New-York tribune., 1876-01-17
THE MEANING or CINCINNATI

The Republjcan National Convention will
meet in the place Senator Morton selected.
No doubt he believed that some great adVan-
togc WAS to be gained by the selection, or he,
n candidate for the Presidency, would not
have stooped so far as to take active part III
the contest regarding it. He necessarily lost
something; he riskcd much; and whether he
gained ANYTHING hy his success remains to be
determined. Cincinnati is not quite the place
which. one would suppose, Mr.. Morton wonld
expect to find very enthusiastic in his behalf.
If local feeling has any weight with the Con-
yention, the prevailing temper at Cincinnati is
not likely to give him strength. Moreover,
local feeling will be apt to have more
weight. the Convention being held In
that city, than if it had been held
in any other State, for the vote OF
Ohio in October Will virtually settle the
contest. Cincinnati is emphatically hard
money city. Its powerful German element Il
peculiarly liberal and independent. From the
returns of the las, election we may learn that
change of the Independent votes in llaml!-
ton County alone Will give the Democrats a
minority in Ohio, and render the defeat OF the
Republican candidate certain. We doubt
whether the Convention will be encouraged to
select Mr.. Morton as its candidate by any
manifestation of public opinion IN Hamilton
County.
The selection by the National Committee
gives at least shade of probability to the
rnmor that the President has determined To
withdraw from the contest altogether. Tins
rum.r has been circulated so often that 1t
may attract little attention nOw and 1t Is pos
sible that the President, even if he has made
up his mind 10 decline Internationally, may
again change his purpose, "a he has
done at least once before. There u Il
curcnt report that his determination
to withdraw was communicated last
week TO several friends, and that the National
Convention was thercupon called, some oil
Grants friends cOnscnting, 10 meet ut place
which no one would have preferred if desiring
his nomination. IL is said that he contem-
pIates n letter to the Convention second
Washington's farewell address. Third-term
advocates will doubtless press him stoutly to
reconsider. and may succeed, ~ they have done
hitherto. but some well-iniormcd politicians
believe that this was the purpose Of the Presi-
dent last week, and That private assurance OF
II was used TO secure for ilr. Morton his qucs-
tionablc victory.
The Republican party now stands Mt the
parting of the ways. Long before the Con-
ycntion meets it will be clear to everybody
as it il now to close observers, that the
October election in Ohio will insure the defeat
or render probable the success of tho Rcpub-
hcan canddlte for President, and that the in
dependent voters in Ohio hayo the power to
make that election end in Republican victory
or defeat as they may choose Hence. tho
situation is this: If the Republican party wishes
to win in 1876, it must secure the support OF Che
Independents, particularly in Ohio. II it pre-
fors to cling to its old policies, and TO the
leaders who have brought it to Disgrace if it
chooses to 60 down with the old notions, full
OF pluck and Of stupidity to the last, it will
gpurn the wishes of independents, listen only
to the men whe have Obeycd Grant and
Morton, and earn its defeat. The Convention
will choose. The independents, We do not
doubt. will make their wishes known 20 clearly
that the choice VIII be a simple one.