New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-20
TO SOUTHERN REPUBLICANS,

Our Republican friends In the South are per-
fectly in accord with the rest of the party In
the sincere desire to do their best for Re-
publican victory next November, but there are
marked differences between their situation
and OURS To them the election of q Republican
President is Of almost vital importance. The
marty in the North would not be specially In
jured by defeat, and the prosperity and good
government of these States are too we'll assured
to be entirely OverthrOwn by four years of
Democratic administration at Washington.
But the Republicans of the South know very
well what a Democratic success implies to them,
and they are best able to say how much OF their
organization would be likely to survive such
disaster. Moreover, while they have 80 much
at stake In the contest, they are practically ex-
cluded from taking much of part in 1t. They
can give few or no electoral votes to the nOmi-
nee; we at the North must fight the battle for
them and for ourselves too, and the South can
do little toward the victory which we hope for
in November except by its influence upon the
choice Of the candidate.
It Is alleged that large majority of the
Southern Republicans are bent upon the re-
nomination Of ex-President Grant. Surprising
If in the power of this new Solid South
to accomplish their purpose, is it wise
for them to force this chOice2 They can now
see that the third-term candidacy is highly dis
tasteful to the States which must elect the ticket
if it is elected at all; and that by insisting
upon their preference at the Convention the
States whose votes will not count are endanger-
ING the result at the polls. The opposition to
the third term movement is most pronounced in
those sections of the country where the Presi-
Dental contest must really be fought and de-
cided; and the opinion of disinterestcd and
competent observers here, who have much
better opportunities than our Southern friends
for discerning the drift of public sentiment in
these States, warns us that In accepting Grant
we throw away advantages which we cannot
afford to lose, and tempt an overwhelming de-
feat. When the hOpelessly Democratic South
asks us to reflect the ex-President, the States
which have got to do the work are entitled to
say whether they think they can win with that
ticket, and their judgment ought to be listened
to.
We beg Southern Republicans, then, to con-
slider carefully whether they can afford to force
upon us an unpalatable nomination which
threatens the loss of the election. The Repub-
lican party is in excellent condition for the
campaign, provided only the Convention will
make n prudent choice. The organization is
efficient, the record Of the present Administra-
ton is honorable the voters are full of hope
and confidence, there are no faction quarrels.
If disaffection and schisms are permitted to
ruin the brilliant prospect through the nomina-
ton Of candidate to whom whether rightly
or wrongly is not to the purpose) very large
number of Republican voters are known to
have an insuperablo objection, and for whom
they have declared that Trey will not cast O
ballot under any circumstances, the Republic
cans Of the South win be in fault, and upon
them must fall the responsibility of the cOnse-
quences. Thsy must say for themselves
whether they can aiiS:d to bear Democratic