Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-04-25
Republican Caucus.

A large Republican caucus, composed of
members of the State Central and Executive
Committees, members of the General Assem-
bly,, and prominent visiting Republicans
drawn to the city by the circular invitation to
attend the State Central Committee meeting,
assembled in the hall of the House of Repre-
sentatives Wednesday night.
Enthusiastic speeches were made by Rev.
B. w. Arnett, of Urbana, ex-Gov. Dennison,
General Beatty, General Grosvenor and Ben
jamin Eggleston, all counseling united action
the Democratic party.
Representative Covert called attention to
the fact that Secretary Sherman had written
a letter in response to an invitation to the
caucus; whereupon there was general call
for it, and it was produced and read, as fol-
lows:
WARRINGTON, April Is, 1878.
DEAR SIR: Your circular letter of April 2
was duly received.
My official engagements will not permit me
to attend the meeting you propose, and it
would be better that, as an officer of the Gov
ernment of the United States, should not
personally participate in the direction of the
campaign. l feel deeply interested in the
election Of the next Hou-e of Representatives,
i'll the hope that it may contain majority Of
those who agree with us in opinion that Re
publican policy should prevail in the popular
branch of Congress, and no effort should be
spared to bring about that result, especially in
Ohio, which hitherto has, in the main, been
in the vanguard of our political contests, and
ought now to be true to the principles and
convictions which gave to our State so much
honor during the war.
Upon two or three things we certainly
ought to agree. This is Republican Admin
istraton; the President was elected by the
Republicans; he has been faithful and true to
pledges made by the party in the Convention
that nominated him, and represents the aspi-
rations and hopes of the best elements of
our party Some complaint has been made
as to the distribution of offices, and as to the
interference of officers in elections, but surely
such complaints should not come from the
people, upon whom properly deyolves the
conduct of all political movements free from
officious interference by Federal officers.
With very rare exceptions, founded upon
local or special reasons, Republicans have
been nominated to Office, and official duty has
been faithfully and we'll performcd-as much
so as during any period of our history.
1t is true, also, that the policy of coneilia-
tion to the South, from the highest motives of
public good, and has resulted in quiet, peace
and order, and, as believe, will in due time
result in the asceDdency of the Republican
party in several of the Southern States.
Upon the financial question we certainly
have done what we promised to do. We
have faithfully executed the law providing
for the resumption of specie payments, and
the equality of gold and silver and paper
money is now so near that it would be the
height of madness to recede to the uncertain
ty and perils of inconvertible paper money.
The law SO much deserted and so much mis-
understood has worked its way to successful
execution, and in little while, confidence
being restored, all forms of money will con-
tribute to promote the revival of industry.
The only threat that endangers the public
peace and safety is the restoration of the
Democratic party to power. Embittered by
being long out OF power, composed largely
of elements that warred against the Govern
ment, and having no sympathy with the
measures that now are in coarse Of successful
execution, and, from the nature of their posi-
ton, interested in a policy as to Southern
claims which would impoverish the Treasury
and arouse anew all the bitterness of sectional
strife, cannot but regard its restoration to
power as the only danger that really threatens
our public peace and safety. II is far better
that we should meet and resist this danger,
than to quarrel among ourselves about the
smaller questions of official patronage and
official interference in elections
Very truly yours, JOHN SHERMAN.
Gen. j. s. Robinson, Chairman, etc., Colum
bus, Ohie.
Throughout the caucus was harmonious
and encouraging. 1t opened up a brilliant
prospect for the Republicans of Ohio.
10. S. Journal, Goth inst.