New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-21

DEMOCRATIC TROUBLES ~ CONNECTICUT
the late nomination of Mr. William Ii. Barnum
for Congress by the Democrats of the IVth Dis
trict of Connecticut. There are two or three
stories in circulation as to the purpose of the
men who managed the Convention and brought
about the nomination. 1t is believed by some,
upon the strength of information derived from
Democratic Headquarters, that Mr.. Barnum was
fully aware of what was going on, and cogni-
zant of the plan to spring his name upon the
Convention, and that, so far from opposing, he
was favorable to it and really desired the nom
inatiOn. The report upon which this belief is
based, Is that he did not willingly decline,
but that the National Committee I" sat down on
"him - as soon as news of his nomination came,
and insisted that he should resign his chair
manship if he intended to run for Congress-
that he must not he Id the two positions at the
same time and that he was compelled to make
his choice. Some color of credibilIty is given to
this version Of the case by the fact that. in con-
versaton on the subject the day after the nomi-
nation, he laid special stress upon the circum-
stance of bis being chairman of the National
Committee as reason why be should not ac-
cept the nomination for Congress, and distinctly
stated that if he did accept it he should resign
the craftsmanship.
Another version is that the nomination was
made under the advice of Mr.. English the Dem
Ocratc candidate for Governor, who is said to
have great faith in Barnum's lucky star and still
more faith perhaps in the "barl" he would be
likely to tap. Mr.. English having weakly con-
scented TO accept a nomination after positively
refusing it, may have supposed that Bafnum
could be caught in the same way. The fox that
lost his tail i'll trap it will be remembered,
thought he could persuade other foxes to cut
their tails of and inaugurate the fashion. If
tins was NJ. EDglish's strategy it failed.
There are some reasons for believing that Bar
mum did give English the credit for it, for he
went Immediately to New Haven to consult with
that gentleman before sending out his declina-
ton, and it is known that in conversation with
certain Litchfcld County Democrats he said it
was Englishs work. We have it upon excel
lent authority that he mt the same time ex-
pressed himself very freely concerning Gov
ernOr Enelish's action in 1876, when the latter
complained that BaInum, after getting So, 600
ont of him to carry the Legislature, cheated him
out of the Senatorship. Mr.. Bannm is said TO
have remarked i'll this relation that he meant
to carry the State for Hancock, but didn't care
whether English was elected or not.
Still another version OF this mystery is that
the nomination of Barnum was a temporary ex-
pedent to drive George W. Pcet, of Canaan.
who would otherwise have been nominated. ont
of the field. II is said that Mr.. Poet was called
upon the night before the Convention 10 prom
Use $4,000 for campaign purposes, $4,000
Of which was to be paid down and the remain der
before election that he refused the terms, aud
that thereupon, either to get rid of him en-
iirely. or force a large contribution, the Fair
field County delegates sprung the Bamum NOM
ination Oh the Convention. The eiiece upon
Mr.. Peet has not been particularly pleasing.