Year: 1868

tailed by Col. Brown in his recent speech at
Frankfort. Ky. is full of a curious sort OF IN
,truction. rs well as interest. Col. Brown Is
an intimate friend of the Chief-Justice, and
was a delegate to the Tammany Hall Conyen-
ton, familiar with the inner mysteries OF that
body, and knowing thoroughly the matters
whereof he speaks. The Chase party, by ms
testimony, was a combination OF the more
progressive Democrats with sect of CoAser-
vative Republicans, of men who believed that
the old Democratic name, and prestige, and
organization, might he used for the creation oil
q new political body which should eliminate
the negro question forever from political war
fare, aud unite the best men Of all parties ID
honest effort for the peaceful and righteous
reconstruction Of the country. Col Brown
assures us that Mr. Chase at the outset had
nothing to do with this movement, and that
when it was laid before him he cmphatIcally
declared that if he gave his assent it must be
with the understanding that he nOwise modified
his well known sentiments on the subject OF
Slavery and Equal Rights But he was not
asked to change his views. The progressive
Democracy were ready to forsake their old
standards and follow him. The formation OF
the Chase party was conversion OF respect
able section of the defenders Of Slavery TO the
cause against which they had always fought.
We should gIicye over the election OF any
man who was not ready TO support fully The
principles of liberty embodied in the CHI
cago platform and we feel that Nh.
Chase would have done his country far
better service 10y sustaining Gnlnt
Ill Il. f,t.. IN nd II
standard, however nearly it may have resem-
bed theirs, but it cannot be denied that ms
nomination at New Yorl, would have been
substantial triumph of Republican principles
and very probably it might have resulted IN
regeneration of the Democratic party. The
strength which the Chase movement speedily
gathered shows how widespread was the dis
satisfaction in Democratic ranks with the old
violent and revolutionary dogmas of the Rebel
creed. There were thousands and thousands of
voters on that side who would gladly have
given their sufffagcs for peace and universal
Justice if they could have done so without a
formal surrender Of party fealty.


The strategy by which this movement was
defeated just when it seemed on the eve Of
success. is explained by Col. Brown in an in
tercsting circumstantial narrative, which we
shall not attempt 10 epitomze. The overthrow
of Mr.. Chase was a signal triumph of the ultra
Rebel Democrats, represented by Wade Hamp-
ton Forrest, and Preston whether Mr.. Sey-
mour, who had pledged himself TO forward
Mr.. Chases nomination, and even had IN his
pocket speech IN the Chief-JustlceB favor
which he declared he meant 10 deliver IN the
Convention, was sincere or not, we shall not
pretend TO say. But it is very clear that bis
friends were not sincere, and that when Nh
Seymour declared his honor forbade him TO ac-
cept the nomination hc said no more than the
simple truth Well would it have been for his
future reputation and fortunate for his party II
his sense of honor had been little stronger.
Had he persisted in his refusal Mr. Chase might
even then have been nominated. and the De-
mocracy obtained a new lease Of life. Fortu-
nate we say would 1t have been for the Dem
Ocratic party had Mr.. Seymour adhered to his
pledges but that no acted just as he did will
provo in the end the best thing for the country.
His nomination has widencd the breach between
the two Democratic sections, the COpperhcad
element which learns nothing and forgets moth
ing and hurrahs for Frank Blair and Pomeroy,
and the progressive portion, which was ready
to sacrifice old prcjudices and abandon old
wrongs. Mr. Seymour has scurcd the former
of these factions and the latter are fast coming
over to Grant and COlfax SO the treachery
of the Seymouritcs is meeting its just reward.
The tempting fruit which they sacrificed honor
and fame TO pluck turns to ashes on their lips.
With Grant and ColfaX to lead US, We should
have won in any event; but, thanks 10 the CHI
canery of the Tammany Convention, our vie
tory now promises TO be more glorious than we
dared at first to hope.