New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-06-22
THE REPUBLICAN CANVASS
LETTER FROM ISAAC FL. BROMLEY.
A REVIEW OF THE CONVENTIONS woRK-A TIcKr

application to the work of political conventions "A
must be admitted that the Cincinnati ConventonwM
a success 1t was SO in that il avoided all the riski
and peris for which the practical politician has 10
sincere horror and in its platform and nomination.
struck neither too high nor too low key to meeS
the average Of public sentiment and call out q
favorable popular response. Viewed in its temporary
aspects, as the first move in great political battle
for party ascendency, and aside from all other con-
sderations it cannot be disguised, by the moss
ardent friends Of aspirants who disappointed
that the very accidents of the Convention conspred
to strengthen the party by leading 1t to the selection
Of O ticket which, from present appearance
| gives less dissatisfaction and will take Q
| larger popular vote than any other which
stood in the list of chances. 1t Is not Q
great ticket no one even of the faithful Ohio deegs-
tion who voted steadily through the ballots for
Hayes, will pretend that il is. Nor does it give in.
/ tense satisfaction arouse enthusiasm anywhere
outside OF the State of Ohio and the intimate friends
| and associates of the candidate. But it avoids dis
satisfaction and at present 1t safe to say 1t is
not open to any serious attack What the campaign
will develop remains to be seen. Gov. Hayes has
| been not enough in public life to have challenged
attack invited the scrutiny of political OPP
pOnents or to have excited the jealousy and reused
the suspicious of less successful political associates
! Governorship of his State last year, his fame
was local and limited. The campaign Of las.
wear brought him into more conspicuous, posi-
ton as the representative OF honesty and hard
money in a struggle so desperate that the whole
country looked on and was thrilled by it, Even
then, when he had wen the hight, he only
stood upon the edge of being largely known.
The few who began at that time to talk OF him as
the leader for larger field thought only OF thesue-
cess he had already won and the prestige he would
bring into Presidential contest. They SAID ne was
lucky man and winner. And this last, II VIII DC
observed is the most potent, indeed the only arg-
ment with the who control parties, manage
conventions, and make nominations. But the par
TALLY of his friends and the enthusiasm OF his adj
rnrers did not bring him into such prominence as 10
make him formidable,as a candidate, nor dd tne III
structops of the Ohio Convention which conlhltied
the State delegation to his support make sufficient
impression to bring upon him attack from any quar-
ter. Other candidates were assaulted mefcileSsy;
the more conspicuous their positions, the more pitt
less and constant the assaults. SO 1t happened
that the Convention assembled with some
of its candidates battered by open attack, some
weakened by suspicion and inslnuatlon, some
DESTROYED by their own records, but with Gov.
HAYES down low in the lists and not seriously
feared. having a record which, so far as 1t was
known was satisfactory if not brilliant, and which
not having been assailed was deemed Anassaiable.
It was partly through accident that Gov Hayes re-
ceiyed the nomination. But behind the accident
and its Immediately attendant circumstances was
the conviction the part OF great number OF
individual delegates that this man had good
record that had not been impeached, and the pres
tire of success and that he had what was CT he
highest consequence the winning quality. lhey
manfred no further; asked no more. This was
Conyention-like all of them in fact-that looked
simply TO winning. All else was secondary ana SUD-
ordinate.
II was interesting to note the progress OF events
in their order IN this canvass for the nomination;
10 observe how the leaders IN the race were kuiea
of by the fact of their prominence. how com0ina-
tions were formed against the favorite how for
time seemed at one time favor and at another to
desert the leading candidate how little clreum-
stancesf any circumstance is spall III the progress
of great affair-afected the pulse OF the ConVen-
ton and led m 10 the final result; and to
Gather from the whole what the actual
spirit, the aniIuating purpose OF the BODY.
do not suppose the friends OF Gov HartlanH OF
Mr. Jewell entertained at any time the idea tlaS
either of these gentlemen stood anywhere IN tAe
range of probabilities, hardly OF possibilities Inc
snnnorters of Mr.. Jewell desired only 10 give him
/
would be favorable position from which to start
him for the second place. The motive OF the Hart
rapf men snot clear. Until toward the close OF
IN. baloting Il appeared that their adhesion to him
might have given them the opportunity in certain
event of naming the. candidate, upon withdrawing
him, The nlan failed. However hopeful the friends
of Messrs. Conklng and Morton may have been IN
the EARLIER stages Of the canvass, presume none OF
the,n will DENY in the light OF what happened that
neither of those gentlemen had at any moment
the slightest possible chance for the nomina-
ton. For almost any unknown man there
might have been at least possibility but here was
body OF intelligent men whose chief object was 10
carry an election, who knew that the country had
once positively and Enthusiastically pronounced
against the Southern policy OF which Mr.. Morton
was the recognized exponent, and against the Adj
ininistration of President Grant which DR. Cohkilns
had so conspcuously defended to receive Its sup
port for the succession and they at any time
dreamed of daring defeat with either. Both these
gentlemen had friends in the Convention whose de.
yotion to them was the more admirable from the
bopclesSness of their cause. Doubtless each he'd
homes of favorable turn in the vote up to the in
ballot and each hoped TO name the candidate when
his own case became desperate. Mr.. M0ft0hs
frieuds might have turned the tide IN favor OF BITS
! to,y hut n telegram from him commanded them I'd
hold on for another ballot and in the mean tine
! Michigan had made the break for Hayes whleh
turned the scale in favor OF the latter. Had Nieni-
gan waited for another ballot, or had Indiana WIN
drawn Morton and gone for Bristow one ballot
earlier the result would have been different. DTS
| tow and not Hayes would have been the honii'ee'
presume, however, that Norton Ike OonAhns' pre-
ferTed Hayes to Bristow and was Better pleased wiz
the result as il turned than If the INDIANA deiesatOn
had voted for Dristow aud led he stampede III 'na'
| direction.