The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-04

We learn through communication
from Mr.. LUTHER T. ABBOTT, Assistant
Secretary of the American Alliance, that
the National Executive Committee of that
body will 10 O few days issue an address
calling National Convention to be held In
Philadelphia about the middle of July.
Tho purpose Of this Convention IL to
nominate candidates for President and
vice-President.
Tho American Alliance 10 an association
Of various secret orders. councils or socie-
ties, united upon two principles. They con-
tend that the elective franchise should be
confined to native born American citizens
and that the power of the Catholic Church
should be restrained, and It's influence in
politics and public affairs broken.
What course will the Convention take
which assemblies in Philadelphia to repre-
sent these principles and promote their
realization In the election OF November
Win 1t nominate Independent candidates
Of its owni VIII 1t adopt and nominate
tho candidates of the Republican party
WIN 1t nominate the candidates Of the
Democratic partyi
The last question hardly requires an an
swer. The candidates Of the Democratic
party will not be taken up by the Ameri-
can Alliance. and those candidates would
reject Its nomination II II were offered,
because their own principles and plat
form are utterly opposed to the principles
and platform Of the Alliance.
The alternatives between which the Al
lance must choose are then restricted to
the nomination of candidates Of Its own,
and to the endorsement and adoption Of
the Republican candidates. Against the
lrst Of these two courses the reasons are
strong. II 1t dominates independent can
aidates In opposition 70 the nominations
Of the Republican party, there Is q very
hnrge proportion Of its members whom
- will be unable TO bring up to their
support because the Republican attach
ncnt Of those members and their I'M
willingness 70 act against their
party will be stronger than their
attachment to the principles and purposes
Of the American Alliance. Besides, the
Alliance cannot get men OF influence and
prestige to stand as their independent can
aidates, because such men will likewise be
unwilling to take up any position in oppo-
ntion to the Republican party. Thus the
idea of making independent nominations
must be abandoned, for the reason that
the returns Of the election would exhibit
the Alliance as much weaker than II really
movement seem contemplate through the
small number OF Its votes.
The National Convention OF the Alliance
win, therefore, adopt and endorse the can
d1dates nominated at Cincinnati, ana the
effort will be made to give these candi-
dates the benefit Of this Know-NothinR
support without imposing upon them the
damage of appearing primarily rs native
American and anti Catholic candidates.
What, then, win be the effect of bringing
the anti Catholic movement, with Its secret
organizations. directly into the election ms a
power subsidiary TO the Republican party I
VIII the Republicans gain or lose by III VIII
they get any considerable mass Of votes
by this means which they would not get
otherwisei VIII any Democrats go over to
themf viii any number of citizens who
have determined to vote against the Re
publican party on account OF its oorrup-
ton, change their minds and determine TO
vote for It on account OF its ant-Catholic
and nativistc featuresi These questions
can only be decisively answered when the
votes are counted; but the answers which
men will make beforehand In their own
minds will have very much to do in de-
Gliding whether the next President will be
sGRAHT Republican or a Reform Demo
erst.