The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-13
What the Country Expects from Gin
cinnati.

The Republican Convention will assemble
morning give a full and graphic picture OF
the scenes in Cincinnati preceding the meet
ing In the political management OF our
parties much more depends upon these pre-
liminary consultations than upon the action
of the Convention. In every large body OF
men in Senate, House. a Congress or a
convention there are a few who rule, who
have the experience necessary to weld au-
thority. The will of these few will be i'm
posed upon the party, unless, as is sometimes
the case, the masses of the Convention take
matters in their own hands and carry every
thing by nm impulse of enthusiasm. This
was the way in the old French revolutionary
legislatures, and no good ever came OF It.
The sessions generally began by singing the
.Marseillaise' and ended by carrying of
the head of the President on pike. we
should have little hope from the Convention
which is to meet tomorrow or from the one
that is to meet in a couple of weeks at ST.
Louis if their deliberations were to be gov
crned by Johnny" Davenport's bands OF
music or Boss Kelly's crowd of strikers and
heclers. There will Of course be as much
music as is necessary, and the boys will have
rare sport in tramping around the streets and
shouting while tho leaders deliberate But
it is to the leaders that We look for good
platform and good ticket.
The Convention which meets tomorrow
can nominate President of the United
States. All the chances point toward the
choice Of a republican administration. We
would prefer the contrary, believing that q
change is necessary for the good Of the coun-
try. But how can we expect party which
throws over statesman like Thurman
for demagogue like Allen to win the
confidence of the country The feeling IN
the minds Of tho people, that it is better to
bear the ills we have than fly to others we
know not of, especially when the others may
mean reputation and revolution, will carry
republican through if there is any wis
dom shown at Cincinnati. It is to the
interest of the country that there should
be good man named at Cincinnati.
1t will necessarily give us good
political feeling. which is, after NIL, con-
fined to few professional politicians, the
desire of the country is that both conven-
tions shall give us their best men. There are
no burning questions to disturb the judg-
ment Of the leaders of the two parties We
have no propelling issue like the war, which
has made any calm, independent political
action impossible for fifteen years, which
threw Lincoln upon us as it threw Grant,
and which disturbed the whole fabric Of our
government. We are not under the pressure
of events which govern politics, and which
have governed both parties since the death
of Lincoln especially. The questions aris-
ing out of the war have been settled. The
other questions which interest thinking men
are not ripe enough for political action.
There is tacit assent on the part of both
parties to postpone free trade and other
problems for canvass or two All that is
left to us now is to keep the peace and pay
the debt. The canvass will, therefore, turn
more upon men and less upon principle than
it has for many years.
And yet there are certain principles which
might with advantage be adopted by the
Convention tomorrow. This idea Of free
trnde is SO important to our national we'll
being that it should be carefully considered
1t is time for parties to accept the beneficent
and wise doctrine that freedom of trade is
the best for all classes and especially for the
poor Then the one term amendment for
the Presidency should be pressed upon the
Convention, and by the Convention SUBJ
mitted to the people. There is no reason
why the republicans should not take high
ground upon this question. Cesarism has
been grievous burden to that party.
1t robbed them of their majority in
the House. If General Grant had any
constituencies he can waive it now,
feeling rs Jackson and other statesmen did
that tho elective principle bodies no good
to the Republic. Then comes this question
of Chinese emigration. 1t is proper
for any convention to lay down, as a
principle governing emigration. that while
we welcome all who come to our shores as
citizens meaning to cast their lot with us.
whether black, white or yellow, we do not
accept those who come without their wives
or families, who do not regard this country
as a home, but as a treasure land to be
ransacked and despoiled. The Chinaman
comes here very much as the freebooter went
TO the islands of the Spanish Main. His
only errand is booty, and we should treat
him as booty hunter. This is point
which should not be overlooked by repub-
lican convention. 1t does not involve pro-
scription or cruelty. but simply asks from
the emigrant acquiescence with our laws
and our destiny. Upon finance We expect
the Convention to take strong ground.
There must be no paltering with repudia-
ton in any form. And while on this point,
we demand also some expression as to the
manner in which the railway jobbers have