Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-20
CHARLES O'CONOR's LETTER


Mr.. Charles O'Conor, for more than third
of a century a prominent figure in New
York and national politics, and for all that
time regarded as wheel-horse of the Dem
ocratic party, has recently written letter to
club of politicians declining to take part
in their deliberations for reasons that appear
to him cogent and all-suflicient. The letter
is long one-would occupy nearly page
of the GLoBE-and for this reason We omit
its publication.
The one thing above all others for which
the letter is remarkable is the want of faith
of the author in the perpetuity of American
institutions. He claims that no man bearing
the insignia of Democrat can ever hope to
be elected to the Office of President of the
United States for the principal reason that
the essential requisite to such an election
the votes of the thirty-fve electors of the
State of New York-have bsen delivered
into the hands of the Republican
party and arc now held by it as secure
possession. In this We are inclined
to question the basis of Mr.. O'Conor's in
formation. Through factional strife there is
no question but the State of New York has
been turned over temporarily to the domin-
ion of the Republicans, but this reverse can
be retrieved by judicious nominations and
tho union of all parties opposed to the pres
ent misrule. The case is not as hopeless as
MIR. O'Conor would have US imagine, and if
he and those who agree with him that the
maintenance of Democratic principles are
essential to the psrpetuity of the government
will unite in the support of the candidate of
the party, success is within easy grasp.
We agree with Mr.. O'Conor that there ia
great danger that the structure of our govern
ment will be overthrown through the mach
nations of those who desire the establish
ineut of q monarchy upon its ruins, but we
90 not apprehend that their efforts are at all
likely to meet with success. We have too
strong faith in the uprightness of the
American people and their devotion
to the cause of republicanism
to believe that they will consent to so radical
change in our political system as is con-
templated. They will resist all such efforts
to the extreme, and we believe will eventu-
ally rout the conspirators, horse, foot and
dragons.
Judging from the tenor of Mr.. O'Conor's
letter, we conclude that he has become jaun-
diced by the want of success of the Demo-
cratic party in the days that have gone. Yet
we see no occasion for taking such distort-
ed view of the situation. The omens of sue
cess are suspicious save in the State of New
York; and there the gentleman himself can
do much towards stemming the tide of i'm
perialism. By judicious effort he can do
much towards uniting the factions in his
own State so as to ensure sweeping victory
for the Democratic party in November next.
Mr. O'Conor, hewever, appends to his let
ter series of changes which he deems es-
sential to perfect our political system.
Among these are many propositions essen
tally undemocratic, such as the abolition of
the State governments, the abolition of the
Senate and the army, and compelling voters
to write and certify to their votes, besides
many other propositions that are simply
impracticable. Mr.. O'Conor may be very
clever lawyer, but we are obliged to confess
that be is very poor judge of what consti-
tutes republican government. His letter il
simply an ebullition of temper on the part
of man of restricted ideas who is disap-
pointed in not having those ideas, far beyond
the comprehension of ordinary mortals,
adopted as the organic law of the land.