New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-07
OHIO REPUBLICANS.

Y,xwIsr-pAsIs OF TIE OPPOSITION TO JUDGE
Yur-prvIsIoN OF THE INDEPENDENT AND
LIBERAL REPUBLICAN VOTE
TO the Editor OF Iht Traoene.
SIN Hare was another grand opportunity. The
Rcuublicans of Ohio Just missed it. They conld
bave called together all the old Republican strength
and upi,cd with it that Democratic element when
does not love initiation, corruption, or Bourbonism'
They could have set an example which would nave
been followed in other States. This was the center
of the battlefield. BY wcll-directod assault
it was possible to out oil the Ilheral
wing from the Democratic army to streng'h'h
beyond measure the best elements in the kepnolie
party and TO open the campaign oil 1870 win III
Austerlity victory But it needed sense and nerve,
n broad conception of the opportunity, and royai
cmraee. Long fighting behind intenchmcnts UNITS
many a Gallant army for a decisive charge. Men
whose duty IL has been for many years to hcid inc
walls of h, Republican fortress did NOT immof'aie
themselves by deed OF glorious daring IN open n'u'
Training had given them the wisdom OF the oi'"Ne'
What are shells made for if not fo7 defense Ill
danger ..
On the other hand it would be grossly umuS' 10
ascribe the course Of the Convention wholly 10
t;r,iditr While the calculating politicians sought
40 avoid sharp issues the instinct of the mass OF e
,nhlicans led them to narrow the contest rs muci as
nossiblc by emitting of subordinate matters Inc lem
perance question had plagued them ana inc! ignoie"
a in tho patform and refused tonoglinate a'auu'e
whose selection wOnld have been thou2ht poSi'Ne
commitment on that question. Inc currency qu''
ton had made trouble they tried TO gel IL ou' VI
the fight by a tompOrizing resolution. Inc ",1"
term business had made trouble; they disposed OF
that by a curt and uncquyocal declaration. iheI
object was TO confne the fight as far rs posslDo 10
The ono issue on which they felt strongest ana hele
WIS much good sense well as some thn0n! III
their action.
Tbe one ouestion upon which the Republicans 1eei
themselves strong is this: Whether the atttuue .,
the Democratic party toward the school SYSTEM iu
eSpeealy toward the efforts of Catholics to secure
division of the school fund for the bcneht Oh pa
rochal schools is such to make 1t safe to permit
that Marty 10 gain power' For years this question
bss been discussed in Ohio, it has been IN New
York aud other States. But an act proposed ana
after some notifications forced through the Iast
Legislature by Catholic influence has caused
thousands of Republicans and Liberals TO De
Eeye that the danger from that quarter
is more grave and immediate than they had appIo-
bendod Nor is this by any means mere scare
manufactured by politicians When the delegates
came ND from the rural districts, II was quickly
found that the feeling on this subject was more III
tense aud general than any one had suspected Inc
Ccocban bill was not in itself 80 offensive But the
manner in which ii had been demanded as the price
of scctaran support OF the Democratic party ana
tho spirit shown. both by representatives OF 'hat
church and by leaders of that party, had caused d
real and general alarm
The defeat of Judge Taft, singularly enough, was
In corgi Ierable measure due isrnSt OF ms posi-
fjen ON the school question. In decision by him
inyolyine that question a single sentence occurred
which was clearly not intended to have pohticai
Significance but which. nevertheless. was generally
and rather naturally, construed as declaration oi
bostilit, the taxation of Catholics for the support
of schools to which their church did not allow them
TO send their children Much effort was made to re-
move this false impression. The Judge frankly de-
clared in card his unqualified opposition to any
division of the public school funds But tho distrust
fingered and numbers said. " With Hayes we shall
have nothing to explain" Nor was there lacking a
feeling that the Judge, if he sustained non-Sectarah
schools, would urge the exclusion of the Bible from
them. and this feeling reused great opposition IN
Quarters where the Republican party Is naturally
strong.
On the temperance question the opposition to
Judge Taft was quite as effective, and not based
upon any misunderst anding. Though personally
TEMPERANCE man. he does not believe i'll the suppress
sion of tho manufacture sale, or use of liquors by
legislation. The crusadng people OF the rural as
tricts preferred Hayes who, though suppo cd to hold
the very same position. had not so acted on that
question that his nomination would be regarded as
a direct surrender by them or decisive triumph over
them. The refusal 10 nominate Judge IaIt, uhu'l
these circumstances will cost many votes in Hamil-
ton and Cuyahoga Counties but il will also gain
many on the Reserve and in other sections where
tho Temperance element is strong.
Finally Judge Taft was not well known
throughout tho State ~ TO be beyond TIE influence
of Misrepresentation by opponents from his own
home, and he bitterly opposed by the Sands
Eggleston clique. This knot of ward politicians has
been detected in the possession Of any belief
or principle but its close relations with the rotten
ring which has been plundering Cincinnati under
Democratic rule make it easy to believe that Judge
Taft was opposed because he was hostile to that
ring. and because his great strength there
would insure Democratic defeat in Hamilton
County. In taking Mr.. Hayes, tins clique
did not get a friend. letter from
him wa. seen yesterday, and will soon be made pub
lie, in which, earnestly urging the nomination OF
Judge Taft he especially advised it because the
Judge was &" hostile TO ring in Cincinnati which
has been trying TO rob the people" Ii the exact
words here quoted were not used, their purport
so plainly expressed that the SandsEggleston clique
will not he very happy in the support of Hayes after
the letter gets into print
1t does not appear that the Federal officials exerted
ANY noteworthy influence either side They were
divided. Some active for Mr.. Hayes from the
first and others-perhaps even a larger number
were active for Judge Taft to the end. Experienced
observers failed TO any trace of Delanos iniiu-
ence and indeed, it was more than remarked
that if that crowd could be discovered to be in
favor of any candidate. that candidate would be
beaten Still, moro pointed denunciaton of par
ticular abuses and corTuptions and less sweeping
approval of tho Federal Administration would not
have weakened the resolutions
Ex-(.ny Haves ia DeculiaTlV fortunate in that