Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-08
DEMOCRATIC CONFEREN CE.

An important Meeting of Leading Hen to
Consider the Presidential Campaign of
1854 Boom for Mcdonald.
Chicago Dispatch to Louisville Courier-J ournal
Within the past twenty -four hours po-
litical conference of great importance has
been held here. It's members comprised
party in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and Wis
consin, with large delegation of the fore
most members of the party of several
other western and middle states. Its mem
bers represented not only active polit ical
leaders of the party, but the editors of the
principal Democratic papers. The con-
ference was of long duration, and the dis
cussion was earnest, candid, and generous,
while the entire political situation of the
country received thorough and careful
consideration.
The chief importance of this conferen ce
lies in the fact that its purpose was to set
tie upon, as far as practicable at the pres
emit time, a Democratic presidential can
didate. 1t was the unanimous verdict that
such candidate must come from the West
In looking over the field and the men by
states, the discussion regarding Ohio re-
suited in the conclusion that in the Octo-
Der vote, Pendleton and Payne put that
state outside the pale of presidential
possibilities. This settled upon there were
left the names of four men to be discussed.
These were Palmer and Morrison I'LL
nois; Justice Field of California. and Nc
Donald of Indiana.
The general drift Of feeling regarding
ex-Gov. Palmer was, that, while he is
man of irreproachable character, the high
est and best motive; and 1T present thor
oughly Identical with the party, he is not a
Democratic veteran, and it was thorough
~ settled that no man within the party
who cannot show q continuously perfect
record as a Democrat, and whose entire
antecedents are not Democratic, could be
seriously considered.
The name of Morrison was dwelt upon be-
fore the conference at considerable length;
and, while it was conceded that he pos
sessed many sterling qualities for a
standard-bearer of the party it was at last
concluded that his dictatorial brusqueness
and inharmonious methods with the ma
tional managers of the Democratic party
made it impossible for the selection to rest
upon him. His great ability, however, was
fully recognized; and it was agreed upon
that his candidacy for the speakership of
the house should be strongly urged, as it
was generally conceded that Randall was
no longer an available candidate.
Regarding Judge Field, that gentlemen
was most favorably considered; but his
present position on the supreme bench,
from which it would be necessary for him
to retire, seemed an insurmountable OBJ
| stacle.
Finally, when the name of Mcdonald
came before the conference for discussion,
there seemed to be spontaneous and
unanimous accord upon his fitness. In
deed, this reached degree bordering upon
enthusiasm. The record of "Old Saddle
bags" was thoroughly dwelt upon, and the
different members of the conference dis
cussed the same in all its bearings; his
record upon the money question; his con-
sistent, honorable, and patriotic course
during the war; his earnest and able sup
port of all wise measures of reconstruc-
ton; his well-known, candid, manly, and
fearless position upon the tariff question;
and the fact that at all times. on all meas
ures affecting the good, not only of the
Democratic party, but of tho whole coun-
try, he had proven himself not only q
Democrat of lifelong constancy, but a
statesman of safe, conservative, and patri-
otto methods.