New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-06
TIE CONTENTION AND THE PRESIDENT

TIE CONJENII ON AND II1E PRESlDENJ.
The Republican Convention paid the Presi-
dent yesterday, the highest compliment which
it possible for political body to pay to n
President of its party. We do not now refer
to the fact that his name was at all times men
toned with respect and regard, nor to the
resolutions in which the delegates offered him
for themselves and their constituents firm
and loyal support. These were, it is true
gratifying proofs of the confidence and respect
which the President has been able to inspire
in the mass of his fellow citizens of New-York.
and they afford the best augury for the success
of his Administration. But there was still
higher evidence of the regard in which the
Presidents true manliness of character is held
in this State in that part of the proceedings
of the Convention in which his name was not
mentioned.
Before General Arthur became President he
was strongly identified with that section of the
Republican party which acknowledged the
leadership of Mr.. Conkling. The conduct of
the ex-senator himself had placed that section
of the party in the minority, before the
lamentable death of General Garfield When
the life of the heroic sufferer mt Elberon
ended those who are quick to impute only
the lowest motives to politicians at once made
the prediction that the influence of General
Arthur would be sufficient to put an end
to all opposition to Mr.. Conkling in this
State, and that this influence would be
Immediately and unsparingly cxerted 1t
may now be recorded, to the enduring
honor of the Republican party in this
State, that both of these predictions have been
proved to be utterly false. With hardly a sin
gle exception, the men who led ia the protest
against the conduct of our ,>-Senator, and the
masses of the Republicans wno Joined with them.
continued their efforts to free the party from his
injurious control with precisely the same en-
ergy after General Arthur became President
as during the lifetime of Garfield. They were
absolutely uninfluenced by the assertion that
they were placing themselves in opposition to
the Administration, and the threats of those
who pretended to be the especial friends of
the new President had no effect whatever on
the canvass With equal Prospect and
good feeling, they made their fight for the
restoration of the rule of Republican voters
against the machine, and in every convention
expressed their sympathy and regard for
President Arthur, their confidence in the rec
ttude of his intentions and their cordial good
wishes for the success of his Administration.
1t is only just TO say that the conduct of the
President was the complete justification of this
course. in spite of some idle rumors to the
contrary, it may now be broadly asserted that
during the contest for the control of the Conven-
ton which closed yesterday the President gave
no sign of any desire to interfere in q matter
which he regarded as the peculiar province of
the Republicans of the State. He did nothing
to show that he regarded the adherents of
Mr.. Conliling as his especial friends lie said
nothing to intimate that the men
who were striving for the regeneration of
the party were mourning his resentment.
The result is Convention more
nearly harmonious than most we have
had in recent years-a Convention i'm which,
whatever other differences of opinion there
might have been, there was no dissenting voice
from the expressions of esteem for and conf
dence in the President. We repeat that no
higher compliment could have been paid to
the President than this. The Convention took
it for granted-just as the voters haddonc in the
primaries-that he had ceased to belong to any
clique or faction, and on becoming President
had resolved to cOnfine his care to the welfare
of the country and the principles of the ma
jorty by which he was elected 1t is princi-
pally in this light that we regard the Conven-
ton OF yesterday rs the beginning of better
day in New York politics. in which the voters
OF the party will exercise more direct influ-
ence than heretofore upon the party organza-
ton. and III which they can follow out their