Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-11

that campaign Had there been no Val
landlgham 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
a 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-
rated 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 was sealed
The state election in North Carolina took
place in August, and 1t was essential to
the success of Greeley that 1t 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, II 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 III
Greeley's success. The support of tho
negroes had been assured but the contrary
was GNnlDlteu III ludl tltCllol, anu htdlth
the political fate OF Greeley. When the cleo
tion was over, Ransom returned to Schell a
balance remaining in his hands or some
SO 900 or $4,000. 1t was thought that IT
that sum had been expended in certain
counties II would have produced q differ
ent result 1t may be so-but the moral
was that money should be returned. 1t was
unless / am mistaken, the first instances on
record.
Perhaps the last card played in the cam
into rfau Ktsft In
Tildep and a 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 few days be-
fore the election. Tilden wrote letter de-
nouncing the interview as 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, seizing upon a luckless
utterance OF General Hancocks to the effect
| that the tariff was a local ISSUE" took
| OccesiOn to ridicule his ignorance OF eco
| nomlc and political affairs and their eff
| forts in this direction were most enectual
| In causing his defeat Hancock could truly
| have said Some enemy hath done this"
but, as a matter of fact, 1t was Senator Ran
dolph an indiscreet friend, who advised MIN
! to thus define his position on the tariff ques-
ton. on the other hand Garfield was uc-
| cused OF disreputable connection with the
| Credit Mcbilier and with the Washington
ring back In the seventies while shortly
before election day the democratic cam
| paigE managers sowed broadcast fac
similes Of letter signed with Garfeld's
! 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-
| iciently abundant to satisfy capital. This
! document known as the "Morey letter,
caused Garfield no end of trouble at thl
! time. but was promptly stamped as a
| forgery. and failed of its hoped-for object
the defeat OF the republican candidate.
! Kenwood Philip, who was credited with
being the real author OF the letter, has beer