New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-25
A CONKLING MAJORITY.

A CONKLING MAJORITY.
THE PLANS OF THE LEADERS NOT YET KNOWN
THE INTENTIONS OF MR.. CURTIs-FINANCE
IBY TELEGRAPH TOT THE TRIBUNE
SARATOGA, Sept. 4.-The number OF delegates
to the Republican Convention already mere ID
very small, though it happens that among the lew
who have come are some of the most conspicuous
members of the party in the State. Senator Conk-
ling is on the ground. A. B. Cornell and George
William Curtis came in the same train this even
ing and Superintendent John f. Symth, chairman
of the State Committee, is also here Besides these
there is scarcely corporaps guard OF delegates
II cannot be said yet that these leaders know
their own plans, inasmuch as there has been no OPP
portunity for conference with any considerable
number of the members of the convention. 1t is
freely admitted, however, on all sides. that Mr..
Conklngs friends likely to be in larger force IN
this convention than in the last and the chief ques
ton of interest is as to the which the minor
ity will adopt. 1t seems to be well understood that
the majority, which must number more than three
quarters of the convention, if it is larger than
the majority of last year, is disposed to
use its power with moderation, and with wise re-
gard for the feelings of the minority. The state
ment is made, on excellent authority that Senator
Conkng's friends are willing to make concessions
in the intel ests of peace and will themselves pro-
pose a resolution which. without indOrsing the Ad-
ministration, will make favorable mention OF at
least one feature of its policy For instance it has
been suggested by some of Mr.. Conkling's sup
porters that a plank in the platform commencing
the efforts of the Administration to push the work
of resumption to as speedy conclusion as possible
could be adopted with appropriateness in connec-
ton with the hard-money planks, and might at the
same time please the friends of the President.
THE PROBABILITY OF HARMONY.
But some of the friends of the President deny
that they would be content with partial lndOrse-
ment of this sort. In connection with this subject
great deal of attention has been directed to an ed
itorial article in the last issue of Harpes Weekly
which is presumably from the pen of Mr. Curtis
and seems to foreshadow determination on his
part to demand an expression of opinion on the Ad-
ministration, however small the minority in the
convention may be- These are some of the more
outspoken sentences of the article:
After the vociferous demands Of harmony in the New
York Republican Convention. which is about TO meet, 1t
is little dro to find that the recipe for harmony Is sup
"a ses O THAT which this sO ind q eenes
Sar ns those s Who II the last CONVENTION
&c q sss SS that m sa
tested last was merely personal or faetous on
either SIDE It 20 be hoped certainly that win not re-
the welfare and of the party 1t will naturally re-
appear, unless It has ceased to exist or is not re
II is said that the Administration is of importance
Spa the %eTy e %e RapS PO viii oO 70
the convention TO know whether the Administration
ca Sc stated Without to the Ad%instraton
30 they but after the proceedings OF last year. and
Virtual censure Of the Administration We repeat
therefore, that If the difference OF last year merely
@on CONSENT but Il was real we do not see how It
NJ Iaatv
The natural inference from the uncompromising
tone of these remarks would be that Mr.. Curtis
would again take the stand he took last year. though
he took it alone but it is believed by some Repub
lcaDs who are in position to be informed as to the
temper of both wings of the party that the men
who followed Mr.. Curtis last year will not follow
him 30 far again that in short, the friends of the
Administration have decreased in number, and that
some of their representatives have signifed will
ingness to be satisfied with much less in the way of
eommendation Of the Administration than this
article seems to demand.
This has attracted more notice than it otherwise
would have done if it had not been for the universal
feeling that upon Mr.. Curtis, more than upon any
other man. depends the harmony of the convention.
There is very strong feeling among all classes of
Republicans with whom 1 have talked, at Albany
and here, that harmony is the first necessity of the
Republicans will insist upon show of hands, think
that it will be done more to make q record than to
obtain any advantage, and that there will be no at
tempt to fight battle over the question of ndorse-
ment. Mr. Curtis himself is reported as expressing
an ardent desire that nothing shall occur to create
ill-feelng, and that the prevailing wish for peace
full convention may be gratifed.
HARD-MoNRY PLATFORM
While there has been little opportunity for con-
sdering the platform, various consultations have
been had and drafts have been made.
II may be considered definitely settled that
hard money and the honest payment of the public
debt will be made the first and most important fea.
TIRES Of the platform. The Republican party in this
State has always been flying the hard-money flag;
but this year the pole is TO be pieced out little
and the flag is to fly higher than before The only
difference Of opinion this point seems to be among
those who are rivalling one another in search
Tor strong hard-money words and phrases. On this
point there will doubtless be absolute harmony
The disclosures made by the Maine election and the
massachusetts campaign have made this course in
esitable; and those Republicans in other parts of
'De Union who are looking to see the Republican
party Of the Empire State leading the fight for hon.
est money. will not be disappointed. II is also prob
able that an attempt will be made to remind voters
mat the greenback currency, which seems so pop
war even among those who have no sympathy with
so''-money notions, was created by the Republican
party, and that its efforts have been steadily
uiec'ed toward making the grecnback as good as
k0'a, and thereby enhancing it's purchasing power
for the laborer.
anere viii undoubtedly be strong plank upon
,se subject OF Southern claims and forcible in
u'csment Of the Democratic party for its attack
a'on The Presidents title, Its intimidation of voters
we southern States lite attempts 10 cut down the
amy and its persistency in adding to the prevail