New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-06-02
TIE WISDOM OF COURAGE.

gates from Pennsylvania are pledged
not to vote for General Grant.
TIE WISDOM OF COURAGE
MEETINGS OF TIE NATIONAL COMMlTrEE-CAM-
ERoN's mGH-HANDED COURSE boldly MET
A SURRENDER By THE GRANT MEN-WHAT WAS
GAINED BY THK COMPROMISE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
CHICAGO, June 1.-No meeting ever held oY q
National Republican Committee, probably, mas
caused as much excitement and been followed WIN
such intense interest that at the Palmer House
last evening Ever since il was suspected tHaI
Senator Cameron was disposed to adopt laminahy
tactics in the Convention tomorrow and TO use Ills
positlon as chairman of the National Committee TO
put the Convention into the hands of the supporters
of General Graut-even though they should be in
minority, both counting by States ana by dele-
cates--very much has been believed TO hang upon
the proceedings of last evening.
Cool-headei Grant men have admitted over ana
over again that, if the committee declared against
the adoption and enforcement OF uult rule, the
combined effect of the loss OF votes tor the cA-
President, and tho Generalization that would GER
tainly ensue among the weak-knec followers oil
Cameron and Conklmg, would be to make Grants
nomination impossible If tLey prevented any eX-
rression of opinion the unit rule, and the COM
mittee left Cameron to manage tie prelln'lharles Ol
the Convention as ne plc'Scu, tuc Ol"HV me-" ''''
that thev should look upon that as good omen,
and should think the nomination Of the cX-l'rcSi-
dent morally certain. The anti-Grant ptoH.c did
not admit that they would be defeated if they did
not succeed in carrying ont their programme IN the
National Committee but the sentiment among
them was almost universal that il would he unsafe
10 trust Senator Cameron. because they believed
tlat if he had an opportunity lie would play some
trick upon them.
When, therefore, the National Committee met at 3
O'clock last evening the Palmer !lousc was literally
packed with people, who waited with ili-disguised
inpatlence for news Of lis proceedings, While III the
hallway adjoining the room in which tic gathering
took place there struggled with each other for a
glimpse Of tie door or for wOri WITH any member
who came out for a moment, several hu"drcd men,
including politicians of National fame editors and
newspaper cores pOndcnts, citizens and strangers,
drawn thither by their intense curiosity. Proml'
ncnt among tLOse who evInccd the most interest
were General Phil Sheridan and several members of
his staff.
CAMERoN's HIGII-IANDED COURSE.
The proceedings Of the committee were reported
last night in fragmcntary dispatches, such as could
be sent at tic late hour when it adjourned. lie
course of Cameron was of the most arbitrary and
hlgh-handed character; be seemed to think that'
instead of being the servant of the committee he
was its master; it might consider such questions rs
he chose but no Others. The doctrine which he laid
down is one which, If enforced in conventions and
deberative bodies generally, would make their
meeting unnecessary. If the chairman can aTbi-
trarily determine what subjects the assembly over
which hc presides may consider and what ones it
may net and it, after he has made his decision, lie
may refuse to entertain an appeal from IT, lie might
Just as we'll issue his DEGREES without consulting the
body over which he presidcs, because no action can
be taken by it which he does not approve.
This is the first time that an attempt has been
made to introduce the Boss" system into the
management of the National Committee, and when
1t was known what Senator Cameron had done the
indignation among delegates and others knew no
bounds
The scene in the Committee rooms must have been
n very lumiliating one. There Cameron sat, aud
coolly told the Committee they would not he allowed
10 consider certain Subjects and would not be
allowed to vote on the question whether they would
consider them or not When one Of the objection
able resolutions was introduced, before Mr.. Cam
cron had an opportunity to entertain it or 20 refuse
to do so, George c. GOIhaIn, OF Calfornia-thc man
who last year supported ami voted the Democratic
ticket in his own State, and who two years ago used
the machinery of the Rpdbli( an party to promote
the Grccnback caase-Mr GVrian would say: " Mr.
Chairman, if this resolution should be entertained,
tertained, want to move to amend it, Then Cam
eron would declare that the resolution was out OF
order and would not b. entertained.
fanv one protested against this decision and ap
neal. Mr Cameron, prompted by Mr. Gorhan, would
declare that he would entertain no appeal, rs no ac
ton had been taken from which appeal couid be
made. Then, if any had anything TO say, Cor
ham, ex-senator Clayton and Mr. Eillcr, of St.
Ions, would say: "This informal talk is AL very
WELL gentlemen; but we all understand that there
IS no question before this committee" And 50
thirty members of the National Committee were IN
suited and gagged all tie evening
The most alarming feature of this whole business
Is that the same tactics may DC introduced into the
National Convention itself. If one faction gets
control of the organization of the body its chair
man can, with the propricty, decline to enter
tain any resolution offered By tho other side. and
thus choke off the majority ii that majority is not
willing TO assert its rights by physical force.
BARREN VICTORY.
After the adjournment Of the Committee last
night there was not much exultatiOn among the
Grant managers, although there was rejoicing
among those haugers-on of the Grant party who
brought so much discredit on the exPrcsidcnts two
administrations General Belknap and cx-Attorney-
General Williams were seen after the adjournment
walking about the corridors of the Palmer House,
apparently well pleased with the situation of Of
fairs; but the Grant managers who had been in the
thick Of the fight were not ojubilant They knew
that their victory was barren one and one which
could not bs put to any account. They saw that
o majority of the committee was against them !;
that 1t had the power to depose the chairman and
take the control Of things and that ts temper was
such that 1t would do unless its purpose was
changed. They therefore at once sot about devsing
means for saving someth nR out OF the wreck. They
saw that unless this was done there might be a die