Year: 1872

tion OF Charles O'Conor Erect Its


Objects


The next movement of interest on the politi-
cal chessboard is to be the meeting of the
Bourbon democracy at Louisville, and the
nomination by that body of a Presiden-
tial ticket headed by Mr.. Charles O'Conor,
the well known lawyer of this city. The in
tended action of the straight-out Convention,
as it is called, is so we'll known in advance
that it is not necessary to wait for its consum-
nation before discussing its object and effect
First, as to its object Every man of common
intelligence knows that the ''straight-out'
movement is designed to draw off from the
Baltimore and Cincinnati nominees sufficient
number of democratic votes to defeat the cleo
ton of Horace Greeley and to insure the success
ofPresident Grant. Its projectors and managers
ara the old confirmed copperheads, who will not
under any circumstances cast vote for Gree
ley and who are anxious to do all in their
power to defeat him. They went to Baltimore
determined to make division in the Demo-
cratic National Convention, but were prevented
from carrying out their original intention by





strength. Since then they have been rein
forced by outside help, and now they are
about to reassemble and 60 through the farce
of nominating Presidential candidates on
democratic platform. They will have in at
tendance at Louisville sprinkling Of demo-
Gratis more or less known to the people; a few
familiar names from the Southern States
men who are either wholly unreconstructed
and willing to pursue any course for mischief,
or who have cast their lot at home with the
existing Southern administrations; a few
familiar names from the North, such
as Flanders, McMaster and Chauncey
Burr, of this State and others of similar
standing. They will have an apparently re-
spectacle number of rank and file, supplied
promiscuously by those who believe it wise to
invest in the movement as q political specula-
ton. They will nominate Charles OConor
for. President, Southern democrat for Vice
President, and will adopt platform declaring
against both the real candidates, endorsing
free trade principles, approving white rule at
the South and holding out all manner of
friendly professions toward adopted citizens
But there will not be solitary individual in
side or outside of their Convention, favorable
or unfavorable to their policy, who will be-
lieve that their ticket is put into the field with
any idea of success or with any other object
than to draw democratic votes from the liberal
candidates for the advantage of the republicans


The interesting question now is, will this
strategic movement be successful, and will
Mr.. O'Conor be able to secure enough demo-
cratic votes to seriously impair the democratic
strength of the Baltimore nominees? Not
withstanding Horace Greeley's past contempt
for the intelligence Of the old democracy, or
Gerrit Smiths recent declaration that modern
democracy is "hell-born" and sunk in igno-
rance and depravity, we will accord to ma
jority of that party the possession of ordinary
sense and shrewdness. 1t is argued that the
effect of the nomination of Charles O'Conor
by the Louisville Convention will be to induce
q great number of democrats who would other
wise have voted in harmony with the policy of
their National Convention to adhere to their
old principles and associations and to eschew
all compromise with outside candidates.
1t is especially hoped that Mr.. O'Conor,
being of Irish descent, will make an in
road into the liberal candidates strength
among the Irish-American voters in this city.
While we do not attempt to fathom the myste-
ries of political management, we must be
allowed to offer the prediction that these ex-
pectations will not be fulfilled. Looking at
the matter from O common sense point Of
view, we do not believe that democrats of
ordinary intelligence will be weaned from
policy which they have deliberately deter
mined to pursue simply because an unauthor-
lied gathering calling itself a Convention
chooses to 60 through the farce of nominating
''straight" democratic ticket. There are, no
doubt, democrats here and there who will
refuse on principle to vote for q candidate out
side their strict party ranks; but such men
would be just as likely to go to the polls and
vote for ticket of their own making as for
their vote would be just as effective one way
as the other. Hence we doubt the wis.,
dom of the republican policy of helping
on with material aid and fattering notice
this eleventh-hour Bourbon movement
and on this ground: That while we
do not believe it will take from the liberal
candidates any noteworthy number of demo-
cratic votes, we regard it as very likely to re-
ceive the support of anti-Greeley democrats
who, if left to choose between Greeley and
Grant, would unquestionably select the latter.
Again, all the efforts that could be made to
persuade the Irish voters Of New York that
any candidate but Grant or Greeley stands q
chance of success would be wasted. The Irish
are naturally shrewd, sharp politicians, and
they understand the issues and the prospects
of the campaign as well as those who under