The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-02
COLUMBIA, s. 70.
Sunday Morning, March 81. 1879.
The Cincinnati Convention-Its Plat
form.

The committee Of arrangements for
the convention, which is to- meet in
Cincinnati on the first Of May, have
issued circular announcing the con-
vention. and calling upon the people to
sustain it, as representing the following
political principles: The constitution as
it is, civil service reform, q tariff for
revenue only. general amnesty for past
political offences, and local self-govern-
ment. Assuming that the call is genu-
inc and authoritative publication, it is
safe to presume that the principles it
en1nc!ates have been settled upon By
the concurrent judgment of the leading
spirits of the movement, Gratz Brown,
Sumner. Greeley, Sohurz and Trumbull.
and that they indicate. with reasonable
certainty, even if they do not precisely
set forth, what will be the nature and
scope OF the platform which the con-.
vention will adopt, and Jupon which the
liberal Republican candidates will lay
their claims to tho suffrages of the peo-,
pie. "The constitution as it is" which
means the constitution with tho four
teenth and fifteenth amendments. con-
ferring equal civil and political privi-.
leges upon the colored people OF the.
country,swe take it. is Mr.. Summers
particular plank-a sine qua non with
him-a condition precedent to his
taking any part in the movement. But
this is point upon which, at this day,
at least, not even the staunchest old
line Democrats viii difer with Mr.. Sym
ner. '7i or -
AS to the balance, the National Demo
cratic Convention. itself will be unable
better to embody the views and desires
of the conservative elements than is
hero done. The Grant wing Of the Re-
publican party-or, in other words, the
ofice-holders and iobbers-will, doubt
less, make loud professions of the me-
cessity for civil service reform, and an
nounoe it in the platfotn Of the Phila-
delphia Convention as one of their chief
aims; but the people will judge them by
their works in the past, rather than by
their specious promises OF future amend
ment. They have had trial, and the
swindles in the New York Custom House,
and in the Navy and the War Depart
ments, and the unprecedented cost and
prohigacy Of the Government in every
respect. shows what may be expected Of
the GRANTEES in the way of economy.
The Grant faction will, moreover, not
dare to make square issue upon the
question Of local self-government.
Though they have never scrupled to
override the rights Of the States to effect
party ends, they are fully aware that the
specific declaration of any intention in
that direction would meet with storm
OF denunciation from the masses of the
people. to whatever political party they
may have heretofore been attached.
Perhaps the only issue that will be
acknowledged by the Philadelphia Re-
pubicans, the only proposition which
will be emphatioally advanced on the one
aide, and clearly and unequivocally de-
MED on the other, will be that of roduc-
ing the tariff to a strictly revenue basis.
There is real substantial difference Of
opinion on this point among the people.
We did not expect, on account OF Mr..
Greeley's connection with the liberal
Republican movement, and his well
known devotion to protective tariff, to
fnd the Cincinnati Convention so direct
and outspoken in its advocacy of virtual
free trade. It was presumable that, in
Difference to Mr. Greeley, and with o
view to harmony and oonciliation, the
tariff would have been left in the back
ground for the pre-, ent, and the struggle
made solely against congressional usur-
patton and Grants despotio proclivities.
But if the liberal Republicans can
egree to strike for reduction of the
tariff, it certainly is not the part of the
Democracy to object. The South, from
time immemorial, has been bitterly op-
posed to q protective tariff. It has al.
ways been our chief complaint against