The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-19
The Recent Republican Conventions.

West and one in the East. All three of the
States which held these party Conventions are
agricultural, Vermont being even more so,
in proportion to its population, than either
Indiana or Illinois. They differ, however, in
this, that large part of the farms in Indiana
and Illinois are encountered with mortgages,
while in Vermont the farmers are compare
lively free from debt. A debtor interest natu-
rally takes different view of the great ques-
ton Of the currency from community that
owes little and contains as large proportion of
citizens to whom money is due as Of those
who are under contract to pay it 1t is not
as agriculturists, but as debtors, that portion
Of the West desires an imitation Of the cur
rency.
The assembling of these Conventions was
looked forward to with lively public interest
The country was curious to see how the veto
and memorandum of President Grant would
be received by the republicans and whether
his policy was likely to divide the party
in the ensuing elections. As throwing light
Union where the organized action Of the party
seemed fraught with SO much significance as
Indiana and Illinois, the homes respectively
of Senators Morton and Logan, the foremost
champions of imitation. We were as certain
that Vermont would warmly indorse the Presl-
dent before it's Convention met as we are now
when it has acted It is State in which
there is not the faintest CLEAN of hope for the
democrats, and in which, in spite of the action
of Congress, the republicans will easily hold
their own by standing on the policy of the
President and the course of their own Senators
and Representatives. But in Illinois and In
diana the republicans do not occupy such
secure ground. Indiana has a democratic
Governor, elected less than two yers ago.
The politics of Illinois Lave been thrown into
confusion by the disturbing movement of the
farmers In both of these States the republic
can Senators and Representatives in Congress
have been in opposition to the President on
the great question of the day. In neither of
them can the party bear further losses or alien
alton without danger Of inevitable defeat at the
polls. Nothing could be more critical
and ticllish than the political situation in
Indiana and Illinois, and a republican split in
either would have portended general over
throw and dissolution of the republican party.
So far as we can judge from the platform,
this danger has been escaped. The Indiana
and Illinois democrats will gain nothing by
the difference which has arisen between the
President and the republican majority in Con-
gress. While imitation has been cautiously
,,,lO A.
States and virtually renowned by the other
it has been done without any offensive con-
demnation of opposing views 1t is pretty
certain that the republicans have made up
their minds to pull together, and to avoid the
weakening effect of quarrel with General
Grant. They are careful to speak in subdued
language, and to make their views of the cur
rency mere matter Of local preference, and
not assert them as part of the national party
creed We will separately examine the party
action in Indiana and Illinois.
In Indiana Senator Morton, the great cory
pheus of imitation, had his own way and
moulded the Convention to his wishes. He
is one of the most astute and dexterous of
politicians, and in his own State his
ascendancy in the party is more
complete and absolute than is possessed by
any other republican leader in any State of
the Union. The Indiana platform is his;
for if he did not draft that part of it which re-
lates to the currency it was, no doubt, sub
mitted to him and had his sanction before it
was presented to the Convention. 1t proves
conclusively that he dare not come into close
quarters with the President on this question.
The most significant of it's resolutions in
dorses the President and indorses Morton in
the same breath. To be sure the President
is only Endorsed for 'integrity and HONOR
leaving it to be inferred that his financial
policy is mistaken, though honestly enter
tained but, on the other hand, Morton is in
dorsed with even more exquisite caution. A
studied discrimination is made between the
sentiments of Indiana and Morton is praised
only tor supporting the latter. His colleague
is joined with him; and the actual language
of the platform is "And the republicans of
Indiana view with especial pride and hearty
approval the course OF Senators Morton and
Pratt, and the fidelity and ability with which
they have represented the sentiments OF the
people of this State which is virtual
REIMBURSEMENT of any claim that Morton
has represented the views of the republican
party at large in advocating imitation 1t is
confession by himself and his friends that, on
this subject, he has only been representative
of local opinion. 1t is remuneration of any
claim to political recognition and reward out
side of his own State. He is too able and
shrewd man not to perceive that he can
found no hopes Of the Presidency on his
efforts for imitation, since the President has
declared his views with SO much decision and
emphasis. In this Indiana platform Morton
has 'let himself down easy" with his own