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The Two Conventions

The Two Conventions image
Parent Issue
Day
20
Month
October
Year
1871
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

2jo one can compare the two conventions which have just met in this State without noticing the ttde diflerenoe which marked thcif proccedings :ml the conduct of their rneinbers. The inen who met at Syracuse were tho chosen repre eentatives of a party whioh is forever roiterating the boast of the dead Whig party - that in its ranks are to be foiuid " all the morality and decencies of the country," and that its mission is to carry into action cnrtain groat, though eminently indefinito, moral ideas, 'fhese men begsn theii proooedings with a low brawl, a disgraceful fight among theraselves with fists, clubs and pistols. After tile convcntion naa Deen orgamzeu xwo hosülo factions devoted themselves to denouncing one another for corruption of tho grossest kind. Tho actual result aoliiovcd by tbo convention was to adopt a serius of resolutions accusing the Democratie party of various frauda, and ter place tho notorious corruptionist Miirray and his friends in the full control of the party machinory. Thore was not tho shghtest attempt to investígate the truth of the charges made by the Morray faction igainst thi-ir rivals, nor was tlie proved guilt of Muvray himself permittcd to alfeot his position in the party and the convention. The detentad faction bolted, and tho victors roturned botü4 confident that their oonduct vould comttiand the gratitude of tho Prosidoutial gift-takez .i whoso interest thoy had worked. At Eochoster, on ihe. other hand, a convention met, at which, as in the cvse of the Radical conyention, rival delsgatians frohi York city were present, :ind accusations of corruption were freoly brought agiiinst the organization virtui 1ly represented by ono of the dtlegations. The convention prompÜy excluded the delegates who were accusod of affiliation with corrupt municipal politicians, and in its resolutions denouno.cd corrujtion in whatever party it might be found. In the speeches made by tho leading momIn: s the ground was openly taken that white cou-uption existed in the Federal ■j: iv; i nnicnt under control of the Kadicals to an appalling extont, it waa not confined exclusivcly to thut party, and the Democratie party would hunt out and punish fraud in office, whon committed by Domocrats, with relentless sovcrity. The whole tone of the convention was patriotic, frank, and removed far above the petty partisanship of the Syracuso convention. It was full of hope for the future purification of party politics. The speetacle of a party couventioiir trefitiiii' corruption in office as the crime of the age, and abstaining from partisanship which is blind to its own faults and uses tho sins ot' its oppononts as so many welcome weapons, is rarely seen. Deinocmts may wull feel proud in coiuparing tho two convcntions, vhile unprcjudiood men evorywhero must porceive that from Rochester and not from Syracuso is to como the puriiication which Xcw YoJ'k political lifo so sadly needs. -

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus