Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-02-22
The Cincinnati Convention.

tuc TcHOu1indtlOH Ol tuc 1CSlu0'
natural course for them would seem to be
to carry the National Convention, that
they might dictate the platform and
nominate the candidates. But to summon
an earlier convention is to declare that
they do not believe themselves to be
majority, or that they fear the Phlla-
deIphia Convention will not honestly
represent the party. If the former sup
position be correct, they are merely
factious. If the latter, they assume what
they can not possibly prove, and what IS
most improbable But if, notwithstand-
ing the improbability, such was con
fessedly the result, it would be time
enough when the fact appeared to pro-
test, and to withdraw from the conven-
tion. Certainly government by party
can not be carried on if the will OF the
majority of the party may not determine
its general policy and its Presidential
candidates.
partisan, nor to surrender his independ-
ence, his principles, or his views of a
just and wise national policy. But every
man must decide in politics when he
values certain measures more than the
dominance of party which is not, in
deed, hostile to those measures, but
which estimates their vital importance
differently. In other words, he must de-
eide when he thinks the time has come
for the dissolution or defeat of the party.
For if the friends of the Cincinnati Con-
vention claim that they only mean to sug-
gest, not to threaten, they must also say
whether they mean to acquiesce should
their suggestions not be adopted. If the
intention is to propose terms upon which
they will support the Philadelphia nomi-
nations, what are they but minority
aiming to control a majority by the threat
of detection? They are unquestionably
as sincere as others, and their attitude
shows plainly that they are disposed to
think the adoption of their views more
important than the continued ascendency
of the party.
But can they sincerely expect that any
of the evils which their resolutions at
jefferson City denouncs will be more
surely remedied by the Democratic party,
or by any party in which the Democratic
element is overpowering? For what could
a Cincinnati candidate be but figure
head? If, as the Chicago Times declares,
nine-tenths of the Democrats in the coun-
try expect to vote for q Republican candi-
date for President, would that candidate,
if elected, expect that the Democrats who
had supported him would renouHce their
political opinions and traditions? Would
they be any the less Democrats? Is the
Chicago Times newspaper which such a
candidate could regard as an exposltor OF
his opinions and purposess The Liberal
Republicans, we are told, carried Mis-
souri,. But their victory placed the author
of the Brodhead letter in the Senate of
the United States. In the same way they
might carry the country, but it would
give the government to the Democrats.
Do the minority of the Republican party
and if they are not the minority. why
do they not mold the. Philadelphia Con-
vention to their will?-insist that the ma
jority shall accept their terms or submit
to the return of the Democrats to power:
And if so, are these the gentlemen who
tell us that they are not permitted to hold
and express their opinions and prefer
ences?
If, indeed, they think that the time has
come for reconstruction of parties, anc
that it is better the candidate of the Phil
adelphia Convention should be defeated il
he be not their preference, or if he be the
one Republican to whom they are oppos
ed, those of us who think otherwise, ant
who feel that the defeat of the Philadel
phia candidate will be the defeat of the
hope of Republican administration, car
only appeal to the candor and intelligence
of the country. The American people
know the history of the last twelve years
Through all the fury of partisan rhetoric
both Republican and Democratic, they
know what it is necessary to maintain
and what the moral influence of Republi
can defeat must be upon the natiOna
welfare.
Let them read the resolutions callins
no oh fhar,,
selves whether the Democratic party
whether "passive or "active"-whethe
voting for candidate who has alway
been a Democrat, or for one who is callet
a Republican-wiIl more honorably an(
conscientiously maintain the rightfu
sovereignty of the Union, emancipation
equality of civil rights, or enfranchise
ment" than the Republican party. Will
the Democratic party more genuinely re
form the tariff or the civil service, O.
abuse patronage less, than the Repub
lican party Will the Democratic party
''guard the rights of all citizens more Sc
curely," or limit Executive power NOR,
surely, or coerce or bribe less, or sea
fewer illegal members of Congress, or re
sort less to unconstitutional Legislation
than the Republican party? Would {
victory of the Democratic party be "al
uprising of honest citizens to swee]
from power men who prostitute tn
name of an honored party to selfish inter
ests ?"
The project of new party and ney
policy in the present political situation
idle. Should the mass of the Democrat
unite with the Republicans who con
ditionally threaten to repudiate the actiol
of the regular party convention at Phila
delphia, some of the remaining Democrat
would refuse to vote, some would supper
"straight" Democrat, and some woul,
vote for General Grant. But practicall
the alternative in the election of 1872 is
Republican or Democratic success. TIL
result will be Republican Administration
founded upon Republican majority wit
all its chances, or an Administrator
founded upon a coalition of which tn
Democrats would be the handspring.
Ha7per's Weekly.