Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-30
A DemOeratie Witness.

A Democratic Witness.
The Springer-Finley controversy has
had one useful result if no other. 1t
has lifted the curtain which has hereto
fore partially concealed the workings of
the Democratic machine, and has given
the public clear view Of what is going
on behind the scenes. In other words,
it has brought one of Mr.. Tilden's con-
| tidential agents prominently before the
public, and has disclosed one of the
plans by which that willy and uuscrupu-
lous manager is trying to steal the
Presidency. There has been strong
circumstantial evidence for some time
past that the scheme to unseat Wash
burn was part of Democratic plan to
obtain majority of State delegations in
the House in order to give them control
of that body in the possible event of the
| Presidential election coming before it,.
Finley's letter furnishes conclusive
proof that this scheme exists, and that
Mr. Tilden is privy to it. 1t must be
remembered that FinleV is very intimate
with Tilden. He acted as the latter s
contidential agent in the attempt to
steal an Electoral vote in Oregon in
1876, and has represented him in other
political intrigues. For some months
past he has been in Washington acting
as one of Tilden's general managers,
and in that capacity looking after DON
nelly's interest in the election contest.
On the 10th of March he addressed a
letter to Mr.. Springer, Chairman of the
Committee on Elections, in which he
said:
81 have heard, with good deal of chagrln,
| that you have some doubts as TO the eXpedi-
/ ency or adopting the report of the sub-cOm-
mittee TO seat DOnnelly. Not TO do this l
| know will leave you open TO the severest crlti-
eism, and give color OF truth to reports which
Washburn's friends have most unguardedly
| set atiOat. The importance of the matter, as
/ 1t may develop in regard TO the next election
OF President, makes every Democrat anxious
TO see the state saved, now that we can legally
and properly do 1t, to the Democracy. The
whole case is before our friends in New York,
and upon assurances which gathered from
| report would be adopted and Donnelly would
| be seated at once. / cannot believe that you
| Will now tatl to make this good. Among hun
dreds of letters which come to me there is not
one In which the matter has not been urged to
completion, when there has been any mention
] of II, and II is as much matter Of general DO
! litical interest as any of which they write. 1
/ am convinced that neither you nor the Demo-
cratic Congress can afford to disappolnt our
]
still hold the closest and most confidential re-
| lations to those who are, perhaps personally,
! most affected by yOur decision in this matter,
and speak in that capacity when l write this
| and urge upon you prompt and decisive action
| in a vital matter; and, / may add IL reaches
| further even than have intimated, and will,
! both Immediately and remotely, affect us all
] beyond that which cannot but be apparent TO
you"
When it is remembered that the
writer of this letter is a confidential
agent of Mr.. Tilden, and in constant
communication with him, its illusions
are easily construed and its meaning
becomes apparent. The letter is an APP
peal from one Democrat to another to
unseat Republican member of Con
gress and put a Democrat in his
place, on purely partisan grounds
and for reasons which, though
but vaguely limited, are easily
enough understood. Note such express
sions as these: 1.-THE Importance of the
matter, as it may develop in regard to
the next election of President, makes
every Democrat anxious to see the
State saved TO the Democracy;" "the
whole case is before our friends in New
York." whom II have told that the
report would be adopted, and Donnelly
would be seated at once;" IL am con-
vinced that neither you nor the Demo-
cratic Congress can afford to disap-
point our friends in this natter" Z"
still hold the closesJ and most confiden-
tial relations to those who are, perhaps,
most affected by your decision in this
matter, and l speak in that capacity
when / write this, and urge upon you
piompt and decisive action in a vital
matter" There can be no mistaking
the meaning of these expressions. The
"vital natter means the securing of a
majority of States in the House; the
saving of Minnesota to the Democracy
means the capture of the State delega-
tion by a high-handed outrage; our
friends in New York, to whom repeat
ed reference is made, means Tilden q
Co.; and, finally, the writer says he
speaks as one holding " the closest
and most confidential relations to
those most deeply concerned in
the decision of the case, evidently
meaning Tilden again. It is worthy Of
remark that the writer of this letter,
Mr.. Tilden's agent, makes no allusion to
the evidence in the case, to the strength
or Justice of Donnelly's claim, or any
thing of that sort; it deals throughout
with purely partisan considerations, and
appeals to none but partisan motives.
This letter, marked " confidential, but
unexpectedly and providentiany brought
before the public gives a clear view oi
what is going ON behind the Democratic
scenes. Hereafter, there can beno doubt
in the mind of any intelligent person
that the Democrats are plotting to gair
\ z -
House, with view of stealing the Presi
denoy, in the event of the election being
thrown into that body. AS to the mo
tives of Mr.. Springers action or the
merits of the controversy between him
and Finley, we have nothing to say in
this connection. We simply wish to cal
attention TO the evidence which Finley
letter furnishes of Democratic plot t
capture the Presidency at all hazards. -
Indianapolis Journal.