The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-06-28
Eittienass the nIakeShia Of The Re-
publican Party.
CINCINNATI. O., }
June l6, 1876. {

June Is, 1876.
Expediency has come again, with
mediocrity ais its handmade, to extri-
cate the once proud Republican party
of the nation, aud Rutherford B. Hayes
is lis candidate Tor the most important
and responsible trust of the civilized
world. The party that. of all others,
was The offspring of patriotic convic-
lion, that commanded the first intel
lects of the country as its champions,
and that has achievements to point to
in mans nohlest struggles for man,
which are as richest jewels in the di"-
dem os enlightened liberty, has just
CROPPED and crawled through eight
years of stubborn incompeteney, and
now makes che confession that it's
highest councils must take refuge in
littleness again, to save it from itself.
That Governor Hayes is respectable
citizen, Of average attachments among
the politicians and rulers of tile day,
as are tens of thousands of others in
the Republic, is the simple truth and
the whole Truth respecting him. He
was brave soldier, a faithful Con
gresham, who left little else than the
record of his votes and receipts on the
pay roll to tell that he had been Re-
preventative, aud has thrice been cho-
sen to the Gubernatorial chair of his
State-an office that in Ohio is shorn
of all control of legislation and of pa
tronage, and is a purely ornamental
position, without other than routine
authority.
Not a man in the Convention could
have given a reason addressed to the
fragment of the delegates, why he
should be nominated, and even ex-
Governor Noyes, one of the most mag
netic of popular orators, failed in his
address presenting the name of Hayes,
for want of some semblance of foun-
dation on which to fashion an inspir
ing speech. And yet he was nomina-
ted. And why7 His State did not
want him, for Ben Wade led the vital
partisan element of the delegation for
the partisan leader OF Maine, and those
of the Ohio delegation who aimed at a
better destiny for Republicanism were
bargaining for Bristow. But in the
conflicts of q nation, mediocrity was
the open door to which each disap-
pointment turned, and a State was
held to the support of its own nominal
candidate, because the accident of
hopeless ENHANCEMENT among the lead
in5 competitors promised success to
the one of respectable position who
was nearest without Il record, and that
man was Rutherford 3. Hayes. Hart
ranft was an equally gallant soldier,
and much more successful one, and
he had hard earned. victories of peace
in great national CONFLICTS to commend
him, while Hayes was barely saved iu
his last contest by a nominal majority,
when his party commanded thirty
thousand on Il full poll OF its strength
Nor did he then save himself, for 1t
WAS lost aud forgotten in a struggle fl,
which he was wholly unequal. ana he
tribute of intellect and treasure had IL
be paid from half the States of til"
Union to give him victory.
The Cincinnati Convention was like
the councils of the lleutenants of the
Macedonian chicttain, when he sur
rounded his crown to debanci,ery, and
!sft them to struggle for the succession.
There we're those who had been. obe-
aieLs to despotism in all its moods and
caprices and Blaine and Morton and
Conkling claimed the sceptor, and they
came hating each other and each re
solve,. 10 fall only with his rivals sha-
ring his discontinue. A brave ele-
ment confronted them under the ban
ner ofBrstow, but it was even more
hated than the mutual hatred for each
other. 1t recalled the Republican
standard Of other days, when it was
nnstained by the shame of the thief
and the jobber. One proposed to erect
it again over the Republican altar, aud
against it the legitimate heirs to the
Grant succession made common and
deadly warfare. 1t had leaders and
.orators--men of sentiment, of convic-
tons, of positive purpose. but untu-
tored in organizing modern political
victory. They defantly antagonized,
bnt they were powerless to control.
and they could but hope to make mean
ambition their ally and join them in the
overthrow of all the ablest of the rep
resentative leaders of a degenerate
party, Morton, Blaine, Conkling and
Cameron would not have Bristow to
reign over them, and Morton, Conklng
and Cameron would not have Blaine,
and Blaine and Morton would not have
Conkling, and Ccnkling and Blaine
wonld not have Morton. Thus they
pierced each others armor, and fell in
the struggle for the bauble of day of
power, leaving pigmy to walk in tri-
umph over their mangled bodies, and