Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1880-01-22
The DEATH 'KNELL
OF DEMOCRACY
SOUNDED.
the DEMOCRATS have NO
CHANCE 0FELECTIAG TIE
NEXT PRESIDENT.
SUCH is THE OPINION or CHARLES
0'cGEoR.

-"H' Sh"iAOo OOuoI lille pOch
long ranked as the greatest lawyer in
the United States, and often promi-
nently named as a Democratic can
didate for President. He was the
chief counsel of JEFF Davis when the
latter was imprisoned at Fort Monroe
and indicted for treason. He is a
Democrat of Democrats and a
Catholic. He sees the handwriting
on the wall, as every really able man
must, and tells the Democracy it is
no use "foolin.' Its o waste of am
munition to try to fight the Repub-
leans. Let the Democratic brethren
OF East Tennessee read the follow
ing summary Of O'Conor's views as
taken from the New York Tribune:
Mr.. Charles O'Conor has written q
very longbu interesting letter on
public affairs, which was printed in
yesterdays World. 1t will give
more satisfaction to Republicans than
to Democrats. Being invited to ad-
dress a Democratic club he refuses.
with reasons. He states, in sub
stance, that he does not care y pinch
of snuff which party prevails, but
feels certain that the Democratic
party will not. His reasons are pc
%culiar, and well worth attention. The
next Presidential election, he holds.
depends absolutely upon the vote of
New York. But he declares hal
the Republicans have an absolute le-
gal and moral right to secure the
vote of this State for the Republican
candidate by appointing the electors
by the Legislature, as the Constitu-
ton directs. He is stron g in the be-
lief that the Republicans will not
miss so good an opportunity, unless
they are absolutely certain of success
by other means, and points out most
forcibly, that the fraudulent and inef-
feetiye attempt Of Democrats to steal
the vote of Maine gives all desired e1-
cuse and opportunity to the Repub-
llcan leaders. Hence he counts it a
certainty that the present Legislature
will appoint Republican electors be-
fore it a%diourns, and that the Demo-
cratic party has not one chance in
ten thousand to elect its candidate.
Other portions of this suggestive
letter are interesting because Of the
opinion expressed by Mr.. O'Conor as
to.Mr. Tilden and other Democratic
candidates. 1t is his opinion that
not one Of them will venture to CON-
test ifthe Republicans secure a ma
jority of the Electoral Colleges by
the method indicated, aud therein
Mr.. OConoe is undoubtly right.
Resistance there will be nom More
over, Mr.. O'Conor thinks the Demo-
cratic party has no right to exist,
since it has forsaken the principles
which gave it birth, and that the Re
publican party, though certain to
elect the next Presidenf, is not bet
ter.
Probably this will be regarded by
Democrats as the growl of a dissat-
isfied and disc~ontented man. But
the reasoning of Mr.. O'Conor is sin
gularly clear and strong. If his par
ty has any reason whate, er for con-
tinuing to exist it is one that has
escaped his eye. With great frank
ness, he eonfesses that, as between
an indefinitely and prolonged Presi-
dency of General Grant and the cleo
ton of any Democrat by any means
now deemed feasible by him, he pre-
fers the Republican success.
Many Republicans are asking what
will the New York Legislature do?
The Democrats have tried to steal the
electoral vote of Maine, and there is
no doubt that they viii capture
other electoral votes by methods not
more honorable, if they can. But the
Republicans of New York, as Nj.
O'Conor shows, have it in their pow
er to decide the matter. He mistakes,
it is true, in snpposing that the selec-
ton of Republican electors by this
State would be in favor of Grant,
and nobody else. 1t is not possible
that electors should be chosen at all
by n majority Of the Legislature, un-
less with the definite pledge or in
struction that thsiF vote should be
cast for the Republican candidate,
whether one man or Che other. But
the reasoning in other respects is very
conclusive, and the question remains,
What will the Democrats do about
it2" They have thrown away their
only chance of protesting with de-
cency, by attempting to steal the
electoral vote Of Maine. If this State
sees fit to appoint Republican cleo
tors, the Democrats, at least, will
have no right to complain.
W ~ <tt . t. /. ~, ls -.