New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-17
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
OHIO REPUBLICANS.
SPIRIT on THEIR CoNYENTION.


HAYES.
lFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRBUSEI
CINCINNATI, June 15.-The Republicans in their
convention Wednesday did not repeat their mistake
of last year. They were true to their conservative
traditions and did not reach ont into the chaos Of
the labor agitation for strange and ll-ftting ma
terials to put into their platform There no
anxiety shown to court the votes Of the crack
Drained agitators who are sowing the bad seed Of
French Communism and German Socialism in this
country. The platform appeals only to the
intelligent, stable classes Ii avoids another
in refraining from harping the strings of dead
issues. The questions 1t deals with were right
under its hand, ready-made for its purpose by the
action of the Democrats in Congress and the Ohio
Legislature. These it seizes upon with a vigorous
grasp. The line of action it marks out wl un-
doubtedly be closely followed in the campaign.
There will be no discussion of first of dis
agreement among Republicans, and effort to
revive settled issues and make them serve again as
party ralyng cries. The Democracy will be fought,
not on its war record, its reconstruction record,
or its financial record, but on the new
record it has made during the past six
months at Washington and Columbus. No
disclaimers OF apologies will divert the attack to
which it has lain itself open by its demonstration
against the Presidents ttle The purpose to UNDER
mine his authority, blacken his character, and en-
way to some revolutionary act in the future, is too
plain 70 be covered up by any hypOerltcal dlsaYow-
ais. The Ohio Republicans intend TO put first and
foremost in the canvass the right OF Rutherford Is.
Hayes TO be President Of the United States for four
years from March 4, 1877, undisturbed by Iilden
plots for his displacement. If the Democrats want
to convert the campaign into fraud-howling
match the Republicans will meet them there,
and will be prepared to show that the Tilden can
vass, from the st. Louis convention TO the final
decision Of the Electoral Commission. was game
of fraud and bribery throughout. The efforts to
buy Republican electors in South Carolina. Louis
lana and Oregon Will not be overlooked, and the
hasty dispatch of 81 900 of Tildens money TO Gin
ennati just before the October election to pay
Eph Hollands repeaters will make prominent
figure in the brief indictment. Republicans feel
that they have stood on the defensive long enough
in this raudshrieking business and that it is high
time to strike back with the weapons their adyer-
sares have put into their hands.
If all national issues ere excluded the Repubh
cans would stil have abundant material for Wig
OrOus aggressive canvass in the OdOus record of tho
Ohio Legislature. People living in other States can
have no idea how intensely this body is detested.
The depths Of meanness it descended to for partisan
purposes almost surpass belief Its whole aim was
to make places for Democratic politicians and to
grasp every yestge of sp0lls and patronage The
State benevolent institutions were upturned by
special reorganization acts, and the experienced
physicians, matTOns and nurses Of the blind, the
feeble-mindcd the deaf and dumb, and the soldiers
orphans were discharged to make room Tor persons
whose only qualification was their party services.
The gerrymanderng Of the Congressional districts
will be sharply attacked in the canvass. This
performance is absolutely indefensible, and the
Democratic newspapers have already given mp the
job The Legislature took up the districts, cyphered
on them on the basis of the election of 1876 when
the Republicans had 1000 majority in the State,
and recarved them so to give the Democrats four
teen Congressman and the Republicans only SIX.
| An attempt was made to apologize for this out
rage the representative rights Of the people
by pretending that it was only offset
to the Republican Redistricting Law of 1871 but the
simple fact that at the second election under that
law the Democrats secured majority OF the Con-
gressmen eXplOdes that excuse completely. The
truth is that the Republican law was fair, and the
Democratic law is grossly unfair Under the former.
whichever party carried the State was pretty GER
tain to get majority in the Congress delegation
under the latter the Democrats are sure OF at least
twelve out of the twenty Congressman, with a Re-
publican majority of 10000
The convention got over or got around the ques-
ton of indOrslng the Administration in about the
wisest way practicable few weeks ago the Penn
sylvana plan of ignoring the President might have
been adopted. but since the Potter investigation
Mr.. Hayes has gained immensely in popularity, and
there is a disposition to look kindly upon his policy
out of sympathy for him and indignation at the as
saults upon him. The convention would not have
been satisfied without expression of confidence.
in his integrity and patriotism. The positive anti
Hayes element did not comprise One-fOurth of the
body. At the same time the extreme policy in
d0rement men were in even smaller minority.
The heavily dominant sentiment to
heartily recognize Mr.. Hayes as an honorable.
hgh-minded Republican President, who has given
the country a pure Administration and to say
nothing about the features of his policy about
specific performances which have not met with the
unanimous approval of the party. This was the
only sensible course to take There thousands of
Republicans who would not vote the ticket if the
platform had contained a general Endorsement Of
the Administration, and there are other thousands
g h.
or any slur put upon him. Mutual concession and o
spirit of tolerance toward all opinions on this sub
ject will consolidate the party and bring out the
full vote aud 1t such spirit which controlled
the shaping of the platform and the action OF the
convention.
The financial question IS treated by the platform
as already settled and the only thing said about 10
is to deprecae any attempts to reopen agitation IL
is certainly little singular that the accomplish
ment of the erd of resumption, SO long hoped for
and labored for, should be passed over without
word of rejoicing or Of praise for the consistency
and devotion with which the Republican party has
srven for fourteen years TO achieve this patriotic
purpose; but our platform builders were
evidently afraid of the lingering imitation sem
timent which still alicts some good Ohio Republic
cans. The tariff plank would have been stronger
had it not been for the opposition OF delegates
coming from strictly farming counties IN the western
part of the State, who do not take kindly to protee
AZ a whole. the platform must be regarded az a
tOlerably successful piece of work, and one which
will soldify the party and stimulate It's zeal TO
fight the Democracy. The ticket is good one. IL
not particularly strong, Il is entirely safe and re-
spectacle and is the best that could have been made
from the material available.
1t is too early to talk about the probable results
of the campaign, but the brightness of the Rebuff
hcan prospects is too apparent to be overlooked
by any observer of the political field. From all
parts of the State comes the report of harmony
and zeal among the Republican masses. Ia
vherp he dissatisfaction
greatest last year. there seems 70 be desire 70
retrieve their reputation and get out their old