The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-18
Greeley on the Cincinnati COnven-
tion.

GTeeIey on the Cincinnati Convene
tion.
From Saturdays Tribune.
There Is to DO o National Convention Of
Liberal Republicans at Cincinnati, Assem-.
bling on the list Of May next-so much Is
certain. II will meet uncommitted 10
any course Of action, whether with regard
TO measures Or men. II 1t should sec fit
70 construct or adopt what Is called a
Platform, II will do so; should It choose
to recommend candidates for President
and Vice President, It will also do that.
But neither itsplatform nor It's ticket will
have any higher or other authority than
their intrinsic worth shall give them. II
they commend themselves TO your judg.
ment, very well; If they do not, your per.
feet right to reject and oppose them is
unquestioned.
On certain grave public questions
such as Universal Amnesty, Civil Service
Reform, and the propriety Of rendering
Presidents and other dispensers Of exten.
sive patronage ineligible TO reelection
while in Ofllce-we infer that there will
be no diversity OF opinion. AS 10 what
ismeant by "Revenue Reform" therewill
OF course DO wide divergence Of views.
There are those who arc attracted 10 the
Cincinnati movement mainly, II not
solely, by the hope that they may make
1t serve effectively their sincere, earnest,
bitter hostility TO Protection. And these
will naturally mike themselves felt In the
deliberations and councils Of the COnven-
ton.
Of course, we shall ask to be counted
out II The majority shall decide 10 make
Free Trade plank in their platform.
The Protection Of Home Industry Is Of
more Importance, IN our view, than the
success Of any party or ticket. If II should
be decided to make Free Trade corner.
stone Of the Cincinnati movement, we ask
only that we be not insulted by the as
sumption that any possible selection Of
candidates could reconcile us to that de-
cision. . -.f
We are quite aware that 1t may be
found advisable to adopt a Free Trade
platform, despite our repugnance thereto.
II the masses want Free Trade, they
ought to be gratihed, no matter though
at the cost Of repelling this or that disas-
ter. The Convention will, we doubt not,
consider thoroughly and determine wisely
on this point as on others.
Alive ashland 1t is no more than
every honest man has right to asks
plain speaking. II the Convention decides
to make free trade plank in It's platform,
let 1t express that determination In plain,
unambiguous language. Such juggling
phrases as "Revenne Reform" should be
secuted from the vocabulary ofthe earnest
and truthful. Free Trade, as all but
universally understood, means not the
abolition OF imports and custom houses,
but the adjustment oil duties on imports
with an eye to revenue alone. lie who
votes to admit coal, salt, wool and pig
iron free of duty, while taxing the impor.
tation Of wares and fabrics, is no more
truly Free Trader than VIC are. He
simply prefers another scheme Of Protec.
ton TO that which we uphold. ltmay be
wiser and more benefcent than ours,
but it is not Free Trade; and he must have
studied little and pondercd shallowly who
does not know this.
We do not seek nor desire any utter
ance from Cincinnati in favor Of prolec.
ton. We ask only that that freedom 10
differ on economic questions which has
always been cherished by Republicans
may still be conceded and maintained.
Wedo not ask that the candidates (should
any be proposed shall be Protectionists.
We only say that, should Protectionists
be virtually ruled out OF the Cincinnati
movement, hint without q kick will
suffice them.