Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-05-07
A Danger to he Avoided.

tHarpcrs weekiy.l
There was never more political independ.
ence than now, and one Of the most strik-
ing phenomena Of the situation Is that
difference within the parties are more de-
cided and bitter than those between the
parties. This, which Ia undeniable, fore
casts kind Of voting next November
which demands the most careful considera-
tion, This will he the seventh Presiden-
tial election in which the Republican par
ty has taken part. In the first two the is
sue was plain aud momentous. II was not
merely a choice between the parties with
a vague doubt ~ to probable policies, it
was n sharply drawn contest between the
restriction aud the cxtentiOn Uf slavery.
No man who desired to see slavery curbed
had any question about his action. The
issue Of the third election-that of 1861
was still simpler. It was the maintenance
or overthrow Of the national government,
aud voters took their part accordingly.
The elections uf 1865 and 1872 involved
recunslructiOn and it's sentiment; and de-
spite the powerful schism in the latter
year, the party was strongly sustained. In
1876 the Republican party narrowly es-
caped defeat. Its popular vote was
,033 $50, against Democratic vote OF H.
2S4,7 ,757. These figures were undoubtedly
largely the result of tcrrOrizing the new
voters In the Southern States; but only
after q doubtful and alarming contest over
the electoral count was the Republican
candidate declared elected by one electoral
vote. Such was the acrimony OF feeling,
however, within the party lines that had
Republican success depended upon the
vote Of the only Republican Senator
from New York, Mr.. Conkling, who evad-
ed voting on the Louisiana return, the
Republicans would have been defeated 4,
and the Democratic candidate would have
been seated.
The situation this year involves no dis
linct issue like that Of the restriction Of
slavery, the prosecution OF war, or recon
struction. II is mainly an appeal to the
country by both parties upon their general
character and traditions. This is sltua-
ton in which personal considerations re-
gurding candidates will have necessarily
great weight. When vote meant the re-
construction Of slavery, or the vigorous
prosecution of the war, the candidate was
iost in the issue. But when the issue is
less clearly defined, the candidate rises in
TO importance, and the practical objections
to candidates become vital considerations.
1t is at this point that the FIRST condition
of prosperous campaign appears, and
that condition is a perfectly free delibera-
ton and choice of the candidate. Here
one OF the most serious possible mischiels
Of instructions appears. All the States are
represented in the nominating Convention.
But some Of the States can by no possibili.
| ty cast Republican majority. Kentucky
and Missouri, for instance, will give their
electoral vote to the Democratic candidate,
whoever lie may be, rs certainly rs they
will vote. 1t is OF the utmost Importance,
therefore, that the nomination should be
made by the really Republican States,
which alone can elect the candidate. A
nomination made by an alliance between
States that can give no aid to the candi.
date, and an artificial representation, such
as instruction produce, from one or two
Republican States, would be disaster, be.
cause it would misrepresent Republican
sentiment at time when its honest repre-
sentation is indispensable. The instruct
ions given by the New York and Pennsyl-
vania and Iowa and Kansas Conventions
have plainly not increased the chances oil
Republican success. They show doubt
OF the real condition Of party sentiment
with determination 10 force Il particular
expression. Now the object OF every Re
publican should be to ascertain the real
preference Of the party, and this is posslbl le
only upon perfectly free and fair compar-
ison OF views and patriotic deliberations al
the Convention.
| We have heretofore shown-and we are
glad to see the position maintained by the
ablest Republican papers in the State-ihal
the State Convention has no authority 10
instruct district delegates, because it does
not appoint them. This point was brought
directly before the late New York Conyen
ton hy motion to substitute for the dis
trict delegation one that coincided in opin
ion with the apparent majority OF the Cor
venlion Mr.. Conkling voted loudly fol
the motion, but il was lost by an immense
majority, and that decision renounced eY
cry shadow of right to instruct. This wai
in accordance with the uniform practice o.
New York Republican Conventions, and
with the whole spirit and tradition OF tht
Republican party. Twice this question
has been raised IN the National Republican
Convention, and twice the final tribunal o
the party has decided that the instruction.
OF State Convention can not bind thu
action oil the delegates. Should this decIs
ion be reversed, it would only show how
much more stringent, and consequent.
how much more dangerous, the mere organ
| iZation OF party has become.