The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-01


Springfield, Illinois
Republicans Have no Praise tor Their
Ow. President.
Senator Blaine, of Maine, was a candi- |
date before the Cincinnati convention for
the presidency. He failed to receive the
nomination. and Gov. Hayes caught the
prize, but il does not follow that Blaine
has at all weakened in his desire to reach
the presidency, or that he is not as atten-
tive to his own interests in that direction
as he we'll can be. The same remarks in |
a general way viii equally well apply to
Senator Conkling whose bitterness against
Hayes has of late been rather strongly in
tensifed by the removal of his trussy and in
Auential henchmen from among the custom
house appointees at New York. Last year
the voice of the New York State republic
can convention under the sharp and perso-
nal discipline of Mr., Conkling himself was
made to be decidedly outspoken against
President Hayes. The example OF
New York State was not close
~ initiated by the Republican
State Conventions in general, though
among all the States of the North there
were none which gave on open and wholly
unequiyocal endorsement of Mr.. Hayes or
his administration. At that early period
10 his presidency it was undoubtedly felt
by a large part of the republican party
that although Hayes course was anything
but satisfactory to the radical sentiment of
the party, it still was only the part of
prudence not to openly break with the
man who was and is substantially the
fountain of patronage ard party favor. A
love of Office, or as often expressed. the
cohesive power of public plumber, prevent
ed Republican State Conventions from
openly condemning and repudiatiDg the
man and his policy, both of which they
however cordially disliked not to say
actually detested. The expression OF the
party through its ordinary channels did not
therefore clearly reflect the real feelings
of republicans, but was partly suppress
sion of indignation, partly an indefinite
hope that Hayes would recognize the
growing dislike of his party to his policy
aud bring himself more closely in unison
with the demands of the radical section,
and partly an unwilhngness to exhibit to
the country how deeply and fatally party
interests were being lost or sacrificed by
president whom they had them
selves made, who became such
with strong faint of fraud in his official
title and under circumstances which had
created a bitterness and antipathy not
easily controlled. and which it was not
prudent to excite to further and more
dangerous extent.
But the peculiar characteristics of Mr..
Hayes administration have in no degree
changed to more favorable aspect in the
radical view of affairs, and the offensive
ness Of his action towards prominent
leaders of the party has only rendered
them more FESTIVE and outspoken and his
policy more uncomfortable. At this pres
rather remarkable spectacle of an ad-
ministration with head claiming to he
strictly in accord with the principles
of the party which elevated it to power,
and yet is in fact an administration which
receives no sympathy and is not in general
accord with the only party to which it can
appeal or look to,for aid and party sup
port AS the official term of Mr.. Hayes
draws nearer its close the language Of his
party, or the expression of the republican
party to whom he owes his official exis.
tence, become more significant, and the
studied withholding OF even the most com
mon place terms OF Endorsement stand out
in ugly contrast to the usual party eulogies
and the customary resolution Of praise
and approval.
The most significant act Of the Republi-
can State Conyention Of Maine, yesterday,
was its entirely ignoring the existence Of
Hayes, in this respect being like several
other noted assemblages, a long advance
in positive exhibition Of feeling over the
general action of republican conventions Of
last year. There is no longer any attempt
to compromise or heal the
breach. no semblance of amity
and concord A republican convention in.
Maine is generally supposed to be manag-
ed at this time largely if not exclusively in
the interest of Senator Blaine. and for the
furtherance of his presidential aspirations.
The action ofyesterday convention makes
it conclusive that Blaine has no longer any
hopes that support of Hayes presidency
will be Of personal service to himself. He
no doubt feels that his chances, whatever
they may be, are strengthened and inn
proved among the rank and file of the
party by virtual abandonment of Hayes
and an attempt to save the party and its
chances in 1880 with no further reference
to his administration than to secure for
party benefit whatever may be obtained
by assessments and contributors of Office
holders as a campaign fund. a 3
IL 2 Z