The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-05-21
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bat for the general interest in poliii-
cal. affairs outside Of Washington we
should have rather quiet times here
just now. But the importance at
tashiag TO the several political con-
veniions lately held, ard their bear
ing upon the approaching campaign,
has given the politicians Of the Capt.
toi all the excitement necessary, and
some serious reflections as well. The
compromise in the interest Of fiarmo-
ny ia the Pennsylvania Convention
was unlocked for, and the announce
ment Of It was received with very
great satisfaction. II Is gratifying 10
know that both Speaker Randall and
Senator Wallace, who have 80 long
been leaders of warning factions, re-
aliZe that the cause Of Democracy il
more than personal supremacy, and
that personal strifes must sink out of
sight before If. Both certainly had
TOO much at stake, in common with
the party, this year 10 admit OF di-
visions, and the party at large could
not have forgiven them for their fail
urc 10 bury the hatchet. According
to all accounts received here Gamer
onistn sill have its hands full in
Pennsylvania this year.
1t is TO be regretted thA: the New
York Democrats are not united. Yet
the situation there was materially
different. So long as the Tammany
Hall aad John Kelly factions were in
open rebellion and loudly proclainl-
ing that they would not abide by the
action Of either the State or the Ma
tional Convention, unless the action
was precisely 10 their notion, there
was no chance for a compromise.
Tue action Of fhe regular convention
is generally regarded TO have been
all that could be done consistent with
the dIgnify and l.enor Of The party.
The personal interests of any Demo
cratic candidate are nothing, but the
great principle Of majority rule is ev-
eTyihing, aud any man, or set of
men, who openly declare war upon ii
can not be regarded as true Demo-
crats. II seems not unlikely that
Mr.. Kelly is paving the way Tor an
attempt TO carry out his bargain TO
deliver the State OF New York TO
Conkling' this year, but there are
signs that he will not be able 10 de-
liver As large a following as former
ly.'
II really does seem to be su nnfor-
tunaie circumstance that 50 many
Democrats have jOine i In iI.e bitter
personal attacks upon prominent can
didates in the party, and more than
any other one thing that has placed
our chances of success this year in
Jeopardy. | am not champiening
the cause of Mr.. Tilden, but as fair
man and an earnest Democrat I am
free 10 say, with thousands of others,
that the opposition to him has been
most disgraeeful, under al the cir
eumstances. Eyea if he were not
the able aud devoted Democrat that
he Is, he stands, So long as he lives,
as the representative of great cause
the victim ef great wrong, not
alone TO himself, but 10 the party and
the liberties of the American people.
The Democratic party owed TO it.
self to stamp that outrage with the
brand of overwhelming eondemna-
ton. Let it be quietly asked of
Democrats anywhere, who they think
ought to be the next President of the
United States, and hine out of ten
will tel; you Samuel ]. Tilden yet
not half that proportion now favor his
nomination because they feel that
the opposition TO him is too great
that he has been slaughtered in the
house of his friends. Here in Con-
gress we have some of the bitterest
opponents of Tildea. They say they
are against him because he was
'seowardly" in not seating hillself
when elected, yet many of them are
the very ones who were the hottest
in favor Of the Electoral Commission
swindle, and who hob-nobbed with
Charley Foster and other friends OF
the present fraud before the count
finished. This is plain talk, but Il ia
the truth. And now this sort of
thing has gone SO far that, unless
there is a powerful reaction, do not
think it would be safe to nominate
Tilden. Leaving poetic justice eal
of the question, there are two other
Democrats whom I would personally
like TO see in the Presidential man-
sion, in preference to Tilden or any,
body else. They are Horatio Sey-
mour and Allan G. Thurman. But,
both arc apparently out of the ques-
tion. This District has just elected
two Seymour delegates to Cincinnati,
and the Washington Posi- continues
to advocate his nomination, yet