New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-08

A HESITATION on THE PART OF THE LATE kErOp
1IcAN CONFERENCE TO PLANT ITS BANNERS On
THE ONLY CREST THAT CAN BE HELD
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON. April 7.-One of the most dlscoui
aging features of the conference of Republican
managers held at the Capitol last Thursday evening
has thus far escaped public notice.
I'm talking over the coming Congressional eiec-
tions-laying plans for the management of the ran
compaipn and selecting questions on which q square
issue with the Democrats can proftably be made
before the people it was remarked anu
acquesced in by a majority of those present that
il will not be wise for the party as such to take any
distinctive position on the questions OF hnahce
which have agitated the country for the last year
1t was said that it will not do for the Republican
party TO commit itself either to the defence OF the
Resumption Act, or to a demand Tor ITS Iepcai /;
either position would be rcpuda cd by large class
of Republican voters, and would drive these men
away from the support Of the Republican candidates
1t seemed therefore, to be the prevailing
opinion that any central organization of the
party like the Congressional Committee,
snould avoid the money question: and
il was even hiuted that the Greenback movement
is assuming such proportions, III some districts OF
Ncw-York and New England, that even where the
Republican party has heretofore been uncompromis-
=
act with great caution. Ia fact, majority of the
Republican leaders present at that conference
seemed to think that it best TO dodge the
money question for the present, while some of them
were anxious that the party should make open war
upon the President particularly for his action in the
Louisiana and South Carolina eases.
1t is true that there are some Congressional dis
tricts in the West which are strongly Republican,
and are at tho time almost entirely given over
to the imitation doctrines that have lately seemed TO
gather new strength both in and ont of Congress.
In such districts, Republicans who really represent
their constituents, and who are also in favor Of
silver and grecnback imitation viii undoubtedly be
nominated and elected. These districts will be ear
rcd by the Republicans no matter what position
the party as a whole may take in It's resolutions on
the money question So, too especially in the East.
there are mauy districts which VIII certainly elect
hard-moucy Republicans even if the party should
pat an initiation plank into lis general platform. Ia
districts belonging 10 neither of these two classes
will anything be gained 10y avoiding what every
body knows to be one Of the vital questions II
present politics.
There remain those districts in which there are
Democratic majoritics and those which are doubt
full. The Democratic districts IN which tie ma
joritcs are large viii not be captured by the Rcpnh-
licans by any policy Of dodgne. In those IN which
hchard-moncy sentiments Observation-Disclosures
Democrats Will be nominated and elected while
in those in which the Iuhatouist- are in minority,
Grccnbayk Democrat, viii bc returned, whether the
Republicans face the question or not.
In the doubtful districts the attitude Of the Re-
puhlicans ON tho money question may have some in
flucuce and may cause the party to gain OF lose
Representatives ~ Congrcss, bat the gains VIII bc
made by brave, determined stand IN favor II
honest currency rather than BY any attempt TO
ignore so important question or by adopting non
committal policy. In doubtful districts the Gr"cn-
hackers" unless they have candidates Of their
own, Will 60 with the party which on the
whole is favorable u their schemes aud
they cannot be made 10 believe, 10y any
silence on the subject IN Republican platforms
that imitation will not have better ch1nce "a
Democratic Congress than III htpah4l'ah; hti
there arc in all of these doubtful districts haid-
money men who are inclined to 20 With the D'inn-
Gratis whose votes can be secured for the hrphpH-
cans by q brave and straightforward cuuucla.
ton Of principles, aud courageous drlrh'r 81
them. Ohio has Tor year, been tic hdillr-RIoihi'i
on which Eayc' been fought oUt before the p''W"
the contest, bet wccu honest currency and iuiiiuu;
and the Republicans have never won when they
have temporiZcd with the question:. HE President
remarked to friend al the close ni the campaign ~
that state last Fall, that Ice believed that square
stand-up hight, made oT republican, VINO Ntii' ~
earnest against the SILVER ana gIr-hnIck
craze, would have won a majority oi the districts,
and he is not the only one who holds that opiuou.
The Republican party az q whole il solennly com
mittcd TO the support Of the Resumption Act and
the defence of the public credit On tins platform
II has It's victories; and Wiilc some lcHtH'HId-
five members of it and some constituencies aIc out
of accord with it on hcs" questions, rs only nope N
the future is 10 be true To It's past record II u doc
not assume the offensive Oh the money question ~
will have 10 meet the issue md Disadvantages and
ON the ground prepared by the Democratic party (;
for even II the Republicans do ignore TIE question:
the Democrats Will not and il will certainly De one
oil the vital questions Of the campaign. 4. l. W.