The Portland daily press., 1879-10-14
Our New York Letter.
Democrats-The Fraud Yell-Senator
Conkling's Speech and It's Critics-Cur-
tis's Resignation-Kelley's Hopes and
Plans

Conkling'S Speech and It's Cr1t1cS-Cur-
tis's Resignation-Kelley's Hopes and
Plans.
NEW YORK, Oct. 18th, 1879.
For the sublime assurance to which no other
term is so applicable as the word cheek ,
even if it is trife slangy, the Massachusetts
Democratic State Convention is entitled to the
first premium. The little remnant OF the par
ty which Butler has as yet failed to capture is
entitled to some credit for withstanding the
Establishments of that affluent demagogue
But there was no use in detracting from the
merit of their resistance of temptation by an
exhibition of bad manners. "We denounce
upon the guilty Republican party, stern retri-
button for the great public crime by which the
people were defrauded of their right to be gov
erned by ruler of their choice" This is
the sweeping censure cast upon majority OF
the voters of the Republic. When Burke said
it was impossible to indict a nation, he could
not have foreseen that great lights OF jurispru-
dence would arise thereafter i'll the western
hemisphere who could frame bill OF attain
der against more than half of the citizens OF
one of the principal civilized nations OF the
globe 1t is little curious that Democrats who
inhabit States in which they are in helpless
minority are as rule much more savage and
reckless of propriety than they are in commu-
mites of which they constitute majority
Perhaps it is because they have become en-
bittered at being beaten year after year, un-
til every vestige of good nature has been drlv-
en- out of them. But really now, these neatly
DIRE ssed gentlemen would have done we'll to
preser We their dignity by the use OF language
which is not violative of the recognized
canons of conventional decorum. Even sup
posing they did feel sour over past reverses
and beclouded prospects, they were in no con-
dition to assume an aggressive attitude. There
was some dispute, to be sure, about the votes OF
three Southern States in the last Presidential
canvass, but it requires a good deal of audacity
to deny that there were Republican maIoritles
in every one of those States, If there had
been a free and fair poll. If there
were any people defrauded of their rights it
was the Republicans who were kept away from
the ballot-boxes by firearms. Moreover,
in view of subsequent revelations in re-
spect of the performances of the nephew and
immediate representative OF the defeated can
didate pending the electoral count, it seems a
very imprudent thing for any body OF Demo-
Gratis to agitate the question OF the purity OF
the franchise. Every such allusion has the
effect of pointing directly to Pelton and his
uncle, the cypher dispatches, the Oregon re-
mittances and the whole story of the negotia-
tions with the electors of South Carolina, Flor
ida and Louisiana. 1t looks like an extremely
impolitic thing to keep up the fraud cry any
how, but if in the scarcity of issues that are
calculated for campaign purposes it is thought
necessary to adhere to that old scandal it may
just as well be done with some regard to de-
cency. However, nobody will have the slight
est recollection four weeks hence what the
Massachusetts, Democrats did put into their
platform.
Mr.. Conkling made his first speech of the
campaign at the Academy of Music in Brook
lyn on the evening of the Sth inst. 1t was an
imprudent undertaking. His physician told
him he was rsking his life Mr.. Cornell tried
to dissuade him from doing it. Other friends
expostulated with him, saying that the party
did not demand any such sacrifice at his hands.
But he had made the engagement, and he was
determined to keep it, He spoke to as large
an audience as the vast ediice would hold, and
was rec eived with the enthusiasm which the
Republicans are famous for when they are
thoroughly aroused and in dead earnest There
has not been anything like the spirit which is
now prevalent among the supporters OF Repub-
licanism since the magnificent campaign OF
1872. The meetings are well attended land peo-
pie act and talk as if they were fully aware OF
the gravity of the issues The question of the
hour rises above politics; it concerns the nation
al safety and the sacredness of the public
faith. A failure to defeat the Democracy this
Fall would fill the holders of Government Sc
curities with CONSERVATION and disturb the
current of prosperity by raising the hideous
spectre of reputation. 1t would prove sad
bl ow to the material welfare of every useful
citizen of the Republic, and the people see and
realize the fact, and are nerving themselves to a
vigorous effort to avert so great calamity. The
managers of Mr.. Tilden's literary bureau under
took to create a diversion by patronizing
score or SO of persons, who, borrowing leaf
out of the chronology Of "the three taiiors of
Tooly, Street." attempted TO organize q ticket
scratching combination, but the thing turned
out to be wretched failure The concoctors
of it are popularity supposed to be young, be-
cause the scheme itself is so puerile. Nobody
seems to know who they are or what they are,
but it is not at all certain that their claims to
forbearance on the plea of infancy are well
founded, for upon inquiry it appears that the
two or three of them whom it has been posi-
BILE to identify after diligent research, are far
enough advanced in years to know something,
leaving their conduct perfectly inexplicable
on any other hypothesis than that nature has
interposed an impossible barrier to their ac-
QUESTION of political knowledge of any sort.
For the present. at all events, the canvass
will have to proceed without the services of
Senator Conkling. Under ordinary circum-
stances this would be an irreparable loss, but
the cause is SO strong, and the party so we'll
equipped for duty that even this misfortune
does not discourage the Republicans. Your
readers may remember that our Senator was
similarly afflicted in 1876, and his inability to
take part in the campaign of that year was the
occasion of much censorious and unjust re-
mark. Nobody will be mean enough to ques-
ton now that his failure to enter the lists is at
tributable solely to i'll health. His speedy re-
covery will be earnestly desired by all VINO
comprehend the importance of sweeping VIC
tory this year.
Some of the newspaper criticisms on the
Brooklyn speech are amusing The chronic
fault-fnders complain that he confined his at
tention exclusively to National topics and neg
lected to treat of State affairs and the finan-
cial question This omission furnishes an oc-
casion for fresh volley of age nizing shrieks
for Craftsmanship. Well, it must be admitted
that tho Senator has an obstinate habit of max
ing speeches in accordance with the dictates of
his own judgment, and that he displays most
contemptuons indifference to the advice of hos
tile editors, whether they are pretended Re-
publicans or unmstakabe Democrats. This
course has thus far proved to be wise one. If
his views of craftsmanship had coincided with
those Of his malevolent censors the party in
this State would by this time have been an ut
ter wreck. Under his leadership-which was
forced upon him at time when he was eA'
tremely reluctant to encounter Its burdens
I % hos haan held intact and COM