Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-10-05
The view YorL Republican Convention

Ullu pulTOiiA'
The New York Republican Convention.
Before the assembling of the New York
Republican State Convention. which was
held at Rochester last week, it was generally
felt that there might be contest in the CON
venton between Senator Conliling and his
followers on the one hand. and George Will
liam Curtis and the reform element of the
party ON the other, on the question of an in
dorscment of President Hayes and his policy
toward the South and his plan of civil service
reform. Such contests had arisen in Maine,
in Ohio. and in other states, and it was not to
be wondered ut that there should also be an
honest difference of opinion among the Re
publicans Of New York, but it was not expect
ed that Senator Conkling would hold the con-
vention so entirely in his grasp. or that, hay-
ing the power. he would exercise il so arbi-
tiurily and for the qualification of his own
personal feeling as to place the body in OPP
position to the Administration and to the bet
ter sense Of the whole country, as was really
done. Upon the assembling of the conven-
ton on Wednesday T. c. Plat of Tioga was
IltNlt tilNl plthtl lll''
proceedings with speech containing severe
and ill-timed attack on the Administration
which had evidently been previously studied
and prepared with care. When the list of
permanent officers was made mp Mr. Conkling
was named rs permanent chairman, but upon
being led to the platform that gentleman de-
clined the honor, saying that he could serve
l.. .Io;
man of the committee on resolutions, and in
sistiug that Mr.. Plat should he made perma-
nent chairman. Mr.. Conkling's dictum on
this point was acceded to, and by this means
the convention was compelled to virtually en-
dorse Mr.. Platt's coarse attack on the Admin
istution. When the committee on resolutions
presont,d their report it was found to be en-
tirely non-committal on the subject of the
Presidents Southern policy. while upon his
methods of civil service reform, forbdding
the participation by Office holders in the man
agement and control of partisan politics, the
resolutions were plainly and decidedly in OPP
position advising. as substitute, a settled
and definite tenure Of office, the officials to be
subject to removal only for cause When the
for re-reading of the non-committal sections
of the platform relating to national affairs,
and this having been done, he offered sub
stitute, which, i'll the simplest and most di-
rect and moderate language possible, express
ed the sympathy of the party in New York
with the Administration. The resolution was
in the following words -
=, - =, II T.,
the presidency is rs clear and perfect that
of George Washington. We gladly recognize
his eminent patriotism, proved in the field
and in civil life. We heartily commend hiA
efforts for the permanent pacificaiion of the
southern section of the Union. and for the
correction Of evils and abuses in the civil ser
vice, Us strictly conformrd to his own pledges
and to the declarations of the convention that
nominated him. and aS tending to the promo
ton Of the public welfare. Recognizing that
the work is but begun. we shall hail with sat
isfaction its prompt and vigorous prosecution,
| in which the president may couhIingly rely
upon tAg cordial support Of the country.
Mr.. Curtis followed the reading of his reso.
luton with a strong and admirable speech il
its support, urging with force which called
forth the applause, even of his opponents
| that, failing to meet these questions of civil
service reform and the pacifcation of the
South fairly, promptly, fully, we (the con
vention) do ourselves bitter injustice, We dc
our great party foul wrong, because, as il
seems to me- we shake the confidence of tho
| country-the country which is waiting ever
at this moment upon the deliberations of this
convention-the confidence of the country il
the Republican party as the party of reform.
A general debate upon the question of Mr.
Curtis's amendment followed, closing with
speech from Mr.. Conkling, in which he hurl
| ed all his power of scorn, bitter sarcasm ant
| polite vitupemtion against MIR. Curtis, apply
ing to him such insulting personalities as tn,
''man-milliner, the dilettante and carpet
knight of politics" who attempts to play
schoolmaster to the Republican party"
whose stock in trade is rancid, fiat self
righteousness :" and who imngines that par
ties are built up by department, by ladies
magazines or by gush." The special cores
| pondent of the New York Times declares tha
Mr.. Conkling crowded into this speech of al
| hours length more uncalled-for abuse of hi
personal and political adversaries, more ven
ON, more nonsense and understandable gusl
than the fair-minded Republicans of New
York will be able to digest in a score of years
He abused Mr., Curtis like fsh-wife, and wa
well Kissed for his pains from first to last
He acted more like a maniac than sensibl,
man. The harmony of the party, the good O
the State, seemed to amount to nothing in hi
eyes Believing that he had the convention
behind him, he exercised his power to the ut
most. He held nothing sacred, and denounc
ed everybody and everything that had eve
come in his way"
At the close of his speech Mr.. Conklin,
moved the previous question and Mr.. Curtis
amendment was lost by vote of 100 to 29j
The original resolutions were then adopted
and at midnight the convention adjourned t.
Thursday morning, when the following nom
nations were made; Secretary of State
John C. Churchill of Oswego; controller
Francis Sylvester of Columbia; treasurer
William L. Bostwick of Ithaca attorney
general, Granville Tremain of Albany stat
engineer, Howard Soule of Onandaga.
Perheps the best comment that has been o
can be made on this convention and its re
suits is that it vindicates in the most forcibl
manner the wisdom of the Presidents orde
to office-holders. The action of the conven
ton was directed by one man who has beei
able to gain and hold the control of his part
in the State by means of patronage, and it i
in this way that the ofiice-holding element ha
overruled the will of the people. That tn
action of Mr.. Conkling and his followers doe
not correctly represent the views of the mas
of the Republican party in the State become
every day more evident. With but two o
three exceptions the press of the State con
dennis the work of the convention in un
measured terms, and the Union League Clul