The Pleasantville press., 1924-02-20
tions to accept the gift of the conven

tions to accept the gift of the conven
tion.
II is only in passing, but let It be
said that there are two Horatio Sey.
mours living today. The Democratic
candidate of 1868 had neither sons nor
daughters, but he had n nephew, Ho
ratio, the second. who died some years
ago leaving a son Horaflo, who also
has a son, another Horatio The pres.
ent Horatio Seymour is an engineer
living in Santa Monica, Cal.
If all the dire things lad happened
to this republic that politicians Just
before national conventions predicted
would happen to 1t if man not of
their choice were elected president,
there would not be a shred of liberty
left in this land. The people. how
ever. seem to be satisfied that in con-
siderable measure they have the same
kind of freedom that was the joyful
possession of their fOrefathers. and
therefore, If one may be allowed TO
give opinion, some liberty is pretty
sure to remain in the United States.
whatever may happen in Cleveland
and in New York in the month of
roses this year.
Prior to the Republican conventions
of 1872 and 1912 the ghost of Caesar
ism walked abroad in America. In
speech at the Democratic convention
N Baltimore in 1872, August Belmont
saw the ghost stPiding through the con-
yention hall.
Dire Forecasts of Other Years.
In his speech MIR. Belmont said that
Grant, aided by a corrupt congress, a
congress from which all love of liberty
had departed, was assuming all the
functions of government of whatever
kind, and that the bayonets of a mil
itary despotism already We're flashing
in the sun. THE New Yorker declared
that "Caesarism and Capitalization are
undermining the foundations of our
federal system and sweeping away all
constitutional bulwarks."
In 1912 when Roosevelt entered the
campaign for the nomination against
Taft the ghost of Caesarism walked
again, or at least SO the Democrats
and many Republicans made declara-
ton. The republic, however, still
lives. The country always goes to the
devil in a thousand different ways just
before the delegates to the great ma
tional convention start toward the
meeting halls.
In the aftermath gossip of the meet
ings of the Democratic national COM
mittee, there is to be found little to
suggest that. New York became the
choice as the convention city because
of desire to check the ambitions of
William G. MeAdoo. Many of Mr.
McAdoo's friends voted for New York
feeling, they said, that their chief had
start on the road to victory and
that even the Alfred E. Smith enthusi-
asm of the metropolis could not make
for the favorite's defeat.
In 1862 the Democratic convention
was held in Chicago in what was called
the Wigwam. The roof of the Wig
wan leaked. The smallest hole in 1t
was the skylight. There was a real
wet and dry Issue before the Dem
oerats in that convention. All the
delegates carried umbrellas to the hall,
and good many of them were COM
PEELED to use them, for the heavens re-
NJ ned open for four days and (poun5
heir contents on the more 6F4ess de-
'oted heads below.
Abuse of the Day Soon Fors -tten.
The New York delegation one year,
With the sole exception of one man.
vas for the nomination Of David Ben
ett Hill. The New Workers. said
hings about Grover Cleveland, a citi
en- of their state, which made some of
he delegates from other places think
hat the last word had been used in
However, although New
'ork was strongly opposed to the nom-
nation of Cleveland, he carried off
he prize
Whoever it is that shall win the
rize in New York probably may rest
ssured that the delegates will forget
Il the bad things they may have
MD against him in the convention
all. After Cleveland had been called
just this side of things
criminal libel, the New
ork Democrats went home and said
was all in the game, but we want
d Hill.' The party men from Good
round, L. l., to Buffalo on the Lake
and all, worked for the
ection of Cleveland and elected him.
When you hear anything about a
lndidate in national convention from
delegate who opposes that candi-
lte's nomination, do rot believe 1t.
enerally speaking, after the conven-
on the delegate himself will tell you
lat the heat of controversy made him
first-class liar.