Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 2.djvu/395

Rh Baltimore Convention, if the alternative is between you and Grant. There will, however, be strong opposition, not only from Bourbons, who always insisted upon a regular Democratic ticket, but from some of the best elements of the Democratic party, who were heartily with us in the reform movement until the Cincinnati ticket appeared. From what I can learn I conclude that their oppositional feeling is growing stronger rather than weaker and it is difficult to foresee the result. It will certainly appear still more doubtful, if the Convention should not be confined to the alternative, “Greeley or Grant.” There is now a probability that another Liberal Republican ticket will be in the field before the meeting of the Baltimore Convention, and that probability is growing stronger every day. What the action of the Baltimore Convention will be, with a second nomination more in harmony with the Cincinnati platform before it, I will not venture to predict. The chances of such a new movement may at first sight appear slim; but this is the season of sudden revolutions in our political life, and unexpected results are the order of the day. At any rate, the breaking up of the alternative “Greeley or Grant” by a third element, is likely to change the whole character of the situation and, as I understand, the new movement has been taken in hand by men of influence—not merely free-traders—who have considerable backing and will go forward publicly as soon as they have agreed upon the precise plan of operations. So I am informed on good authority.

It seems to me, therefore, that the situation is by no means clearly developed yet, and if you ever thought of making your acceptance depend upon contingencies—which I do not suppose you did—there is just as much reason now for waiting as there ever was. In fact, the decisive