The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-05-14
Anhhral.
REPUBLICAN DUTY,

lie hepuDllchn convention oil OlllO,
which meets on the sd of June, and that
of Pennsylvania, which will soon assem-
bic, have very important responsibility.
For they will not only nominate candi-
dates 10 be supported in those States at
the next election, but they will show the
spirit and purpose of the party, which
are not subjects of State Importance
alone, but of national significance. In
deed, 1t is hardly too much to say that
the action of these Conventions will deep
ly affect the Presidential result in 1876;
and this is point which every delegate
should carefully consider Ceremonial
party declarations Of glorious achieve
ments, and vigorous denunciations of
the Democratic enemy, however well
| founded they may be, will not avail
There are positively discontents, impa-
tienee, and determination in the political
world and these are not to be allayed or
set aside by anything but equally posi-
tive and sincere evidence of II resolution
| of reform. We mean reform in a large
and general sense, not only in the de
tails of administration, but in its tone
reform shown by the character of party
leadership, and the hearty condemna-
ton Of merely selfish control. A sue
cessful and prosperous popular govern
ment implies and requires the highest
| patriotism, the consent of the purest
character and the best ability. When
these disappear from public affairs, when
politics have dRgrnerated int" mer. IN
trgue aud trade, good government and
the liberty and justice which il is meant
to secure are in danger.
We hgYe saia that the battle of 1876 is
first to be won within the Republican
party, and we mean by it that if the par
ty does not show that its better slrInents
and men eontrOl the organization, if the
influences and tendencies under which it
has lost prestige and has declined ia
power, continue to be dominant, the
Presidential election is already lost. A
majority of voters, u very large majority
ia number, and an rwlelming major
ity in character and Intelligence, greatly
prefer to act with the Republican, i+,rty.
and haYf no hoRe, As thsg have no rea-
son for hope, Of the accomplishment Of
their purposes lay the Democratic party.
This majority can lie retained upon one
consideration only, and We have alr idy
a 4 - H.. Il
ly understood iuat the third term is TO
be opposed at any cCst, that military
force Is TO he employed only ia strict sub
serviemce To the letter and spirit of the
Constitution, that nneu of the best char
acter and ability arr to bf sought for ap
pointmeut to office, and that the office
holding control of political action is TO be
discoputenaneei. The Majority OF which
We sbeak must he made to feel that these
things are to be done, not merely prom
ised, and that can be affected only by iu-
diyidual determination and action. 4
party il nothing but its members, and
they are individuals Leaders are pow
erless except by the conseEt Of blowers; /;
and il every follower Republican
who reads these words and all his neigh
bors-will insist upon Il better policy,
the better policy viii prevail.
The President is the individual! who
could do most for the party, both by his
words and his deeds Nobody can speak
and act for him. and it is more his acts
than his words that have Injured it
Those acts are not to be attributed to an
i'll purpose, but often, we are very sure,
to a mistaken good feeling and Il miscon
ception of the moral and impersonal OBJ
legations of official position. For Instance,
what can be urged in defense of the ap-
pointment to high and honorable place
of gentlemen whom their own districts
had just rejected as Representatives: >
That the hresidenI may personally like
them and believe them to be honest and
able is not enough, unless they are OF
such standing and character, or the con
ditions of their political rejection are 81
peculiar, that the exceptional ease Is al
once and universally recognized. Thus il
was certainly no objection to the nomin
alton of Mr., Fish to the Department o
State that he could not have been elected
to the Legislature of New York from hi
Assembly District, nor will it lie bar Il
the seleETiSn Of 9oyernOr Dix for any
conspicuous national post that lie liaC
been defeated as a candidate for re elee
ton as Governor. Thepe Is an instinc
which regulates official action ia sucl
cases as the appointment oi partisans de
feated at the polls, the absence of whicl
is instantly felt by the country, and
, seriously misehevious. Mr.. Maynadie
was lately appointed paymaster in til
: army, after lie had been considered an,
rejected by the Senate i'll full party SYN
, pathy with the President. An argumen
. may be made for such action, but the il
tent of the Constitution Hpon that sui
ject is felt, by the country, TO be YER
- plain, and there must be some eXtraol
-, dinaFy reason that could authorize tn
: President to disregard it. 1t seems TO b
a small thing; but chip shows the cul
rent. The people see every thing, an
! the final verdict upon a party and an At