The Portland daily press., 1877-09-29
SATURDAY MORNING. SEPT. 20.

publican should seek to wound ansther py |
compelling him to surrender bis conVicilonS ID
matters of individual belief. II SO. much toier-
alton could not be accorded. farty actlon
would be abortive Were this convention
agreed about any matter tit to commend to the
public and thought 1t wise TO present 1t, there
that the case with the subjects impaired by
the pending resolution? ask you who have
heard this debate aud the tone and manner
sometimes assumed. Could anything more
fully reveal deep or binding conf let of indg-
ment? We find wide difference of under
standing as to what has in reality been and
what is to be the action and position of the
national authorities, and then we ind VIDE
dlfference OF opinion as 10 the right and WIS
dom OF particular proceedings. ln one part OF
the convention to coeTce the other part to sur
render its Judgment and its conscience, or are
we to present the spectacle OF convention
agreed about everything before it, but splitting
and quarrelliDg over matters not falling within
the scope of its duties, and all this that sooth-
sayers and phrasemoDgers may have their way.
There seems to be huge anxiety to ply the Re-
publicans of this state with catechisms and
test oaths and to place them in false positions.
We read great deal and hear great deal of
rumors of wars to be waged and crusades to be
preached and vengeance to be wreaked. What
is the meaning of all this? Why the Repub-
lcans of New York should be thought predis-
posed to ind fault with Mr.. Hayes passes my
comprehension. They nominated him; gave
him more votes for his nomination than any
other state did or could give. Without them
he could never have become the candidate.
Those votes came from men, most of whom
felt bound in honor and bound in morals truth
fully to represent the constituency which had
trusted Them
THE MEMBER FROM RICHMOND.
Even the member from Richmond was, be-
lieve, in the end prevailed upon, after much
difficulty, to confer his unique and delicate vote
also. The Republicans of New York made
one of the most faithful and arduous canvasses
ever made for the success of the ticket, and,
under needless and perplexing embarrassments
they gave it an unexampled vote. The delega-
ton in Congress from New York, with few ex-
ceptons, heartily supported the measure with
out which Mr.. Hayes would never have been
effectually inaugurated. A measure, of which
one in great authority said, as reported in the
New York Times: "Now, looking back after
NV observation and experience of men and
things in Washington during the progress Of
the count by the fundamentally Of the COM
mission, / am thoroughly persuaded that its
creation and organization and action saved us
from anarchy, confusion and civil war. | be-
leve its adoption was the dictate of wisdom
and patriotism" These are the words of Mr..
Stanley Matthews and his close and influential
relationship give special importance to.all he
says. Mr. Matthews might have added
another thing about the Electoral Commission.
He might have said that its decision, and the
fact that tribunal with judicial powers did
decide, is the one ground On which the title of
the presidency is now upheld and defended.
During the only session which has occurred
since the 4th of Marcia session of the Senate
If opposition was made to any measure OF the
administration, that opposition did not come
from New York. Surely no Republican in this
state has made war on the present adminlstra-
ton to my knowledge. 1t cannot be denied
that wanton assaults have been made on Re-
publicans and kept up by newspapers supposed
to be inspired by advisers and champions of
the President. 1t cannot be denied that other
assaults and acts of hostility are constantly &C.
curing, which it is hard to reconcile with a
wish of their authors to preserve the Republic
can party. 1t is equally hard to reconcile much
that we witness with consistency and fair
ness. If the convention will pardon person al
allusion, / will illustrate this in my own case,
though other cases are but less marked. We
bear unmeasured denunciaton of men holding
office and taking part in political campaigns.
Last year l was an otfice-holder, as L am this
- year, and malarial diseases contracted 10 Wash
ington disabled me for months. 1t was out OF
the question for me to undertake the labors of
q canvass, but. contrary to the positive injunc-
ton of my physician, attempted to address
my neighbOrs on the issues of the day, and the
attempt gave sufficient caution against its rep
etition Because did not and could not do
more /, as an office-holder have been bitterly
denounced far and wide to this day, and by the
same men who now insist that every man IN
Office who even signs notice of convention
shall be degraded and removed, so Hagrant is
it deemed of a sudden for office-holders to take
any part in the work of the Republican party.
