New-York tribune., 1876-07-17
CANNING TOO MUCH WEIGHT

ings aud exhOrtat.Ons, ana all the lessons
which have been furnished it by President
Grants own conduct, and by the elections IN
which the people have signiied their diN'auS-
faction and disgust. has never yet brought It.
self I'D quite to the mark of disowEing the
Administration and disclaiming responsibility
for its acts. IN one or two instances, perhaps
within the past three years, Republican, state
Conventions have gone so far as TO ignore 1t OF
pass it over without an express Endorsement
and approval. But it has been the almcst IN
variable habit of these Conventions to put INTO
the windy platltudes Of the platform, among
the empty boasts of iJ5 record and the silly
pointing TO the past with pride, OF which
we have had so much, some distinctly
commendatory resolution approving III
terms the most unqualified the whole course
and policy of the present Administration. Cnti-
cism has not been permitted nor compliant
tolerated the very fur.heSt step that has been
allowed in the direction of dsapprobation has
been the maintenance of discreet and siSniii-
cant silence, and this in hut few instances.
The average sentiment of the party managers
was expressed by the delegate TO Connecticut
convention a year or two ago, who said he had
come to the Convention 10 indorSe Grant. and
Z" if they weren't going TO do that he was gong
"holne" The bitterness of hostile criticism
of the President and his acts seemed to lead
M TO this result and this only, that his
own party, whatever else it did. was
bound to defend him to stand by him,
as he did by his suborlinates, so long as he
was under fire. The fruits of this method OF
dealing with the President are now fully ripe !;
indeed have passed ripeness and are rotten
The party leaders have only themselves 10
thank for it, but it is high time for them to
begin to consider how they may escape the
consequences of their persistent folly. Iney
have continued it up to the present moment
The very last Convention it held the one
which nominated HAYES and Wheeler, could
not refrain from passing the usual resolution
complimentary TO the President.
There has been change, however, within
the past few weeks. This business Is getting
dangerous Mischief has been done already by
il. The question is how to sOunterct thtt
ALREADY done and how prevent the accomplish
ment OF more. Whatever excuses or eSplana-
tions may have been offered for the strange
conduct of the President in the past, toI his
unaccountable appointments and his miserable
associations and surroundings, we take it that
there i no mistaking his position now. lie
has at last shown his hand so clearly and un-
mstakaily that those who have pcen most
devoted to his personal fortunes cannot pre-
tend longer that he has been misTcpIcsonted or
abused by his critics. The serious question
now is how TO throw the burden OIL. and
place the party in tn" same attitude toward
the present Administration which Gov.
Hayes by his admirable letter of acceptance
has already assumed. President Grants relation
Ia the reform movements favored by the Re-
publican platform and candidates Is that OF
an undissuised opponent He feels that he
ard his administration have been attacked,
and he openly takes a hostile attitude. y
member OF his Cabinet i Chairman ot the
Nation | Committee, and of all the supporters
of the Cincinnati ticket in the Senate and
House, there is noo one who has yet publicly
condemned or even criticised his recent acts.
Their silence conveys to the popular mind
the impression that they still Sis
tain him. They are the party's repre-
sentativcs and their position Will be taken TO
be that of the party. Gov. Hayes cannot
make this fight alone. However well assured
the people may be of his honesty and his
determination To carry out reiern!s. they viii
not give their votes to the party which, not
w;thstanding It's candidates and platform,
sustiinS Grant in his anti-rcform crusade. II Is
too late now to pass over the conduct OF the
Administration in silence. 1t must he dis
Guctly and explicitly unloaded, and the panty
relieved from the responsibility and the odium
of il.
TO do this there is hut one way open. The
State and Congressional Conventions to be held
throughout the county between this time and
the October elections mast give the people the
positive assurance that the party has no SYM
pathy with the President in his recent per
folmances. he people must be made to see
that there Is no doubt on tins subject that
the policy of the future is laid down in Gov.
Haycs's letter Of acceptance and not fore
shadowcd by the recent Cabinet changes. Ii
is of the utmost importance that guarantees
for this should be offered in the character
of the candidates selected for the Offices
TO be filed. The party cannot afford,
under existing circumstances. TO handicap
the Presidential ticket with local can
dilates concerning whom or their position
there is The least suspicion or doubt The
Presidential ticket must be reinforced, not
loaded down. Ii cannot carry Grantism in
any form or anything that has the taint or
smell of it, The campaign promises to he n
warm one, and too close TO permit any trihng
or carelessness. The Republican leaders in all
the States, and especially in New York, where
the result is of the highest importance, will
do well to consider this fact in making their