New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-09
THE sARATOGA CONTENTION.


THE sARATOGA CONTENTION.
The worst enemies of the Republicans OF
New York must admit that they learn some
thing from misfortune. They have found out
why they were beaten last year, and they
turn short around to try new course.
The campaigns of outrage and Islander in the
South, the dragonnades of Sheridan and Mer-
rill the policy of the Force bill, the scandals
of the civil service, the prevalence OF
yenality and avarico in Government de-
partments-all these wrongs, either ex-
pressly or by clear implication, were
denounced yesterday at Saratoga with vehe-
mence which will make the hair of good
many hard working politicians stand straight
on end. Even the violent proceedings OF the
Caseys, Hesters, and other Federal Of
fcials Of that stamp, were pointedIy CEN
sured in the resolution demanding that
the local enforcement of the national authority
should be intrlsted only to those who ore in
sympathy with kindly policy toward the
South. Three years ago the Liberal Repub-
lcans left the party because they could not
prevail upon it to take this very stand for
Justice and generosity to the reconstructed
States, honesty and economy i'll administration.
Three years ago there was no epithct too harsh
for Republican journalists and speakers to apply
to Republicans who called for the prompt
" investigation of all charges of wrOng-doing,
"and summary exposure, prosecution and pun
"ishment of wrOns-doers; :" and here is the
Republican Convention soiemnly demanding
those very things. Saratoga yesterday was
Horace Greeley's vindicatiOn.
The Third Term declaration l. frank
and bold, courteous to Gen. Grant, but
entirely unmistakabe in its meaning
The currency plank is strong, and we
presume no political organization viii
be found to dispute the declaration
respecting the common schools; certainly no
party in this State which takes tho opposite
ground can stand. But after passing several
excellent resolutions, the Convention proceeds
to take back most of them by n supplementary
vote of thanks to the President for doing
pretty nearly everything which he has most
conspicuorsly failed TO do. They praise the
financial policy of an Administration which
has inflated the currency by secretly Issuing
reserves. They praise the rigorous execution or
the laws by a Government which protects
thieves and promotes burglarfes, and ~
President who takes prisoner on trial
out of the dock and invites him
to the bosom of his family. They
commend Gen. Grants firm vindication of
:" the national dignity" by correcting abuses,
furnishing offenders, and enforcing retrench-
"mcnt," while Mr.. Delano is still in the Cab
met and Boss Shepherd is the Presidents
nearest adviser. Surely this preposterc's tenth
resolution was not written by the same hand
which penncd the first.
In regard to canal matters the platform dis
appoints those who saw here an occasion for
the Republican Convention to do graceful,
public-spiritcd and popular action by cordial
approval Of the Governors reform. We have
only general commcndation of "all officers,
| whether of the State or National Government"
in all efforts for the correction of public abuses
and demand that tho canal thieves shall
be brought to justice and unlaithful officers
suspended-two branches of the reform which
it seems TO us are getting along pretty well rs
it is. A few words of honest praise for tho
Governor, and wholehcarted promise to
support him in his good work, would have
brought the Convention out of this canal
dilemma with flying colors and helped the
chances of the Republican party. Bnt it is too
plain that the party is in mortal fear OF that
desperate old villain Tilden.
The platform tnen, while it avoids the most
conspicuous blundcrs Of some recent COnven-
tons, is by no means so good that it cannot
be improved upon. And what of the ticket 7
Of that we may say about the Same thing
The nomination Of Mr.. Seward for Secretary
of State is beyond criticism. His name
will give strength to the party, and If he Is
elected honest citizens of all shades of opinion
may feel we'll satisfied with the result. The
choice of Gen. Spinner for Controller and of
Gen. Merritt for Treasurer is likewise admi-
mirabe. A better man could hardly have
been selected for either place. But here
the Convention seems to have exhausted
its first class material, and in the rest OF the
ticket we find no one of TINT commanding in
fucnce and established reputation which the
crisis of the party requires 1t may be doubted
whether such an unbalanced ticket, taking it
as a whole, will prove strong enough to float
the party over the shoals on which it is in
danger of stranding.
TIE NATTER IN MISSISSIPPI
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