New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-29
POLITICAL CONVENTIONS.

Three State Conventions were held on
Wednesday to wit, Democratic Convention
at Wilkesbarre Penn, Republican COnVen-
ton at Madison, Wis., and another Republican
Convention at jackson, Miss. The Pennsyi-
yania Convention nominated candidates for
Judge of the Supreme Court and State Treas
urer: the Wisconsin Convention nominated
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary OF
State, and Treasurer; and the Mississippi Con-
vention nominated Governor, Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor, and Secretary. In Pennsylvania ana
Wisconsin they finished their work in single
day; i'm Mississippi, where the Convention was
composed of a majority of colOred delegates,
who are not accustomed to such things and
are disposed to have good time and make
the most of their opportunities, they took two
days and enjoyed themselves.
There was nothing striking In the proceed
ings of any of these assemblies so far as re-
CARDS the tickets put forward, nor, for that
matter in the platforms" they adopted All
of them resolved their regular series OF plati-
tudes. There was an abundance of words in
each, and in each probably about the same
amount of meaning and of earnestness. In
deed, the only thing worth mentioning IN all
the proceedings was the act of the Pennsyl-
vania Democrats in clearing their own skirts
of the guilt of the Salary Grab before for
mally denouncing it in their resolutions. The
reputation of Congressman Speer, who with
his share of the Grab in his pocket was named
for Chairman of the Convention and compelled
to withdraw his name by the protests Of his
personal friends as well as political associates,
was a very refreshing episode. Otherwise
there was hardly anything worthy of
remark in all they did. The Penn
sylvania Democracy resolved at great length
{ .er the whole ground of National and State
politics, covering it with the glittering gen.
eralities which are made so much of in the
canvass and so little afterward. Having had
no responsibility for any State or National
legislationsfor long time, they felt free to
launch out with denunciatiOn of what had
been done, and promises of tremendous
reforms in every direction if they could only
have the power. In Wisconsin, the Republic
cans were obviously chastened by adverse
criticism, and accordingly more careful in
their utterances Having been in power
twelve years and met the vital issues of the
time during that period, they say they have
form party of the country-though, having
had the opportunity to carry out their
reforms in these twelve years, it is not
quite clear why they should continue to be
so called, as by this time there should be
nothing but their own legislation to reform.
They are careful to add that the PARTY is
" only responsible for such measures as il in
"dorses and approves" and "cannot be ex-
pected to vOuch for the individual honesty
lin all cases of those it promotes to office"-a
very loose doctrine, which, if accepted, will
relieve the party in power of all responsibility
for the character of its official representatives.
They also condemn the Salary Grab and de-
mand the repeal of the bill increasing the pay
of Congressman, which is well enough as an
indication that popular opinion is having a
good effect upon party leaders and party con-
ventions.
But as a whole these Conventions have
been very timber and lifeless. The people
take very little interest in them. They have
been fooled with platforms and inveigled into
the support of candidates for whom, as the
Wisconsin Republicans say, nobody Is respOn-
sible, until they are tired; and they look on
in a weary way at the performances of the
politicians who make Conventions and tickets
without caring very much whom they nomi-
nate or what they promise in their resolu-
tons. "a plague on both your houses" is
about the sum of the popular Judgment just
now of politics and parties.
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