Year: 1872

THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
THE ACTION OF TOMORROW ALREADY SETTLED


TIE PEOPLE NOT THE POLITICIANS, ARE


THE CONTROLLING PowER-ALL OPPOSITION


ABANDONED-A MAJORITY IN FAVOR OF


NOMINATION. THE CINCINNATI PRINCIPLES


AND MR.. GREELEYS LETTER-THE fhOD-


ABLE PLATFORM.


(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl .,


BALTIMORE, July S.-The work of the Natloha.
Democratic Convention of 1872 is already comple'eu
on the night before its meeting. Not Single qu1'
ton of those which were expected TO engage 'ne
attention of the delegates now remains uhse''leu
and the Convention has only to go forward anu
perform the work laid out lor "
The State Conventions and in the
meetings of the delegations held to-day. Ard yet
this is no packed Convention like that held at Pma-
deIpha last month to carry out the behests of the
Administration Ring at Washington. No primaries
have been run by ofice-holders and their tools TO
mack i'm turn the State Conventions. The people
have acted without restraint, and except where
they have received their instructions directly from
he people, who alone have a right to dictate, the
members of this Convention know no controlling
influence but their own calm judgments ana thelr
patriotic instincts The Democratic party could not
have been brbed OF driven TO nominate Horace
Greeley and B. Gratz Brown at the Convention
which meets tomorrow. The great work has been
done by a power greater than that welded by
Grant with all his army of Ofice-holders ana ms
unbounded patronage. 1t has been accomplished
bv fhe sovereign will of the people who have arisen
as they never before in time of peace and lhde-
pendent of politicians have made their will known
The work of this Convention has been accomplished
in the same way Politicians who are used to phil
Ep wires and directing political gatherings came
here with their pockets stuffed with resolutions OF
Endorsement or decaratory of the ssivepoicy One
of them showed me his to-day. He had heard III
Washington that there was a division in the camp
here: that there was trouble likely TO arise from
difference of opinion to the mode in which Mr..
Greeley should be supported and he prepared re-
solution with the greatest care, thinking that
its adoption would harmonic the conflicting
views But on his arrival here he was sur
prised TO find that there was, apparently,
little division of opinion. One or two delegations,
like Missouri, preferred the passive policy In some
form and would advocate it as long as they could
properly do So They thought that they had good
reason for their preferences. But even the Missouri
delegation, when they find that the majority Of the
Convention is against them, viii cheerfully acqui-
esce in its decision and cast their vote soldy for
Greeley and Brown.


Late last night the passive policy, though advoca-
ted by a small minority, was apparently gaining
ground. The Missouri delegates were very indus
tTious. They rehearsed the history of the Liberal
movement of1s70 in their State. and convinced many
that their policy was the best TO win Republican
votes. This morning, however, a great number
of the strongest and clearest headed
Numbers of the Democratic party arrived, including
among their number several Senators and ex-Gov-
ernors. The majority of them were found TO favor
the nomination policy. They argued in this wise
1--WE can't expect to get more than half million
h. Ia 10 oxrah hp1na 4O
carry the entire vote of the Democratic party Now it
is simply question of figures whether we nominate
OF indorse If, by our course here, should drive
away three or five per cent of the Democratic vote II
would be a more serious thing than if we should
lose - OF 20 per cent Of our expected Republican
vote And then. who says that our action here will
make any difference with Republican voters
Who has authority 10 say that any man
who is in favor of reform and will vote with us un-
der any circumstances viii refuse to do so because
we make Mr.. Greeley our candidate On the other
hand, everybody knows that the Democratic party
will be stronger and will be better able to control
its vote if it complies with all its ancient usages
than if II adi0urns after only half finishing its work


This line of reasoning had great effect as was
shown in the meetings of some of the delegations
which occurred during the day. Almost every dele
cation which voted the subject voted in favor Of
regular nOInlnailOn ana Ill luOse utlogdtlOuS III
which the determination of the question was post
pOned large majority Of the delegates were found
to be in favor of the same policy. The
following named States among those which
voted to-day to nominate. North Carolina Vir-
ginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin. After care
full examination of the whole field there can be no
doubt that majority, and probably two-thirds of
the Convention will be in favor of the customary
action and opposed to all other propositions.
The subject of the platform has hardly been men
toned among the delegates. Somebody distributed,
tins morning, circular advocating the adoption of
a new platform. 1t contains a draft of platform
such as the Democratic party has in years
past been IN the habit of putting forth.
it seems to have no effect The delegates seem TO
have come to Baltimore determined to take the Gin
cnnati platform and Mr. Greeleys letter of accept
Rnoe without change and it is doubtful if the ques
ton of a new platform is seriously raised in the
Convention.