New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-13
WERE THEY TNSTRUCTKDf

The third term advocates nave repeated INC
charge of "dishOnOrable" conduct so often
AGAINST the independent New-YOrk delegates,
that some of them now actually seem to believe
if. It becomes necessary, therefore, to en-
tighten them on two points First, that the dele
oates of the Congressional Districts to
National Convention are not in honor bound to
obey the instructions of State Convention /;
Second. that the Utica Convention did not adopt
EXPRESS instructions to the delegates of the Con-
eressional Districts.
The so-caled resolution of instruction, which
passed that Convention, was as follows:
ResoIeed That the Republicans OF New-York believe
the reelection OF u. s. Grant as Presidential chhddae
of urpent importance and the delegates this day as
sembed are called upon and Instructed to use their most
earnestand united efforts TO secure his nomination.
IF the delegates of the Districts had no other
reason for disregarding this resolution, they
MIGHT do SO on the ground that il is a meaning
less tumble of words. Without dwelling upon
the incomprehensible character of the phrase
demanding General Grants "reelectlon as
Presidential candidate" 1t is sufficient to say
that the instruction contained In the resolution
IS not an instruction to the Chicago delegates.
1t is difficult to say what 1t Is. Read literally IL
is an instruction to the State Convention itself,
for the delegates to that Convention were the
only delegates who were either actually or met
aphorically assembled" on that day The
MISUNDERSTANDING were not assembled" Tor
one of them, Governor Cornell, was IN Albany.
The District delegates were not assembled
for cool number of them at least were mt their
homes or in Albany. Senator Robertson ana
General Hustled, for example, wre not III Utica
when their fellow Republicans OF the West
chester District, knowing that they were In full
| accord with the sentiment of that District for
Mr.. Blaine, selected them as its representa-
| tIves at Chicago If the resolution is to be con-
str1,cd according to the ordinary niles of the
English language, it is simply an instruction
by a majority of the Utica Convention to the
Iitica Convention. 1t will be observed that
there is no aluson to the National Convention,
no mention even of Chicago. Such an omission
could hardly have been accidental.
Doubtless there is an easy explanation OF the
matter. TO one who reads between the lines
the massage quoted reads like bunging at
| tempt to instruct without seeming to instruct
| to frame n resolution which should not contain
odious words, but could DO construed after It's
passage to mean all the majority desired. The
| last clause in the sentence tends to conhlm tins
theory. The word united" appears there to
give support to the claim that the delegation
should vote IA n unit, and that it is dishonOr-
sable" for any delegate 10 prevent such aclIOn
Perhaps the resolution might better be defined
as iuggle than as a tumble. In ether case, il
has no binding force upon District delegates.
But even if it were a plain, straightforward
emphatic resolution OF instruction, 1t would still
he powerless as regards the District delegates
The principle for which we are contendini
hero is Republican, in both senses of the word
1t is in harmony with our institutions, and VIII
that spirit of free speech which is characteristic
of the Republican party. II is absurd as wei
as unjust to expect delegates elected by th'
Republican voters Of their Districts to defy
and nullify the preferences of their constit
uents because 217 men voted down $50 mel
in State Convention on n resolution OF IN
structi0n. Legislatures direct" Senators ant
"reouest" members of Congress to vote IL
certain ways. The representation of State II
n National Convention is modelled eXdctl!
after its representation in Congress. Tn
State Convention has an undOubtcd right to in
struct or direct" the delcgates-at- large, II
LEGISLATURES sometimes undertake to instruc
) Senators, and it may, if it chooses, "rcqucst
the District delegates, just as Legislature
"reoucst" Representatives in Con gress Blu
} the District delegates can do as they and thci
constituents choOse-just as Representatives il
Congress do.
This is no new doctrine, and nobody has an,
right to be surprised at Judge Robertson's as
sertion of it, III article after articl
THE TRIBUNE warned the Grant manager
} before the Utica Convention that they coul
J not instruct the District delegates, and tina
any attempt to do SO would be deficd; that the
had no right TO do it, and would not be per
mttcd to usurp the right. Immediately oftc
that Convention we told them the same thing
BY and by they will learn that when the
wander away from THE TRIBUNE, they alway
get into trouble
APOLOGIES md PUBLIC MORALS.
An apology from the Prime Minister to tn
n