The New York herald., 1876-09-19
A word OF warning to Republican.

newspapers tuot Wnen MI. NHccici, eho
republican candidate for the Vice Presi-
dency. made one Of his ''bloody shirt
speeches the other day in Vermont he dis
gusted so many republican voters that the
usual party majority in the place was con-
siderably lessened on election day. We do
not know whether the tale is true or not,
though it is fact that the republicans lost
somewhat this year in Vermont from their
vote of previous years. But whether true
or false in that specific instance 1t is un-
doubtedly true that the exhibition of the
conspicuous 'bloody shirt" in this campaign
will lose many thousand votes to the repub-
lican.party. 1t ought to, and it will. There
are sections of the country where this issue
may be brought up to alarm and excite
ignorant voters; but take the Northern
States Mt large and the mass Of repub-
lican voters, who are in the main thoughtful
and sensible men, and the cry of Southern
outrages and of danger from the South or in
the South will lose the party more votes
than it will gain.
We fling out this warning to the republi-
cans because we notice that as we come to the
heated days Of the campaign the organs and
speakers of the party dwell more and more
exclusively upon this topic; and there
seems Of late to be an organized effort and
determination to carry the election, not
upon civil service reform, not upon
sound currency, not upon such legislative
reforms as shall give the country chance
for renewed prosperity, but simply and
solely upon the Southern bugaboo. Senator
Boutwell, tries to make it the prominent is
sue in Massachusetts,; Mr.. Wheeler, Mr..
Bristow, Mr.. Blaine, and others so about on
the same errand ; General Butler says
frankly that civil service and currency are
tri1ing questions-to rescue the country
from rebel domination is the true issue. MIR.
George F. Hoar agrees with him. And here
comes so respectable q journal as the Chicago
Tribune and threatens us with q new seces-
sion as the probable result of q republican
defeat. 1t says:
Are the people OF the United States prepared TO have
that done 1876 which they refused TO permit in 1861
To AVOID civil the North was prepared TO concede
much In 1860. They could not, however, and would
not consent to have The Union stripped of It's national
ty and confederacy Of independent states erected In
IT'S place Sooner than submit to this they met tho
threatened war To preserve American nationally
dencd the country with enormous expenditures. Tho
Union was saved slavery was abolished; and now,
tho people prepared 10 surrender all Tho results OF
tho war ana surrender the government to the same
men who Senator'S, Representatives,, Cabinet off,
erected and maintained the Confederate States''
government at RiChmondP Is tho Richmond govern
msnt 10 be transferred to Washington
Now, in the first place the thoughtful and
intelligent voters who constitute q large and
the most important part Of the republican
party do not believe in oil this, and are only
disgusted and alarmed when they see such
stuff made prominent in the canvass. They
want sound money, a reform of the civil SER
vice, revival of our foreign commerce and
of industry in general they would like to
see the republican party give us these re-
forms they believe that there are repub-
lican statesmen who would more surely work
out these reforms than would the democrats
under their present leadership; and over
and above all this these voters of whom we
speak would like to see the policy of non-in-
tervention in the Southern States begun
under republican federal rule. But if cur
rency, civil service and all other reforms are
to be sunk if instead of non-interven-
tion in the South they see the party
speakers and organs threatening and ad-
vocating policy of renewed intervention
what but disgust and alarm can affect these
voters? They number great many thou
sands all over the country. Can the party
succeed without their Jealous cooperation?
We do not believe it. On the contrary, we
are certain that if such disgusted voters only
remain at home without voting the demo-
cratic ticket the republicans will be de-
feated.
But this attempt to revive the Southern
question in its worst aspect, and to stir up
renewed strife and suspicion between the
sections, to the exclusion of the true re-
form issues, is an insult to the republican
candidate. Governor Hayes has distinctly
shown in his letter of acceptance that in his
mind reform of the currency and the civil
service are the prominent and, ind eed the
only issues in the canvass. He accepts the
nomination as n reform candidate, and here
come the republican leaders and strive to
burke reform and revive the old sectional
hatreds and issues. They not only sneer
down the questions which to their candidate,
rs to the best men in the party, seem vital,
but they fly in the face of his own belief on
the Southern question; for Governor Hayes
believes profoundly that the day for federal
interference in the South is past; that those
States ought to be left to govern themselves
rs New York and Ohio do, and that the men
calling themselves republicans who have
misrued such States as Louisiana have no
title to respect or sympathy from the repub-
lican party of the country Governor Hayes
is necessarily silent in this campaign; he
cannot take part in the canvass. If ne could
he would be heard urging the necessity of re-