of 1t Mr.. Cleveland wnked
again at the reporters. Mr.. Ir0up, the Greenback
editor and leader ntimated that 1t was trltle OBJ
scure ; he thought Mr.. .Durand had gone into, q
hole and drawn the hole in after him." This IS the
way he Defined:
The notification OF your preference for me as nomi
for the position OF LieutenantGOvernor came to me
while the committee room attempting TO
harmOnze the various elements IN the party and unite
band OF brothers, think we shall arrive at unan
imous conclusion and that the platform VIII meet with
the appreciation Of the Democrats OF all parts OF
as TO my position. ALLOW me 70 say Ina'
so far as my support OF Democracy is c0ncefned
assure you my absolute and unqualified support 10
all in the party that tends toward upright and honest
government that opposes the party when mas lDncte9
this country OF the greatest frauds ever inflicted
on people. aud will tend toward Government com
posed OF men In sympathy with US. am surprised at
the nomination. but desire TO return great thanks TO the
convention and can only assure you that II the Domlna
tOns OF the convention are rathed az the Dolls tney
The clearness and satisfactoriness of this deini-
ton Is hardly surpassed by the platform. OF
course, no one could desire more explicit state
ment, and the convention accordingly accepted 1t
without question or murmur.
A sHUFFLING PLATFORM.
Meantime in the Committee on Resolutions
witch was understood to be thirteen Greenback
to eight moderate hard-mOnoy men, there
was a long and animated discussion over a
series of resolutions that had been printed, and
offered for adoption. In their original form they
were not so extreme upon the currency question as
had been anticipated by the hard-mOney men, nor
were they entirely satisfactory 20 the Greenbaek
faction; but the latter had become frightened by
their apparent success, and began to that even
these must be modified somewhat if they would
preserve harmony in the party. and avoid break
which would be disastrous. 1t was necessary. as
they could easily see to conciliate the hard-money
wing, and, at least, not carry the greenback
business so far in adopting the platform
as 20 drive Governor Hubbard to refuse the nominal
ton So it happened that the great struggle in the
committee was to agree upon such compromise as
would conciliate and retain the Greenback vote,
and at the same time avoid any such positive COM
initials on the question would offend and drive
of the haId-mOney wing. They worked az the task
industriOusy, and not without some degree OF sue
cess.
Asreported. the platform is much more moderate
and reasonable upon the financial question than as
originally submitted TO the committee, but the
intent is clearly TO put the party IN harmony with
the initiation and reputation Democracy of the
West and South 1t is quite certain, however, that
it will not have the effect to reclaim to the party
any who have gone over to the Nationals
or prevent any from going who have had such
step in contemplation. Nor is it certain that
its ouIbblng and ambiguous utterances will satisfy
the hard-money wing whom they were intended
to conciate. The party was in bad dilemma. 1t
had TO lean toward the Greenback theories to save
the rank and fle who were rapidly dropping away
and il was equally necessary to be, OF seem TO be- in
favor of honest money in order to save the leaders
and intelligent voters. They were between the
devil and the deep sea, and for o shutting party
not particularly sohcitous Tor principle put only
anxious about votes they did as well as could DO
expected.
The result, however, will show that though pres
ent harmony seems to have been secured by the
compromise, the end will be as In all such COM
promises disastrous The honest hard-money men
will continue to be disafected and apathetic in q
campaign in which they can have no heart, and the
Nationals will go ahead and gather in about as many
of the weak brethren whose leanings are in that
direction as though this convention had made no
bid for their support. In reply to an inquiry this
morning as to what the Greenback party in this
State would do if this convention should adopt their
principles, and give them all they ask in the plat
form, Mr.. Troup, the Greenback leader, said: "Oh,
do Just as we did in Maine-go ahead and swallow
them up all the same" 1t was a significant fact
that during one of the pauses in the proceedings to-
day, there were loud calls for Troup, who sat at
reporters desk. to address the convention. There
were a few Misses, but the call was almost unani-
NOUS 1t was easy to see that he represented their
ideas better than their own candidates. lie should
have been put on the ticket, as The Palladium sug
gested for Northumberland.
The general result may be stated IN this that the
Greenback element in the party first astonished and
then frightened both opponents and friends. They
Con Entnn and Masars InDRr-