New-York tribune., 1880-01-14
JOHN KELLY ON CHARLES UCON0R

NOT ONLY AS POLITICIAN But ALSO As
LAWYER.
A letter written by Charles OConor IN an
swer TO an invitation he present at he oahq'' ~
Newark. given by the Democratic Ciuo oil hss'N Oo'
| n j. in CONNIE emoration Of the battle Of NeW-oreanr
has been printed In he gives his views Oh INC po''
cal outlook He declares his belief tatl is absolutely
impossible that anyone called n Democrat can De
chosen in the next Presidential contest principally ue
cause the hrty-ve electoral votes OF the STATE OF Nc"
York have been delivered into the hahus "
the Republican party. He believes 'na1 'ie
present Republican legislature will ehange l"e
| ,aw governing the choice of Presidential elec-
| tors taking the election out of the hancs OF the
people and vesting it in the For this action
he asserts they wOuId have tpe ground that II w"s
rcprsal for the pursued by the Democrats III
Maine lie declares that all that the Democrats can 90
Is TO foment discOrd thc Republican camp lie adus'
without looking to OtncT consequences or couJee'H
! ing vital changes. it may fairly be supposed tbat II
General Grant should once again occupy the EAocu''
Chair he will hold il during .c For this condition OF
things, "involvng the complete ruin OF the Democratic
parry throughout Umon" he considers that the DOH
of Tammany Han. und the leadership OF John heiy'
| is directly responsible.
Mr. OConor speaks thus OF Mr.. Kelly; a" Hts rank
was not that party leader; he was merely local
factoul,t and beside-, it would be unjust impuaton
TO charge hin with nlly misleading his followers mo
the support then dc3dliest foes Almost exclusively
Of his Lc could not have Intended I" bety
them. Doubtless ne uniformed ~ the matter lis
fault the VAIN presumption displayed IN deaing
with snch important affair inODss consHL Unhke hln'
the real caders-he sumcd managers OF parry inter
ests-wcre learned and cultivated men. They we're con
versant uy profession wit1 tn Constitution ana laws
they were statesmen accustomed To- the consideration o
pubic affairs aud most If al. of them were stimuli
latod by personal amOtion to Keep thelr eyes
upon the rndder and ther thoughts awake to every
II ma iu
deed that they failed notice the storinsgns presagng
the dire disaster which has befalen their party and
themselves"
MR.. KrLLYs REPLY TO MR.. O'CoNoR.
Mr. Kelly was called yesterday by reporter OF
TIE TRIBUNE, and the following conversation ensued:
"Mr. Kelly, nave you read Mr. O'Conors letter 10 the
Democratic Club OF Essex County and his reference TO
youp
:" Yes. have read It," was the reply.
" Have you anything to say about y
"Mr OConor Is a cOnceitcd old man." replied the Con
troler who in hs retirement has imagined himself
the monitor Of the political affairs OF the country; bu'
you must make little allowance for It IL said th't
people grow childish they grow older Ihat Is
the charitable way OF looking at IT. might say
too that during his long e he never known to do
thing politically While he has had tie repuia-
ton Of being great lawyer To my mind he Is
very poor politician. and IL would he better for MN
TO preserve what little reputation he has as lawyer
than To DC ddhDng IN plHlcSt dlh "''t '""'i"~ '"'
proycr motives who are his equals, at any rate
N all tha' constitutes ch,rJctcr , ~,
Mr. OConor saws that he believes the large Rcpub-
lcan majority IN the legislature WIN h,pnpl lotn
Governor Wi. improve the OPPORTUNITY 10 change the
Law governing election OF Presidential electors hud
the choice In The legislature ana hr says thsy hNe
ground for TINS IN he a. ou Oi Governor Oarceoh ahu
his associates Maine"
have not tnc least idea" said Nh Kelly. "that the
Rcpnhncaus IN state legislature VIII attempt 10
change The mode of choosing r,s'denlna ei9o zee,
pa riotism Of the whole country against them DO not
believe they are 50 unwi-e as to do 50 foonSh
"Waai do you thins o. The action OF Governor Gar
celou ard his associates y
the laws usurp the political "yinmeut 81 tue state
book and MS oath of ONCE compelled nn to adnnr rr
the laws in accordance with ms conscience ana oest lh
formation"
u PENDING TIIE rAMMANY BoLr
Mr. OConor says that the direct cn,ct OF the Tam
many Han bolt mas been tie of The Democratic party
throughout the Union, and he holds you responsible
It, What have YOU TO say 10 this sweep
ing allegation T.
