The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-12
The Republican Conventfon-Tho
Flashes from CINCINNATI.


profit by the blunders of their opponents.
1t is not too much to say that the Conven-
ton which meets on Wednesday will deter
mine the administration for some time to
come, if the choice of the republicans
will guide the choice of the democrats. II
the republicans take strong man, candi-
date who will unite the severed forces OF
their party, who can bridge over the gulf
between the extreme right and the extreme
left, who can command the support OF Boss
Shepherd and Charles Francis Adams, it will
be necessary for the democrats to show similar
prudence and to name man who will unite
the East and the West, the friends Of hard
and soft money. 1t will be no time for per-
sonal ambition or political revenge. II the
republicans should name a machine candi-
date the democrats will feel that the CAM
paign will fall to them anyhow from the dis
satisfaction felt by the country toward all
that relates to Grant and Grantism. st.
Louis will take its tune from Cincinnati,
and all who are anxious for good govern
ment, regardless of party, will study with
anxious care every flash from the banks of
the Ohio
As a manifestation of the forces which rule
our Republic the Convention at Cincinnati
is most interesting. Here is body of pri-
vate gentlemen, without any legal or official
status, who assemble in theatre in West
ern town and dictate the government OF the
Union. They have no control over single
Co tho vcto Cfn mo
governed by party discipline and affection ;
yet their mandate will govern the votes of
million of Americans. From this decision
there will be really no appeal. No matter
who may be nominated OF Cincinnati he
will receive the bulk of the republican vote.
Conkling may hate Blaine, and Blaine may
decline to know Conkling, but in the event
of the nomination of either the other will
take the stump and tell admiring thousands
that his rival is all that patriotism and
chivalry could want in a candidate for the
Presidency. and that the country will go to
the bad unless the people rally
and elect him. It will be the same
with the democrats at st. Louis. If Cover
nor Tilden is nominated, as now seems prob
able, we shall have Boss Kelly and Schell
and all the nti-Tammany delegates walking
in shouting column to Tammany Hall to
''ratify" q nomination they deplore. The
decision of these two conventions will be
binding upon two great parties The
interesting question is, How far will it affect
the votes Of that small fringe of independent
and Indifferent people who only vote when
there is an important question before the
country, and who will reserve their judgment
until they hear both sides?
Of course there will be music and shout
ing, and every hour will have its rumor.
The long and brilliant despatch which we
print elsewhere from Cincinnati and the one
we printed yesterday belong to the SEN
timent Of the Convention. The boys
must have something to amuse them
selves. They must kill time, and what
better than to go shouting around the
streets with band of music? Then this
is the first real old-fashioned Convention
they have had since 1860. Since then events
have made the candidate The war forced
Lincoln and Grant upon them, and all their
enthusiasm went out to the Vice Presidency,
which, after all, is not much of q place.
But now, with Grant out of the way, thanks
to Belknap and Babcock, the boys have
something to shout about and q real Presi-
dent to make. Our readers, while they en-
Joy this spectacle, must not suppose that
bands of music create Presidents. These
delegations are to the great political drama
which is soon to be played what the super
numerarics are to the leading tragedian. 1t
is not what the Custom House boys under
Johnny Davenport, or the Indiana
screamers under "Bill" Holloway, or the
or the Maine howlers under somebody else
say or do that will nominate President.
That problem will be decided by Logan and
Morgan and Don Cameron and half dozen
discreet and able men, who have two ques-
tions to decide--frst, Which candidate
second, Which of the strong candidates
will do the most for ones self and ones
friends?
There are three marked influences at work
in Cincinnati the administration regular
army, divided between Norton Washburne
and Conkling; the volunteer army, looking
toward Blaine, Hayes and Hartranft, and
the reformers who think the country needs
Bristow. As the lines are drawn this divi-
sion becomes more and more apparent. If
Mr. Blaine had not fallen into the hands of
Mulligan, if he could have shown q stainless
record in these railway matters, it is prob
able that he would have won the prize. AS it
is, the enthusiasm which his friends show
for him under so many adverse circum-
stances is tribute to his rare qualities rs
leader and statesman. The rank and file Of
the party like Blaine, and it may be that if
the wise heads do not keep them in hand
they may carry him through anyhow. AS
tba xr;sa beads generally have their wav in