The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-04-25


is insufficient. A new platform must con-
tain something about the currency. Sup
pose we say that while the Republican
party recognizes the intrinsic value of
gold and silver, and the battle-born as
sociations of greenbacks, it demands a
currency which will satisfy the expecta-
tons ofpatriots and the needs of the ma.
ton. This would offend nobody, and
bind the party to nothing"
Mr.. Sherman remarks we're we'll res
ceived, and Mr.. Hayes said that he saw
nothing Objectionable in the proposed
plank. He then offered a suggestion that
the new platform should take bold
ground in favor of singing hymns. Il
have" he remarked, "as you all know,
make hymn>singing an important part of
my policy, and its success is incontesta-
Bile. Ihave memorandum showing that
eighteen distinct Methodist ministers
have been conciliated by hearing that
we sing hymns at the White House on
Sunday night; and my misguided friend,
Colonel Ingersoll,i is the only person who
has opposed the administration in this
matter"
This proposal led to long discussion.
Mr.. Thompson was in favor of singing
Protestant hymns, but he thought that
the liberties of the nation would be lost
if the Republican party were to favor
even by implication the singing of Pos
pish hymns. Mr.. Schurz said he would
support a proposal to sing songs, but the
word hymns had, to his mind, a sectari>
an sound. Mr.. Key begged to suggest
that "Dixie" was good enough hymn
tor southern man, and that it must be
included by name among Republican
hymns. The other members of the Cab.
met were, however, decidedly opposed
to hymn singing, and the president finals
ly yielded to their opinions.
Mr.. Hayes next suggested that as to
civil service reform it would be we'll to
speak plainly and firmly. Suppose"
he said, "that the new platform was to
assert that no faithful public servant shall
be removed unless at the written request
of two Southern Democrats, or of one
Ohio voter. This would place the party
squarely on the side ofreform and would
give it great strength in Ohio and the
South" Strange as it may seem, this
suggestion was not well received. Mr..
Schurz said that the Administration had
already tried that kind of civil service
reform without any striking success, and
Mr.. Evarts said that if the court pleased
he would move that a NOls 6r0SegNi
should be entered in regard to civil serr
vice reform until some plan could be de-
vised for inducing the public to believe
that it meant something besides the ap.
pointment of Ohio men to office. Accord
ingly, the subject was dropped, and the
President proceeded 10 make new sug,
gestion.
"You are we'll aware, gentlemen" he
went on to say, ''that the negro has, to
certain extent, disappeared from Ameri
can politics since the era of conciliation |
began. Still, he was once a potent force.
Would it not be well if the heart of the
Republican party were to bleed once
more for the poor negro?' With one ac-
cord the Cabinet said it would not do.
"If we allow our hearts to bleed over
the poor negro, how are we to conciliate
the South?" asked Mr.. Sherman. Far
be it from me to insist upon consistency, |
than which nothing is more fatal to pos
litcal success. Nevertheless, having |
definitely abandoned the negro, we can
not now take him up without undoing all |
that conCiliation has so far accomplish,
ed. We might let our hearts bleed over
the poor Indian, but the less we say about
the negro the better"
"There is only one thing more" re-
marked Mr.. Hayes, (which demands at.
tention. The vice of profane swearing
has greatly increased oflate. 1t is a curi> |
Gus and unaccoultable thing, but sell
dom take ride Without hearing profane
remarks made by persons who are ap-
parently admirlng my carriage. This is |
wrong. The Republican party, if it is
to have new platform, ought to cordial
ly and unreservedly indorse the third
commandment, and it would not be
amiss were it to advocate an appyopria-
tion for a monument to Moses. l regret
to say that General Sherman"
Just here the door was opened and the
entrance of Gen. Sherman cut short the
remarks. He was warmly
welcomed; the various suggestions for
the new Republican platform were laid
before him, and his opinion of them ask
ed. That plain>spoken soldier read them
over and then made remark which,
though it was exceedingly brief, caused
Mr.. Hayes to move nervously in his seat.
THAT" replied the President, "is not
an opinion, General, though it is a pain
fully strong exclamation. What we want
to know is whether you think the Repub.
lican party will be pleased with the new
platform"
at is my opinion" answered the Gen.
eral, "that when the Republican party
wants platform it will say so, and that
if it lets out the Job of making one, it
will employ Republicans to make it."
After which there was silence in the
Cabinet for some minutes, at the end of
which the thirteen thousand Ohio Mons
nations were taken up for discussion,
and no more was said of the new plat
-orm.