The Controller straghtencd himself up and re-
piled: "The Tammany Hall bolt was manly
thing. and Will do more toward annbllaiins
ambitious aud unscrupnous men IN the party and cor
recting the abuses they have brought into It than
anything that has taken place IN this country for many
years. Mr. OConor has always had tn reputation o.
being unwilling allow persons To- disagree win Inn
ON any pet subject Of his This shows the tleness
y
OF true character would ever be 30 unchar;able aud
ilbcral as not 10 concede Others the rights which Lc
claims for b mselL He attacked the Court of Ap
pe for having rendered opinion according 10 ts
convictions aud best judgment, and believe no"
uat u i conceded, Dt .tt,iD ntnSI'lr idNltt,
not biased bv preiudicrd lai lie Court bad drclced
otherwise would have lowered sct I'D me opinion %
honest man No better cylu'hrr oI 'ho views 81
Mr O'COnor the principles OF Tins 6oVei nncht, ana
the caby OF the man, can bee shown than that
which lie publishes N us ciicr' "t III M l'A. 'l'
uaragrap which he recommends the abolition oi the
duadrcnnal Prcsdcc cy, and that an executive cicf shall
be- selected by ot IRON tHr icgs"ilvr co' iTt tne t
suing mOnt some late day IN rdch inonth Ihs would
absolutely take awav from the people the election Of
President ana W"Gld pfooapy u' l"v a. p'lE 'p"''
de pOtIsn than any ythlug else that could be suggested
II 1t did hot do this, II would tad TO great CON
fusion and probably ana.chy; II womb nave Deeu |
great deal better for Mr. OCOnor ne had hrld his
reputation HIS gained supposed superiority ana
knowledge there Will be- III future great many scep
credit his great legal attannenis thiuk now tis
pretty generally understood by the members oi The bar
that the credit gwen 10 him for hs vast SUPERIOR
other ycrs rather FAR fetched io e mas assumed
a certain amount Of arrogance toward the bench and
be submitted To again even II ho were active III |
bis profession And think the Judiciary |
too have paid certain amount Of reverence 10 hi u
which they would be lOth to pay agan under similar
prcttcal ana probably would be better for hlm Lc
knew more OF the world aud less OF himself
MR. KELLY BECOMES STILL MORE PERSONAL.
What does Mr. OC,nor mean In referring to caste
in speaking of youW
lie probably wants TO create the impression that
the mass Of the people Of inferior grade to |
himself aud were not capable OF comprchending |
the condition Of affairs politically I'm the this State
last Fall lie then TO be charitable by saying
their error should forgiven their standard inte
gence is far below at OF himself This is another cv
deuce OF his cOucct and want Of knowledge Of the
natives which influence people III exercising their pre-
roegycs according tO their best Judgment. There IL
hardly one of the he Hssails VINO Is not fully |
capable OF understanding subjects connected with
g. yrrnmcn as Mr O'ConOr, II are TO take his views
as criterion ns published. IL Ec Russia Ge would
undoub cdly he an ImpcriGst; II IN England Mon |
arciist"
"Why do You take this view OF his characterf
IL ~ SHOWN by the fact that when he went abroad.
about 1SfO he spc@d his name win two n's; ut least
rccor0s OF the cOurts will snow he did. But amer
visiting some o the landed arsOcracy OF Ireland who
accus d Of taKng the hfeDiood OF the people