New-York tribune., 1876-06-17
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WORK.
IT'S CONFEssIoNs-TnE CONVENTION CONTRAsrFD
WITH ITS PREDECESSORS WHAT MIR. HAYES
REPKESENTs.

Z
WITH ITS PREDECESSORS WHAT MIR. HAYES
REPRESENTS.
Icy TELEGRAPH TRBUvEl
CINCINNATI. June 16.-Since 1850 and the nomi-
nation of President Lincoln at Chicago, Republican
Conventions have practically had little to do with
the choice of Presidential candidates Mr. Lincolns
second nomination was ordered by the people
before the assembling Of the Conven-
ton, and there nothing for the
delegates but formally to approve it. The scrti-
ment of the party four years later had crystallized
upon Con. Grant so positively that the Convention
could only ratly tine popular choice, and Gen
Grants second nomination was 30 perfectly
provided for beforehand. that in 1,e Con-
vention he received every vote on
the first ballot The work OF the last three va
tonal Conventions Of the party has been merely to
raify the popular choice for President and select
candidate for Nice-PTesident One Convention in
vented Andrew johnson, and gave the party and
the country that stomach-full Of disturbance and
distrust another endowed Mr.. Cofax with career
not destined to glorious conclusion and the last at
Baltimore in 1872, crowned Mr. Wilson's ambition
by purchase of votes which gave that honest gentle
! man quite shock when few months later he
learned The fact.
he Convention of 1876 had larger responsibilities
than any since 1860. 1t had to choose from num-
Presidency and Vice-Presidency. Its work was to
select such a ticket as would entitle itself 10 the
support of the people by its Inherent strength aud
worth. Its wisdom was to be shown in such action
as would lairly adjust the party to the sure cond
tons of national existence, of recognizing changed
circumstances, and complying with such demands.
Il had not the vigor and buoyancy, the young
enthusiasm, the firm high spirit, the manly sln-
ceTtv, DEVOTION and courage with which II met
sixteen years ago. and for the first time looked sue
cess fairly in the face accepting its solemn duties
with seriousness, and confronting its tremendous
responsibilities with confidence. II had made its
great fight enjoyed its trumphs, accomplished the
mission set before it, and unhappily, in the calm
that succeeded, had fallen away from its high es-
tate to be doubted aud distrusted by its friends.
Had it the strength, the recuperatiye energy, and
the force Of character sufficient TO rise up out Of Its
lethargy and be again the cOuntry's hopef This
was the question il has best answered in the action
Of to-day. Charged with corruption and ncom-
potent and feeble administration. it has
confessed judgment in the admission IT
made to-day on the seventh ballot for a
candidate for President thatit did not dare TO nom
mate any statesman who had public record which
could be asserted consistent position III the
party. They came here boasting Of the gcat ser
vices Of james G.. Blaine to the party and the conn
try; they said he courageous leader, sound
statesman, wise and good counselor but they were
so tlmId they ddnot dare TO nominate HIM. They SAID
Mr.. Morton 4 staunch aud unlnching defender
of the rights of men, and that the country owed
him great debt of gratitude. They dared not give
him the reward he sought, and offer him as the Re
pubHcan candidate for President. They had great
confidence in Mr.. BristOw, because he had made
public record a real and practical roformcr
They did not dare take the risk Of the
opposition of the man whom Mr.. Bristow had prose-
cuted TO conviction, and they let him go unrewarded
They pretended to honor Mr.. Conkng for his
devotion to Cen Grant and his personal services for
the party but they in all the balloting gave
him one-seventh of their votes.
The Convention of this party began to ballot for
candidate for President in the morning, protesting
that its record glorious, that its work had been
grand and its statesmen pure, and that 1t could
safely point to the past with pride IT. arose at night
having made confession that it dared not go into the
Presidential canvass Of 1876 with aBy one for
a candidate who had been prominent in
the party during the years In which its record
had been made. The Convention confessed for the
party that the men who had been most Conspicuous
in Its cOunsels-Blaine. Morton, Conkling, and Bris
t0w-were 50 open TO objection that man COM
paratively unknown must be selected IN preference
to any one Of them to secure the popular vote
This after all, was the secret OF the choice the
opponents of Mr.. Blaine had made-a warfare upon
him unparalleled in the annals OF political contests
for the opposition was from his own party associates
who did not shrink from attacking his honor and
integrity.
The opponents Of Mr. Conklng and Of Ma. Morton