Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-03-03
Utica Convention.
New York Tribune. !

ana Ill temper, anu upon
the general disposition toward harmony
which prevailed in the State COnven-
ton Yesterday There was a sharp diff
ference of opinion as to the wisdom of
endorsing the candidacy of General
Grant, which found free expression in
the debate, and divided the body into
two sections Of nearly equal strength,
but this difference produced no hostile
feeling. and no wounds were inflicted in
the debate which will rankle in the ap-
campaign. There seemed to
be an undercurrent of conviction run
ming throughout the proceedings that
the old factional fights of former years
should be buried and forgotten, in view
of the paramount necessity for good
will and earnest devotion to the Re
publican cause on the part of all ele-
ments of the party in this momentous
Presidential year.
The advocates of the third-term pro-
iect controlled the Convention. Every
body knew that this would be the case
when it was called at so early a date.
Their majority in the body was much
smaller than they expected, however,
so small, in fact, that they felt obliged
as prudent politicians, to seek to accom-
plish by indirection what they had per-
haps purposed to do boldly and with
strong hand They refrained from in
structing the delegates to Chicago to
vote for Grant; they refrained from
adopting the unit rule they did not
copy the Pennsylvania plan of overrid-
ing the wishes Of the Congressional
districts, and forcing upon them dele
gates selected to misrepresent their
views Perhaps they knew that they
could not violate the settled practice of
New Y ork Conventions and the terms
of the call for the National Convention
without arousing such spirit of antag-
onism rs would endanger the success of
the Chicago nominee However this
may be, Mr. Conkling and his associ-
ates in this third-term business acted
with fairness and courtesy toward the
minority in the steps taken in making
up the Chicago delegation Nor can
any complaint be made of the resolution
expressing their preference for General
Grant and pledging New York to sup
port him, as far as it affects the dele
gates at large. The resolution is objec-
tionable because it has the color if not
the form of positive instructions, and
seeks to do what the Convention had no
right to do-compel portion of the
district delegates TO vote at Chicago
against their consciences and against
the known wishes of their constituents.
1t was the right of the majority to in
struct the delegates at large or TO pledge
their vote, which amounts to the same
thing But here the power of the Con-
vention stopped.
The efforts of the Grant managers did
not stop, however They sought to
make the delegates from anti-Grant dis
tricts believe they are in honor bound
to accept the pledge as applying TO them
as well as to the delegates at large.
Some of these delegates are reported TO
have made the mistake of giving in their
submission to this Interpretation of the
resolution. Ifthey have really done so
they had better correct their error at
once. No man chosen to represent q
Blaine district at Chicago can vote for
Grant and plead the Conventions reso-
luton in justification of his course, I'M
less the nomination of Grant should be
a foregone conclusion. In case of "a con-
test, delegate who disobeys the in
strGctions Of his district will have
to settle with his constituents,
and will find himself instantly retired
by them from public life.
1t will not do to argue that four years
ago the entire New-Y ork delegation
with the exception of one man accepted
the request Of the Convention as equiv
alent TO instructions and voted for Ros-
coe Conkiing at CINCINNATI. There is
no parallel between the two cases. Mr.
Conkling was distinctivelv the New
York candidate, and the delegates nat
urally felt bound by their respect for
their State to stand by him. There
was na question Of principle at issue
then; it was simply a choice between
three or four men. Now the question
is not one ofpersonal preference or State
pride at ALL 1t is whether the tradition
Of two Presidential terms and no more,
which goes back TO the the foundation
Of the Government, shall be violated.
Certain districts in the State are oppos-
ed to departing from this unwritten law
which has heretofore been respected by
all parties They have chosen delegates
to Chicago to represent their views. A
small majority of the State Convention
disagreed with them, but that is Of no
account. The delegates are bound by
all considerations of political honor TO
vote at Chicago as the constituents who
chose them expect them to vote. and
they will be held closely to their duty
The Utica Convention will be certain
to have the effect of making the discus
sion OF the Presidential, which began in
earnest among the masses of the Repub-
lican party after the snapjudgment in
more vigorous and excit-
ing. 1t is good time, therefore, to put
in a plea for moderation and good tenn
per. Let everybody express his mind
on the subject as freely and forcibly as
he pleases. The Republican party is
party of ideas, and is never harmed by
the fullest discussion of principles or
But let every Republican
push his end of the argument with good
nature, and with entire confidence that
the Chicago nomination is going to rep
resent the clearly expressed wish of the
majority of the party, and that the nom-
ince is going to be elected.
GEN. BUTLER is after the Standard