, 1880-06-06
RIGHT OF THE DISTRICTS TRIgMPH

In the light of the discussions which have
taken place during the last ten days or more
in this city and throughout the country con-
cerping the right Of each Congressional dis
trict to be represented in the Republican
Convention by delegates Of its own choosing
without interference by State Convention
or other body of men, it is difficult to UNDER
stand how such right could be denied by
any reasonable and intelligent man. The
preposterous claim that State Convention
had the power to disfranchise the Congrts-
sional districts aud the power to appoint
such delegates itself, was, in the minds
Of intelligent and fair-mfnded men,
nothing more than claim for the
superiority of Boss bulldozing over
right and justice. AS such it was recognized
In this State, and the only expectation that
such an outrage would be sustained was
based upon the loudly-proclaimed boast by
Boss Logan that he knew the usurpatlon
would be maintained BY the men who would
control the National Convention. The con-
troll Of that Convention was, as he supposed,
to be accomplished by 70 Boss" Instructed
votes Of New York, IS Boss" instructed !"
votes of Pennsylvania, the 80 Boss" instruct
ed" votes Of Missouri the ~ votes OF ll1l~
nois, the "a ''instructed" votes Of Kentucky,
the 20 ditto of Alabama, the % ditto OF Vir-
gi1ia, the 18 ditto Of Louisiana, the l6 ditto
Of Texas,-302 votes in all,-Wllich Ware to
be counted as those of so many conv!cts on
the prison-rol1s, subject to the regulations
and instructions Of the Wardens.
The Pennsylvania and the New York
schemes were more disgusting than alarm
ing, but the proceedings in Illinois startled
the country by their boldness and their In
fanny. Boss Logan had overdone his work.
The Republicans of every district in the
country revolted and protested. They re-
fused to submit They comprehended at
last the mysterious oracle that answered all
questions by saying 3" he will be nominated
by large majority OIL the first ballot" The
desperate means resorted to betrayed the
desperate end sought to be accomplished.
Boss Logan's performance aroused the
country It united the Republicans against
the rascally unit rule and in favor Of tho dis
trict system Of appointments, as provided III
the call It united the Republicans against
the incorporation Of Calhoun's State~sover-
eighty as the governing principle III Repub-
lican Conventions
This union against the worst forms Of des-
potis1n broke the power Of the Triulnytrate.
They were 10 longer masters Of the Conven-
ton. Men in Virginia, New York, Pennsyl-
yania, Kentucky, Texas, the Carolinas, even
in Alabama and Louisiana, asserted their
freedom, and refused to be slaves or to have
their votes bartered in the Convention by
their self-constituted masters.
If Grant shall be defeated In the Conven-
tion, rs it now seems certain he will be, he
may attribute that defeat largely to Bull
dozer Logan's disreputable and dishonest
proceedings In Illinois, and to the Questlona-
Bile proceedings OF Logan's political associ-
ates in New York and Pennsylvania. They
fired the heart Of the liberty-lovlnE Repub-
licans Of the Republican States and aroused
such all Indignation as has not been felt since
Andrew Johnson's mob murdered the dele
gates in the New Orleans Convention, or the
Ciullys murdered the Chisolms III the Court
House in Mississippi.
Third-termisln and Loganism combined
were more than the free men Of the Repub-
ucan party North or South could submit to,
and they revolted. Henceforward the Re
publicans of the Congressional districts,
emancipated from Boss rule. will themselves
elect their own delegates to their National
Conventions That alone is a victory of
priceless value. It has not been Won with
out struggle, but it has been won.