New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-06
THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE.
THE PRESIDENT BITTERLY CRITICISED BY GENERAL
LOGAN Mr.. GORHAM, AND oIHERs-MR. FOsTERi
cuApp pupIY


SHARP REPLY.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRInUSE.l
WASHINGTON, April 5.-The meeting Of some of
the members of the National Republican Committee
and of the old Congressional Republican Commit
tee last evening turns ont to have been exceed
ngly interesting one If peppery discussion OF the
policy of the Administration could make it So
The gathering was quite informal and had no
night to act under the name of either of the organ
cations of which representatives were present; but
il did conclude that joint caucus Of the Republic
can members of the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives ought to be held next Monday or Tues
day evening for the reorganization of the Congress
sional Committee, and that measures should be
taken at once to secure Republican majority the
next House. The meeting called by Mr.. William
+. Chandler; and General John A. Logan was
elected to the chair.
During the evening the policy of the Administra-
ton was referred to- and this called forth very
fierce speeches. Some reference having been made
10 the disgraceful performances of the Democratic
doorkeeper of the House, Colonel Polk, and to the
manner in which he juggled the soldiers roll"
and the suggestion having been made that this
matter ought to be prominently brought out during
the next campaign, General Logan said that 10 use
could be made of these circumstances in Illinois.
President Hayes. he said had not appointed a sol
der to Federal Office in Illinois, and since his in
auguration the only soldiers in Office in that State
have been those who were appointed by General
Grant or his predecessors. and there are not as
many of them now as there were year ago. Cen
eral Logan made several other short speeches. in all
of which he evinced strong hostility to the Admin
istration.
Mr. Gorham. Secretary Of the Senate, made re-
markedly bitter speech against the President and
his Administration He denounced the Southern
policy adopted by Mr.. Hayes, and his absurd course
in regard to the Civil Service. He said that the Re
publican party can never be revived and placed IN
position to win victories unless ii is true to the
principles by which it has been governed in the past
especially must the history of its dealings with the
South be vindcated The policy of the President
toward Louisiana and South Carolina was, in his
opinion. a surrender, and must be dsavOwed by the
Republican party or it would deserve to be de-
| feated.
| Others followed in q similar strain, although no
one was quite as bitter and extreme in his remarks
as Mr.. Gorham.
Among other propositions that were made was
one that the party in its State and Congressional
Conventions and III the addresses of the Congress
sonal Committee should repudiate the President
and in fact read him out of the party. This plan
was opposed by Representatives Hale, Page and
Philips who while they had nothing 10 say for the
Administration did not how anything was to
be gained by advertising the differences between
tie President and the party. They said il should
be their duty when the Congressional Committee
should have been recognized to make an honest,
earnest effort to bring about understanding be-
tween the President and the party, and to induce
the former to act in harmony with the latter; If
this effort failed then they would be in favor of con-
soidatng the party, ignoring the President and
pushing the campaign in the Fall with all possible
vg0r. They were opposed TO any attacks upon the
President from the Republican ranks, thinking il
bad enough TO have to carry the party burdens
without his help.
Mr.. William +. Chandler spoke briefly. approving
what was said against the Administration but be-
ing very moderate in his own criticisms. The con-
struction of the Cabinet was strongly objected to,
and several members of il. including General
Schurz, were denounced as impractical men, who
not at heart Republicans.
During the whole evening questions were con-
stantly directed TO Representative Charles Foster,
as a friend Of the President, which he answered
good naturally At length just before the adjourn
ment, after conference, there was so much said
which Mr. Foster thought to be unfair that when
the question, What can we say to the people for
the Administration 7" was put he replied,
with good deal Of warmth, that this is what they
can say, THAT the Administration has been in
power a year, and that there has not yet been
single scandal connected with any department OF
the Government That. be asserted is more than
be said Of any previous Administration for forty
years. the Administration is honest; nobody accuses
1t Of jobbery: 1t Is respectable and no matter now
much people may crticise no one ascribos It's mis-
takes to dishonest motives. Its appointments have