The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-09
Mr. Roherts nn mas Knees.

The Hon. Ellis II. Roberts, editor of the
Utica Herald, one of the ablest as well as one
OF the most unappreciated statesmen of the
republican party is dissatisfied with its
attitude in reference to the third term. In
recent article in the Utica Herald he calls
upon the Saratoga Convention to declare
''that the republican party is unalterably
opposed to third Presidential term for any
man, whether it be the present President or
any who may come after him." Mr.. Roberts
shows that among the leading republican
journals in the State sixteen are in favor of
such resolution and three are opposed to it,
"The policy of silence" he says, sis the
policy of cowardice. Let every paper speak
as its mind prompts it and as it understands
the people to feel"
If Mr.. Roberts had shown as much anxiety
to meet the third term issue when it first
came before the country, when he was a
leader in the republican party in full Off
clal position, prominent member of the
House of Representatives and high in the
confidence of the President, he would not
now be on his knees before the leaders beg
ging them to destroy an issue for which they
are altogether responsible. When he quotes
the sixteen republican journals" in favor of
this resolution and three opposed to it he
does not rightly express the true feeling of
his party Two of the journals opposed to
the resolution are those edited by the
Hon. John M. Francis, formerly Minister to
Greece, and the Hon. Hugh j. Hastings, sue
cessor to Thurlow Weed as the Mentor of the
republican party in this State. 1t is very
certain that any political measure which is
sustained by Mr. Francis and Mr.. Hastings
will not be without great strength among the
followers of the organization. Since the re-
tirement of Mr.. Weed from active political
life it is well known that Mr. Hastings has
been the Nestor of the republican party, the
power behind the throne, and that the power
that Mr. Weed formerly held in Albany is
now welded by the ex-Minister to Greece.
Mr. Francis and Mr.. Hastings are shrewd
men. They are old politicians. They know
the pulse of the people. They are not apt
to be carried away by the noise of any
sixteen republican journals, country
or metropolitan. They have advised
'the policy of silence" The Con-
vention will accept it, and we fear that the
prayers and tears of Mr.. Roberts will little
avail. The Convention at Saratoga will be
under the same influence which controlled
the last Republican Convention. It's men,
bers will care more for the beck of Mr.
Conkling's little finger than for hundred
supplications of Mr.. Roberts. If they
really believe in the party and in its future
they will certainly take the advice which Mr..
Roberts at this eleventh hour so urgently
proffers. 1t is not enough to pass tepid,
meaningless declaration like that which we
had from Maine and Minnesota We want
resolution declaring third term or a second
term incompatible with the true spirit
Of republicanism.
We want, above all things, an expression
of opinion from this Convention as to which
of our eminent citizens it desires to nomi-
nate as it's candidate for the Presidency
If New York republicans are honest in desir-
ing to defeat third term let them name
their own candidate. Let them name Mr.
Conkling, Mr.. Morgan, General Dix, or Mr.
themselves upon the record squarely The
voice of New York Convention pre-
senting some one of our own eminent citi-
zens as its candidate for the Presidential
nomination would do more toward destroying
the third term issue than anything that could
be devised. Do not initiate Pennsylvania,
where nominal candidate was presented,
man of straw, practically, good enough to
stand up until the National Convention
meets and then to be pulled down for Grant
Nothing is easier to do than what should be
done by the republicans at Saratoga But
we shall be surprised beyond measure if Mr.
Conkling, Mr. Cornell or Mr.. Murphy have
the courage to be both brave and wise. AS it
is we think the party will be governed by
the foresight of John NJ. Francis and Hugh
j. Hastings rather than by the tears of Ellis
II. Roberts.
Light in Dark Places.
Tho Investigation into the causes of crinoo