Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-11

that campaign. Had there been no Val
landigham in existence, however, the result
would probably have been the same Sim
liar conditions existed in 1868. From the
moment Seymour, refusing to consent con-
sented" to be tho candidate, the result was
! foregone conclusion. 1t needed no last
card-no roorback that could have been con-
cocted would have made any difference in the
result.
In 1872 when the democratic party, with
degree OF magnanimity uneQualled nomi-
natCd its Old-time foe, Horace Greeley, his
success at the outset seemed assured. The
lifelong friend of the negro race, for whom
he had met all sorts of opprobrium and
whose battles he had fought, the colored
voters of the south ungratefully turned
their backs on him, and his fate sealed.
The state election in North Carolina took
place in August and 1t was essential to
the success OF Greeley that it should be
carried by the democrats. Augustus Schell,
who was chairman of the national commit
tee, gave them all they asked for, some
$50 900, and ex-senator Ransom had charge
of the campaign. The state was lost to
the democratic party, 1t was charged, by
Withholding from certain portions of the
state the funds needed. The result was
such a blow to the democratic party in
that campaign that they never recovered
from 1t. 1t destroyed all confidence In
Greeley's success The support of the
negroes had been assured, but the contrary
was eNnlDltel III tlat ERECTION, anu ScdleV
the political fate of Greeley. When the cleo
tion was over, Ransom returned to Schel
balance remaining in his hands of some
SO 900 or $4,000 II was thought that If
that sum had been expended in certain
counties, 1t would have produced differ
ent result. 1t may be so-but the moral
was that money should be returned 1t was
unless | am mistaken the first instances or
record.
Perhaps the last card played in the cam
Ina ion NJ 1870 allpPpl intaI.yipw W
Tildep and southern senator, in which TIL
den declared in favor of the payment of the
cotton tax and other southern war claims.
The interview appeared in some obscure
southern paper and was copied here and
extensively circulated only a few days be-
fore the election. Tiden wrote a letter der
nouncing the interview false and took
ground against the payment OF those war
claims, and millions of that letter in every
form-letters, posters, circulars-were spread
broadcast over the country
THE MOREY LETTER.
Tho canvass OF 1880 abounded in roorbacks
The republicans, selzing upon a lucltless
utterance OF General Hancocks to the effect
that the tariff was local ISSUE" took
GccesiDn to ridicule his ignorance of eco
monte and political affairs, and their ef-
forts in this direction were most effectual
In causing his defeat Hancock could truly
have said, Some enemy hath done this"
but, as matter of fact, 1t was Senator Ran
dolph, an indiscreet friend, who advised him
TO thus define his position on the tariff ques-
ton On the other hand Garfield was ac-
cused Of dsreputable connection with the
Credit Mcbilier and with the Washington
ring back in the seventies, while shortly
before election day the democratic cam
pagT managers sowed broadcast fac
simlcs Of letter signed with Garfells
name, and representing him as so lovingly
attracted TO "our great manufacturing and
corporate interests" as to favor Chinese
immigration until laborers should be suf-
Rciently abundant to satisfy capital. This
document known Es the "Morey letter."
caused Garfield no end OF trouble at the
time. but was promptly stamped as a.
forgery ana failed Of its hoped-for object
---ihe dofcut OF the republican candidate.
Kenwood Philip. who was credited with
being the real author OF the letter, has been