Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-06-03

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THE PHILADELPHIA CONTENTION.
The National Republican Convention
assemblies at Philadelphia on Wednesday
of this week. Delegates from distant
States have already arrived at the city.
Those from this State started on Saturday
Great preparations have been made to re.
ceive the crowd which will attend.
On account of the unanimity among the
delegates for the denomination of Pres
ident Grant, there 10 no excitement attend
ing the fcoavention. farther than such an
occasion would naturally and BEAUTIFULLY
create. TAirty-four of the, thir.y-seven
States have instructed their delegates to
vote for Grant, thus assuring him 658
votes. The three States which have not
instructed their delegates are Connecticut,
Missouri and South Carolina, the COM
bined vote Of which is Sc. But the dele
gates u even these States are for Grant,
- thak there viii be no opposition to his
nomination. In spite of Mr.. Summers
late and acrimonious speech in the senate,
President Grant win be re-nominated, and
that probably without ballot; and in spite
Of all hat 10 and may be said to the con-
trary, Tie act win be AZ clear an express
ion Of the popular sentiment in the repub-
lican party a. ever was uttered in any
National convention. 1t is idle to talk
about Grants nomination being but the
edict Of the Office holders, when there is
but . handful OF oficeholders elected to
the convention. and no opposition has APP
pearsd, except what has followed Greeley
in his alliance with the democracy. The
failure Of the. disaffected republicans to
find support among the people in their
opposition, carried them to Cincinnati and
into the arms of the democracy, whittier
they are bound. -
The question of candidate for the Vice
Presidency Is not settled. There are many
candidates mentioned for the nomination,
ba. the contest is really between Schuyler
Coliax and Henry Wilson, with the chance
of success in favor Of the former 1t is
said that one hundred and thirty delegates
instructed for Colfax, and fifty-two for
Wilson, while about four hundred are I'M
instructed This leaves abundant room
for the rival candidates to make strug-
gle, which according to appearances will
be improved. Colfax has the advantage
at the start, but Wilson is strong antag-
onist. Either will make an excellent and
popular candidate.
The convention can have little difficulty
in shaping its platform. There is no d.
vision among its members about the prin-
ciples to be laid down. They will adhere
to the ideas upon which the party has
stood In the past, and pronounce for the
reforms and advances which the future de-
mands.
Very different is the spectacle which the
Philadslphia convention unfolds from that
which was witnessed at Cincinnati. In
the latter intrigue and bargaining prevail
ed. The principle upon which the ''liber-
al republicans" based their action was
lost sight of in the scramble, and its
friends retired disguised with the proceed
ings and are soon to hold another conven-
ton to repudiate the first and Mr.. Gree
ley. In the Philadelphia convention there
will be harmony, strength, and wisdom !;
over It's head will float the banner of the
Republican party, and its standard bearer
will be the renowned chief who led the
armies of the Union to victory. There
will be no Tammany plotters, scheming
in secret to control its nomination, but the
competition, whatever there may be, will
be manly and honorable, such as will
breed no boiling conventions after the
work is over.
With this week the Presidential cam
paign opens upon the part of the rcpub-
licans in earnest. The signs are auspi-
cious. Let us remember, however, that
there Is work to be done, and set about it
vigorously. Let there be no failure to do
what the occasion demands. Every re-
publican should prepare for action. The
battle will be fierce. The democracy will
be led by deserter from our camp, but the
number to follow him will be few, and he
will be signally defeated if We do our duty.