But let me illustrate the apparent determi-
nation to assail and create disturbances among
Republicans. Since the spring session of
the Senate no occasion has existed, none has
been given by me to the new-found party over
seers to administer corrections. About half
the time have been absent from the coun-
try, in the hope of Graduating some remains
of fever. When in the country L have been
always pressingly occupied by matters of bust
ness accumulated during protracted illness
and absence from home. Politics bave not
engaged me; no utterances hostile to N en-
or measures have proceeded from mel not a
49, stra has been laid in the way of any man CT
of his ambitions or schemes, Bot still have
been the object OF persistent assaults and mis-
representations, coming, 1T so happens, from
those claiming to speak especially for the
National Administration. On returning home
few words of greeting could not be spoken to
neighbors and personal friends of both parties
without drawing down bitter and scornful
denuncations for not making political speech
indorsing the policy of the Administration,
These anxious and superserviceable characters
seem determined to know nothing but the
President and his policy and them crucifed
To say word of things at home aud abroad
has beeD treated as crime. To say nothing at
all has been to be reprOached aud vilifled con-
stantly. Appeals, pubic and private, have
been addressed to my neighbors begging them
not to send me to this convention, and these
appeals stated the no doubt unauthorized pre-
tence that my selection would not be agreeable
to the national authorities. The meaning of
all this is not obscured by the fact that the new
President has been surrounded and courted by
men who have long purred about every new
~ administration, some of them for more years
disinterested patrols asuli lived. Some of these
since the days of Pierce the friends aha hhaYe peer
OF all administrations, and the betrayers of all
The assaults they incte are somewhat annoy
ing, and my nature is one less inclined to meek.
ness and iong-sutfering than it should be- Il
would have been luxury to unfrock some of
tnose men and the purposes engaged in this
Work' put u mas seemed to me the duty of
every sincere Republican, especially of one SO
deeply indebted as 1 to the Republican party.
to endure great Zeal rather than saw or do
anything tending to introduce division or CON
uoversy into the party ranks For this reason
not word OF reply has escaped me- In time
1t may De thought just as well, in this case and
Others not less marked. to cali off the dogs
For one deeply regret all these things in so
faI as they are personal and aimed at indi-
viduals. They are of little consequences in 81
far as they are the acts of those who beret0fore
deserted ana betrayed the Republican PARTY
ana are now stnvlng to make it subserye their
personal advancement. They need NOS be
wondered at, but their tendency is hurtfnl and
canDot De misunderstood nor entirely ignored
EVERYTHING FOR PEACE.
am not for making these things the subject
OF action. am for the peace and prosperity of
TINS country and of all its people in every sec.
tlon and In every state. L am for everything
LENDING 10 thatend. One thing which does tend
20 tuO iudiuttuduC6 anu dSC6D0elcF
OF the Republican party. L am therefore. for
the unity OF Republicans and the integrity Of
their principles. L am for one thing more. and
that is the success of the National Admnstra.
ton-lts success in everything that is lust and
wise and loyal according to the Constitution
and laws, and the common sense aud interest
OF the nation. The future will test the sipcerj-
ty OF all concerned in this respect. Mr. HAYES.
when inaugurated, deserved from the party
which supported him just what Mr.. Lincoln and
Gen. Grant deserved at the outset of their adj
mlnstrahons. What is that? Fair friendly
and dispassionate consideration of his acts.
Wherever he is right he should be sustained.
Wherever he is msled by unwse or sinister
advice, at proper time and in proper spirit.
dissent should be expressed This right Of
Judgment is the right of every citizen. It is
right which, in common with others, exercise
ed personally and in the seats with which I
have been honored in the national councils un
der the administrations both of Mr. Lincoln
and ct Gen. Grant Neither of them ever OBJ
Jected to this. Both were thankful to any man
who in good faith stated reasons corrective of
their action. They never deemed an honest diff
ference of opinion cause for war or quarrel nor
were they afflicted by having men hanging