National Republican., 1876-06-10

lem In this Presidential canvass Is to find the
candidate who has the best chances for carry
ing New York, considering that failure In New
York involves the defeat of the party that
loses It, the question for the Cincinnati con-
vention is narrowed to a single point, namely,
what candidate has the best chances for get
ting the electoral votes of New York; On
this point the most competent judges are the
New York Republicans, who understand the
State better than any outsider. They would be
fools to press the nomination Of Mr.. Conkling
If they did not feel assured of his great
strength at home. The voice of New York
ought to have great weight at Cincinnati, for
the relative strength of candidates in their
own State
If Mr.. Conkling should be the successful
candidate 1t is easy to anticipate what the
Republican press and orators will say OF him
in every part of the Union. It will then be
maintained by all Republicans that he is the
first orator and one of the foremost statesmen
10 public life; that be has been the truest and
steadiest advocate of q sound currency; that
he has practised no demagogic arts and
mounted no hobbies to draw separate atten-
tion to himself; that he has never sought fac
titious popularity outside of party lines; that
he has never been implicated in any job or
questionable transaction; that he represents
the whole Republican party and not any fac
affairs is superior to that of any other Ameri-
can statesman, and that his sense of party
loyalty and respect for party discipline have
withstood the disintegrating Influences which
carried Sumner, Greeley, Trumbull, Schurz,
Banks, Fenton and so many other Republican
leaders into opposition. It is owing to the
steadfast fidelity of men like Conkling that
the party has not been disorganized and dis
banded. To him more than to any
other leader 1t is indebted for its
continued existence as q united political
phalanx, and for its ability to 60 into another
Presidential election with prospects of success.
The maintenance of the Organization amid so
many defections necessitated firm support of
the administration. If the President had not
had unfinching supporters like Mr.. Conkling
the Republican party to-day would q broken,
scattered and demoralized political army,
despised by its friends, aud not formidable to
its foes. The only rallying point for holding
the party together was the administration of
President Grant, and Mr.. Conkliug has done
more than eny other Individual in preventing
9 general stampede when so many other
leaders deserted. 1t was not for Grants sake,
but for the party's sake, that Mr.. Conkling
has been SO staunch champion of unity
and discipline; and the sounduess of his
judgment is vindicated by the fact that,
In spite of 90 many desertions by trusted
leaders, and in spite of the fall of SO
many Republican officials, the party pre-
serves its organization and its vitality, and has
more than an even chance of electing the next
President. If Mr.. Conkling had played role
like that of Mr.. Curtis and SO many others,
the Republican party would by this time be 80
weak as 10 make 1t of no consequence who is
nominated by its national convention. The
preservation of the party is owing to men of
whom Mr.. CoDkling is the most conspicuous
type, nor can it expect success in the election
without the powerful aid of the Adminstra-
tion with which Mr.. Conkling was too wise to
break.
tits, of course, possible that Mr.. Conkling
may be defeated at Cincinnati; but certain it is
that the Republican party can succeed only by
pursuing policy like that Of which he Is so
eminent a representative. Even if the con-
vention should reject the man, it will have to
adopt his system. Instead of disrupting the
party by break with the President 1t will
have to act in harmony with him or forfeit its
chances of success,