Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-29

The Two Conventions Contracted.
An Independent writing to The Nation
thinks there is at least reason why Inde-
pendents should hesitate In making choice |
between the opposing candidates in the
present canvass, and he contrasts the two
conventions to the disadvantage OF that
held at Chicago. He truly says of the
latter
A vast majority, nearly four-fifths of the
convention, sought with great persistency the
very worst thing of which the convention
was capable-the nomination of one or the
other OF two candidates who, in the judg
ment of the Nation, about equally suggest
the hopelessness of reform within the party.
And it is self-eyident that if Blaine, Conkling,
Logan and Cameron had been in harmony the
reform element would have been in a ludi-
crous minority. The Committee on Resolu-
tons emphatically rejected any allusion to
Civil Service reform in the platform, and the
convention only adopted resolution after
having deprived it Gifts virility, taking painst to
neutrali2e even that resolution by its nomina-
ton for the Vice Presidency. In effect. it is
little less than contemptuous assumption
that Independents will fall into line, that they
need not be conciliated, that it is not even
necessary to beguile them with seductive
promises, AS it was in 1876.
This is very plain statement of facts
which must be clear to any careful
observer, aud on which EVERY EVENING
has already commented 1t is too mani
fest to make it worth while to seriously
discuss the matter that the Chicago con-
vention cared nothing about the ideas
which tho Nation and the Independent
papers profess desire to advance, ana even
had Mr.. Garfield been all the Nation at first
declared him to be, his nomination would
have been no evidence of concession to
the ideas of the Independents, but simply
a happy blunder. Fairly judged by
the character of its representa-
tives at Chicago, the party
would still have been undeserviug IL
unqualified support many of the Inde-
pendents FASTENED to give it without
waiting to see between whom the choice
was really to be made, and their hasty
action went far to justify the contempt
''uous assumption" above complained of,
and also to deprive them of all influence
at Cincinnati, where without any such
influence or outside PRESSURE better work
was voluntarily and gladly done. The
correspondent quoted thus refers TO the
Cincinnati Convention:
IN tl,n ntbo, hand oau IL la fa;rl,, "a "a
the Democratic Convention showed any dis
+ position to do its worst? No man was even
suggested as n candidate so offensive to the
better sentiment Of the country as the tive
leading candidates at Chicago certainly not
> if We make one exception. The choice Of the
Convention seemed to lie between Mr.. Payne
who was suggested in the correspondence u
Z The Nation in 1876. as a candidate who wOult
be acceptable to the Republicans in the even
1 of the nomination of Mr.. Morton; Mr.. Bayard
9 | whose craftsmanship. purity and indcper
denCc no one questions and General Han
cock. of these Mr.. Bayard would I'M
: doubtedly have had by far the strongest fol
lowing if weight had not been given undu
> weight perhaps to his 'impediment, which
s The NdtioA fully discussed.
= This barring some undue prominence
s given to the candidacy of MIR. Payne, is
d perfectly fair statement of the truth abou
e the Cincinnati convention, and if the In
e dependents regret that Mr.. Bsyard instea
q of General Hancock was not nominate
S they have themselves and just such dis
e cussions of his impeachment as tina
IS alluded to to thank for it. All admit tina
n his would have been the ideal nomination
l. and despite many antagonisms created b
his independence and courage he woul
e have been overwhelmingly nominated br
e for the reasonable, and probable wei
n founded, fear that all his career has mad
e manifest in the past and all it promises
st the future would have weighed as nauel
lie against the mere appeal TO prejudice
d which sincere Independent ought TO fe
II 1t would be an insult to his intelligence
10 accuse him Of listening to. Thus
1t appears that not merely IN their acts, b.
10 IN their desires, the contrast between Il
Is two conventions is in favor OF the Dem
le Gratis for, while the Cincinnati conve
OF ton would had it dared, have done ev,
II better than it did do, the Chicago conve
MS ton, had it dared, would have done Il
nd worst possible thing in its power
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