New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-06
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE RESOLU-
7IDNS


| New England Conference OF the Methodist
| Church now in session at Lynn. 1t Is 80
short time since the same body OF clergy
men-if we rightly remember-was IN
| dulging in demonstrations OF delight
that almost bOrdered Oh hilarity, over the
proposition of Bishop Gilbert Haven to give
| third term to President Grant, that its present
melancholy mood presents contrast OF most
decreasing character. The political condition
Of the country seems to have been the first
subject struck by the Conference. Resolutions,
expressive of the sense OF the Conference
upon this interesting topic, were introduced as
the first business: they were read and received
with applause, discussed and sent to a committee.
1t is quite possible that the enthusiasm with
| which ON the former occasion Bishop Ravens
| nomination of President Grant for third
term was received, was partly due to the fact
| that the President and family were regular
attendants, and some of them members, or the
Rev. Dr. Newman's (MethOdisD Church. But
President Hayes and family are also Method
lists: so that the present respondent mood OF
| the Conference cannot be similarly accounted
| for.
What alarms the members of the Conference
| and fills them with apprehensions for the
future is the contemplation, as they say, OF
"the practical sale of one of the great polIti-
| zeal parties of the Republic by two politicians
"of that party who have held and now
"hold very intimate relations to the Presi-
"dent, thus sacrificing principle and party
"and righteousness for the sake of temporary
success From which it will be seen that
the author of the resolution is in possession OF
| fo1 fN fha
public 1t is to be regretted that he did not
communicate the sources of this information,
| with the formal expression of the feeling OF
encouragement and dependency it Occa-
stoned. We venture to suggest that the po-
| litical party referred to contains great
many members, and that, so far as can be gath
| cred from the ordinary indications of public
sentiment, very few of these members have
any suspicion that they or the party has been
sold. We are quite certain that an overwhelm-
ing majority of the party cordially approve
the policy of the Administration as far as devel-
| oped. If the Methodist brethren are quite conf
dent that their apprehension and alarm arise
| from the sale of the party, we beg to Teassure
| them: there has been none. III they mean
only that they are disappointed in the Prcsi-
dents policy, they might better have said
that they and not the party have been Sold
| If they will turn back to Gov. Hayes's letter
of acceptance, upon which the campaign was
| fought and the election carried, they will
find that he promised almost in terms to do
precisely what he has done with refer
ence to the Southern question. Whoever
thought the Republican candidate was lying
in his letter of acceptance was "sold," sure
| halin fha har Q
of the Conference had any such idea, or that
they really believe now that the fulilment OF
the promises of the campaign rs "sacrltice
of principle and party and righteousness"
There must be mistake somewhere. Their
apprehensions and alarm do not seem well
grounded.
The members of the Conference, or rather
| the author and supporters of the resolutions
| in question, "prOtest most earnestly against
the action of the Administration in making
"terms with the chief of the Ku-klux and
4" the instigatOr of the Hamburg massacre,
an. C. Butler" There's no harm in protesting,
but as the Administration has neither made terms
with Mr.. Butler nor proposed to, there's no call
to get excited about it, But they still more
earnestly protest against the official recOgni-
ton by the Administration of that arch
"enemy of the Republic, who long since
ought to have been hung for treason, Wade
Hampton of South Carolina, and who now,
"by threats and intimidation under the very
roof of the White House, as well as on rail-
"road platforms and in other public places,
"defies the power of the Government, and
"bullies Hayes into compliance with his trait
"orous and wicked usurpations." Here seems
to be another case of access to unusual
sources of information. 1t may be that
Hampton bulied Hayes into compliance with
his traitorous and wicked usurpations. but the
fact is certainly not generally known. Without
indulging for moment the suspicion that the
reverend author of these resolutions had no basis
of fact for the above sweeping assertions, we
may venture to say that little more ex-
plicitness as to the time and the circumstances
of the bullying referred TO would have gone
far to allay reasonable public curiosity upon
the subject. Perhaps Wade Hampton fought
&" to have been hung for treason" That ques-
ton. however, has been so far decided by
competent authority heretofore that resolu-
tons about it in religious or other assemblies
cannot be considered especially timely. And
AZ for the spirit of the resolutons-well,
they certainly do not lack vigOr or fire; but
there is an old book with which the members
of the Conference may be familiar, which, at
any rate, many of them think ought to be
read daily in all public schools, to the test OF
which they might be brought with profit. We
suggest the reading, say for instance Of the