National Republican., 1880-08-09
THE REpusLIcAN CONFERENCE.


The conference of the leading republicans
of the nation at New York city on Thurs
day last was not only one of the most inn
portant, but one of tho most remarkable
events since the close of the war. 1t was
important because it related to the future
peace, prosperity and happiness of our
common country All the proceedings and
all the utterances of the occasion were
pointed with the deepest pathos of patriot.
ism. The assemblage seemed impressed
with sense of national danger against
which every republican who was present
felt the necessity of interposing shields and
barriers that would successfully avert inn
pending consequences of serious import to
the public welfare. The tocsin of peril was
sounded and the keynote Of the campaign
was struck with marked distinctness. The
conference was important for the reason
that it was eminently patriotic in spirit
and practical in action. A determined
spirit pervaded the entire conclave, and its
purpose was intrenched in an invincibility
which only comes undergrad crises.
The able and live men of the republican
party which is the party Of freedom and
right were present from all New England !;
from New York, New Jersey and Pennsyl-
vania; from Ohio, Indiana and Michigan ;
from Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Mime
sofa; from Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska !;
from the Pacific slope and the mineral
regions of the Rocky mountains; from
Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia 4;
from Louisiana, Florida, the Carolinas,
Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Ar.
kansas and all these men of the union,
the constitution and the laws were inspired
by common sense of danger aud duty
These facts which were patent throughout
the conference, tended TO invest it with an
importance not usual with the voluntary
gatherings of the American people to con-
slider any subject of public concernment.
1t was more like the councils held among
union men when rebellion was striving to
take the national life than anything con-
neCted with the current history of Ameri-
can politics since that dreadful strife del
uged the land in blood All this pointed
its importance with unusual keenness and
power.
The gathering was remarkable in the fact
that it came forth voluntarily from every
section of the nation. 1t was response to
the trumpet sound of danger. 1t had no
delegated authority. 1t was not the out
growth of caucuses and conventions. The
alarm of danger was sounded by the
national committee, and the response was
such as the promptings of patriotism alone
could induce, 1t was gathering of grip
sacks hastily clutched, packed and borne to
the nearest depot on our great lines of inter-
communication from whence they were
hurried by the shortest and most expedi-
tious routes TO the commercial metropolis
of the nation. Such promptness Of action,
such leaving of home and business on cali,
such sacrifices in the interest of the ma
tional welware are seldom known in this
busy country Of ours where the enterprises
of life are its greatest motive power, and
that fact is what has stamped the late con-
ference as one Of remarkable characteristics
aud which will be followed with equally
remarkable results.
The surface indications of this conference
are that a mine Of effort and agency can be
developed in the pending campaign. OI
course all that was done in its action will
never be known to the world except in the
November gathering of its fruits. 1t il
very gratifying to feel assured that the
objects of the conference will be fully at.
tanned. The ways and means have been
provided for securing the national capital
against the successful approach Of the forces
Of disunion and rebellion that are being
led by union general in masquerade, and
which are followed as suffers and COM