Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-06-07
The work Done NJ PhiIadeIphin.

The National Republican Convention at
Philadelphia has done its work and adjourned :.
Ii was conceded by all unprejudiced lookers-on
at Philadelphia that the convention was one of
the strongest representative bodies ever as
sembled in the country. In mere physical
presence it was notably gathering Of fine, solid
looking men, and that favorable impression was
not diminished by the nature of the delibers-
tions. The gathering afforded q great contrast
to that at Cincinnati in its representative char
acter, and in its unity aud vigor of purpose.
That at Cincinnati embraced able men, but the
forces we're all centrifugal, flying of continual
ly at a tangent. The extreme of incongruitg
was reached when the party started on free
trade ideas put In nomination for the Presiden-
cy the chief of the prOtectionists, and asked the
democratic party 70 come over to the support
Of their lifelong adversary.
The convention at Philadelphia showed the
momentum of a great homogeneous party
moving forward with irresistible force in its
regular track. There was not a hitch or dis
rouragement in all its proceedings. There was
a lively little contest for the Vice Presidency,
but it created no ll-feeling, and the hackers of
the respective candidates, in presenting their
names to the convention, lad nothing but praise
to bestow on their opponents; and when the
result of the first ballot sh"s-;ed senator Wilson
10 nave thS preponderance, the nomination was
made unanimous with hearty goodwill The
admirable and gracefully -worded acceptance of
defeat by Mr.. Colfax in his telegram, immedi-
ately after. served to remove all thought of
personal heart burnings serving to destroy
zeal for the ticket in Indiana or elsewhere.
The failure of Mr.. Colfax, with unsurpassed
qualifications for the position, to secure
denomination has been attributed to causes
not altogether the real ones. Undoubtedly the
efforts Of what has been called the "newspaper
syndicate" against him had considerable effect
1t was composed OF pugnacious, energetic and
influential correspondents, who, for real or
fancied grievances, worked against Mr.. Colfax
with will; but the potential cause of Mr.
Wilson's nomination was his great strength
with the workingmen. The representatives of
the labor unions were in large force at Phila-
delphis, and their demand was imperative for
the nomination Of Henry Wilson. Experienced
politicians held that the labor.vote secured for
the ticket by the nomination of Wilson was
equivalent to turning the scale in Penn
sylvania, and, in fact, in the country.
since it is more than probable that that
State will decide the national contest
The primary cause, however, of Mr.. Colfax,s
defeat was his letter to the New York Iadepead-
snt positively Withdrawing from public life. But
aor that letter, Mr.. Wilson would not have been
a candidate, and Mr.. Colfax would have prob
ably been renominated, like President Grant,
by reclamation. 1t is true, undoubtedly that
MIR. Colfax was overruled in making his with
urawal final by urgent appeals from party and
personal friends in all parts of the country but
fhe effect Of his letter was all the same Mr..
Wilson was induced to enter the field in the be-
lief that Mr.. Colfax had vacated il, and there
was feeling in the convention that under the
circumstances 80 faithful and capable a repub-
hcan and public man ought not to be sacrificed
after having consented to run. Nor, under the
circumstances, can MIR. Colfax feel any soreness
Or chagrin over the defeat-and he evidently
docs not-since his decided declination of fur
ther public service occasioned it.
The ticket is, we think, the strongest that
could have been made. 1t was not SO much the
nnanimity with which Gen. Grant was renomi-
mated that indicated his undiminished popular
ity with tie people as the positive unmistakable
Enthusiasm with which ii was received both on
tie floor and galleries of the convention hall
AID on the streets. This fact was unwillingly
conce ded by warm partsans of the Cincinnati
ticket, present 1t was the universal testimony
of those who have witnessed all the great nomi
mating conventions of the past that none ha
exceeded this in the effectiveness of the "send
pff" of both ticket and platform.
OF the latter ii may be said that VIII lie it Is
open like all modern political platforms, to the
charge Of vagueness and to dealing somewhat
with glittering generalities it is fully committed
to reform and the reduction OF the public bur
dens-
Altogether the republicans 90 into the field
with every reasonable prospect of success.
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