New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-13
CONNECTICUT UNLOADING.

day. tho series of resolutions, afterwafd
adopted as the party platform having been
twice read slowly and carefully, 1t occurred 10
one of the Committee that something was
lacking. Turning to the gentleman who intro
duced them, he asked, in the most innocent
way imaginable, "Do l understand that the
only Endorsement Of the Administration IN
I" the platform is in this reference to Texas 7
81 have in my pocket resolution approx
"ing the course of the Administration on the
"Cuban question. but it only expresses my
"indiyidual views, and thought better on the
"wholo not to introduce it," was the some
what evasive reply.
"And is there no othcr?' persisted the in
quirer.
The gentleman addressed looked quiZingly
at his interrogation q moment, and then very
slowly and deliberately answered, sit was oil
chat l thought of. Do you think OF any
ching else"
Tie attitude of the Convention towards the
Administration was fairly indicated III the up
roar of merriment which followed; IN the
midst of which the seeker after information
concluded not to pursue his inquiries. The
feeling of the party in the State was correctly
represented in the significant omission oil the
usual laudatory resolutions. The Convention,
which had listened with something between
amazement and disgust to the chairman's ful-
some praise OF the President, saw compensa-
ton for it in the platform as reported by the
Committee, and quietly adopted 1t without q
word of comment upon this unusual feature.
Connecticut Republicans have in this way
very quietly but effectually served notice
upon the Administration. The President can
read in the cool and deliberate satire of the
resolutions themselves, as well as between
the lines" their cordial assent to his late
declaration that it is time for the party to
UNLOAD" and it will hardly require more
than two careful readings of them to discover
that they have begun, and what they began
with. There is no installing their intent and
purpose. 1t is vastly more emphatic than any
open rebuke or censure could be. For 1t
means not simply that in some one
thing the Administration has erred; not
merely that it has made single
mistake in it's policy which only needs to be
pointed out to be corrected. The whole plat
form, with its significant omissions and its quiet
but cutting satire, is susceptible OF but one
Interpretation. 1t is the expression of pro-
found conviction into which tho best men OF
the party have been settling very gradually for
a year past that the Administration does not
represent them or their principles, and makes
no effort to do so.
In the concise statement of what the Repub-
leans of Connecticut believe in, they have as
distinctly stated what the Administration has
failed in or actively opposed. In its decara-
ton of the true end of government 1t goes
back to the Jeffersonian doctrine from which
there has been so wide departure. When it
asserts the rights of the States to local sell
government and makes its sole reference to
the Administration in "glady" indOrsing
its action in reference to Texas, it cOyertly
rebukes the interference IN Louisiana
and other States Its recommendation OF
Civil Service Reform is genuine sarcasm.
lis condemnation of initiation is aimed at Mr..
Richardson's illegal and unauthorized expan-
sion, without naming him. Its opposition TO
subsidies of public lands is blow at the
legislation of the Republican majority in Con-
gress its manly assertion of the privilege of
candid criticism of public men is an answer
to the ineflable nonsense which Administra-
ton Senators and members of Congress have
INDUCED so much in of late about the abuse
of public men by the press; and its distinct
announcement that every case of negligence,
wastefulness, or dishonesty on the part of
any having control of public moneys ought
to be promptly investigated and severely
punished without fear or favor is intended
to express the honest sense of the party in
favor of investigations, its contempt for the
twaddle of the organs on that subject, and
its hostility to the new fashion of indicating
public men without hearing testimony.
The Republicans of Connecticut have always
a close contest and hard battle. They can
never afford to quarrel among themselves or
to carry very heavy load in the shape of
party derelictions and mistakes. Their cleo
ton, with that of New Hampshire, leads off the
year. 1t is their constant complaint that it
comes at time when Congress is in session,
and almost invariably when the party has done
something foolish or wicked, the odium of
which they have to carry. This year they
have thrown off all responsibility for Congress
or the President, and struck out boldly in q
new direction. 1t is not accidental, but the
deliberate work of thoughtful men who, though
they sec the mistakes of the party and the
worse than mistakes of its leaders, still cling
to it as the hope of the country. They believe
it can be reformed from the inside, and this
is their first cautious tentative step in that
direction. In such an endeavor they will have
the best wishes of that large and constantly
increasing class Of voters who, having separa-
tod themselves from both parties, are ready to