The Portland daily press., 1878-08-06
The Democratic Greenback Intrigue

The Democratic Greenback Intrigue.
From the first moment the Greenback
movement in this District began to show
strength the Democratic leaders began to in
trigue for its control. Their purpose was to
direct 1t in the interests of the Democracy.
That purpose has been steadily prosecuted
for the past six months, and has, the Demo-
Gratis believe, at last been gained. They are
joyfully asserting that the nomination cf
Cove makes the election of Anderson sure.
That of course is mere boasting; but 1t is
not to be denied that the intrigue has been
carried on with great cunning.
The original intention of the Democratic
leaders was to make direct alliance with
the Greenbackers and induce the new party
to nominate some man who had always been
a Democrat and was so completely identified
with the history of the party that its full
strength could be rallied to his support, but
whose declarations of financial belief would
make him acceptable to the Nationals. Gen
eral Anderson was the man thought of. He
was Democrat of Democrats, a man who
had steadily opposed the war at every step,
thoroughly Southern in his sympathies and
ardently believing in the political doctrines
set forth in the famous resolutions of 1898.
Whatever other party he might betray, his
fidelity to the Democracy was unquestioned.
If he was sent to Congress he could be re-
lied upon to act with the Southern majority
every time. To secure his nomination by
the two conventions was the original aim of
the Democratic leaders. A few weeks since
it was abandoned. Why?
1t was abandoned because the Democrats
became convinced that General Anderson
could not poll the full Greenback strength,
that his nomination would alarm Greenback-
ers of Republican antecedents and drive
them into opposition. The honest, sincere
portion of the new party could not bring it
self to support an old politician who had been
identified all his days with political organi-
cation which has made itself odious to the
loyal sentiment of the country, and which
steadily fought against the restoration of the
Union, the abolition Of slavery, and the great
constitutional measures that were taken to
secure the fruits of the victory over disnnion-
lists and traitors. 1t was seen, too, that Gen
eral Auderson's political future was as un-
promising as his past was Objectionable. 1t
was clearly understood that he would in all
contingencies continue to act with the Dem
ocratic party. Seeing this it was thought
best that he should not accept the Greenback
nomination. 1t was known that he could in
any contingency command the support of
Democratic Greenbackers, and that the votes
of Republican Greenbackers would be with
held from him. Under these circumstances
Democratic leaders determined to adopt ''the
Oregon plan" To-day they are attempting.
to carry that plan out. To the National dep
ntations that waited upon him General An
inasion aps thst made his NOM
vention nominated man of Republican
tecedents. This was exactly what the DEM
ocrats wanted. They believed the Greenback
candidate could command the suffrages of all
Republican Greenbackers, while they knew
that General Anderson would on election day
receive the votes of the major portion of the
Democratic Greenbackers. That, they hoped,
would elect him.
This statement of the Democratic intrigue
is not based upon conjecture. 1t can be sub
stantiated. The Democrats who went into
the Greenback movement with the purpose
of using it to further their old party interests
are so elated by their success that they no
longer hesitate to disclose their aim. All
through the District they are proclaiming
that Anderson is a good enough Greenbacker
for them. Why, on the very day after the
National convention at Congress Hall one of
its most prominent members, a man who
took leading part in its deliberations and in
the shaping of its action, declared that he
should vote for Anderson. When asked why
then, be urged the nomination Of Cove he
replied that Cove was a good enough man
to draw off Republican votes.
The Democrats are openly exulting over
the fact that Republican vote for Cove is as
good as vote for Anderson. They have the
strongest hopes of repeating their Oregon
success. In that State three sets of candi-
dates were nominated. When election day
came the Democratic Greenbackers returned
to their old party in body, while the Re-
publican Greenbackers stood to their nomina-
tions. The result was complete Demo-
cratic success. That is the plan to be tried
in Maine. Many Democrats who have gone
into the Greenback movement have done it
to further Democratic interests. BY Septem-
Der they will be back in the old party lines,
hoping to divide the Republican vote and
make sure the election of Anderson by plu-
rality. That is their object, and Republicans
may as we'll understand it. A vote for Cove
is worse than thrown away, for it is help to
Anderson. The most that 1t can do is to aid
in sending to Congress an old State rights
Democrat, Southern sympathizer, man
who was opposed to the war for the restora-
ton of the Union, and who to-day heartily
disbelieves in the constitutional amendments.
Any Greenbacker of Republican antecedents
who intends TO vote for Cove will do well to
| look about him and see what that vote
| means.
Mr.. WILLIAM NJ. RUST is said to be labor
| ing for the success Of Democratic candi-
date in the Fifth District. That is not i'm
| probable. At the Lewiston convention he
urged an affiation with the Democracy in
order to secure success and suggested the
nomination of some Democrat who was