The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-18
The st. Louis Convention.

the Democratic National Convention, but
before the close of this week most of the
delegates viii be on the ground trying to
form combinations to strengthen favorite
candidates. The democratic party has the
advantage of knowing what it has to meet ;
but its opponents, being first in the field,
have had the greater advantage of selecting
the ground on which the Presidential battle
is to be fought The republican plan of cam
paign has been settled more by accident and
good fortune than by foresight and skill but
it is, nevertheless, plan which will tax the
skill of the democratic leaders to the utmost.
The Cincinnati ticket, though not imposing
in point of ability. will thoroughly unite
the republican party and insure it an easy
victory in all the republican States not here
tofore classed as doubtful. 1t is also well
fitted for success in the particular doubtful
States on which the election will hinge. Had
Blaine been nominated at Cincinnati the st.
Louis Convention could hardly have made a
blunder stupid enough to destroy its chances.
1t cannot afford to blunder now. The reform
element of the republican party accepts Gov
ernor Hayes, not indeed with alacrity and
fervent enthusiasm, but with a placid ac-
quiescence which will suffice to prevent de-
sertions, and will warm into vigorous sup
port as the public mind begins to glow in the
progress of the canvass. Governor Hayes was
not the first choice either of the machine
men or the reformers, but no other candidate
could have so completely secured the sup
port of both after his nomination. What is
mere acquiescence on the part Of the extreme
left and the extreme right Ito borrow the
phrases Of French politics), will soon be-
come enthusiasm. When men have once
taken sides in an American political con-
test it is not in the excitable American char
acter to remain lukewarm in the sweat
and dust of the race. Even before the st.
Louis Convention assemblies men of the type
Horace White, and the class of voters they
represent, will have been carried away by
1.-THE noise of the captains and tho shout
ing" and it will have become impossible
even for Governor Tilden to make any
serious inroads into the reform element Of
the republican party.
Governor Hayes has the negative advan-
tage of perfect freedom from all connection
or completely with the jobs and the ex-
posures which will be the staple of the
democratic canvass. All the arrows barbed
with charges of corruption will be blunted
upon his shield and fall harmless at his
feet The unassailable purity of his private
life and the modest lustre of his virtues
make him invulnerable to the kind of attack
on which the democratic party stakes its
hopes Of success Before the st. Louis
Convention meets Governor Hayes will
have written his letter of acceptance
and he will pitch it in such high key of
reform as will satisfy all republicans and
the independents, who acknowledge no
party allegiance, like the leaders Of the
Fifth Avenue Conference in this city.
We expect to see Mr.. Schurz on the
stump advocating the election of Gov
ernor Hayes, and re-entering the republican
party through this open door. No other
nomination, except that of Bristow, could
have made his return SO easy. Mr.. Schurz
came back from Europe last fall earlier than
he had intended in order to go to Ohio and
speak in support of Hayes. Nobody ever
doubted that in that close contest Mr.. Schurz
turned the scale. Governor Hayes is really
indebted to him for the triumph which made
his nomination for the Presidency possible.
If Hayes should be elected with the aid of
Mr.. Schurz's eloquence there is no man in
the country to whom the new President will
be under such deep obligations, and
this would pave the way to the honorable
restoration of Mr.. Schurz to high official
and personal position as republican leader.
He has nothing to hope from the democratic
party, ever if he should support its can
didates. He deserted the republican party
because he was dissatisfied with the personal
government of President Grant but Grant
will soon te out of politics, and Hayes is
different style Of man. We have dwelt on
the probable position Of Schurz because his
influence with citizens of German birth is
of great Importance in every doubtful State.
The logic of the situation and his personal
sympathies will naturally carry him to the
side Of Hayes, to whom he rendered such
splendid and effective service last autumn.
Another great advantage which attends
the nomination of Hayes is the strength he
will lend to his party in the pre-
liminary contest in October. If the
republicans should carry both Ohio
and Indiana in October by large ma
jorities, the moral effect of such victories
on the November contest will be immense
The influence of such preliminary successes
is commonly overwhelming and decisive.
1t makes great difference whether party
is fighting for victory or merely to cover a
retreat In 1872 when Pennsylvania was
also an October State, the republican victory
in October added more than hundred
thousand to Grants majority in Pennsylva-
MIA alone, to say nothing OF its tremendous
effect in other States. In October, 1872, the
rapuhlicon majority in pennsvivauia Voc