New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-06
THE DUTY OF REPUBLICANS.

THE DUTY OF REPUBLICANS.
Friends Of Mr.. COnkling claim that there
are fourteen members of the Legislature who
do not dare to vote for him or " Me Too" be-
cause of the strong feeling of constituents, but
who nevertheless will help him effectively 10y
preventing any union of his opponents. By
voting " all around the lots" and taking care
never TO vote for anybody who can be elected.
these members are expected to prolong the
deadlock indefinitely, and in the end to pre-
vent the election of any Republican. Thus far
in this contest the assertions and boasts of Mr..
Conkling's friends have proved cOnspicuOusly
nexact If in this particular they are any
where near the truth, it is the first time since
Mr.. Robertson was nominated. Whether there
are fourteen or four of these members, who
mean to betray their constituents and their
party and to defeat the will of the people the
number, whatever it may be, will become
known when the first concentration Of Republic
can votes takes place. Everybody can then see
what members there are, if any, who refuse to
help the election Of Republican, and cOnstit
uents will quickly judge of the motives of such
members.
At the outset random voting did no harm.
1t is now the duty of the Republican members
to consolidate their votes. Personal prefer
ences have been fairly and fully expressed. 1t
is necessary now to find men who can be
elected That Messrs. Conkling and Plat can
not be, the ballots have shown, as also the for
nal agreement of seventy Republican members
not to vote for them in any case. But the Re-
publican cause can be betrayed and defeated as
truly by refusing to vote for anybody who can
be elected as by voting for opponents of the
Administration. Constituents will not fail to
understand the one course quite as well IA the
other. Whenever the time comes that con-
centratiOn of supporters of the Administration
upon two good Republican candidates can be
effected, a member might as well ,se for Mr..
Conklng outright, or for Democrat, rs to
refuse his vote without excellent reason to the
candidates preferred by the majority.
If there are any Assistant Democrats in the
Legislature, they will probably become known
this week Now that the personal preferences
of members have been expressed, the sincere
supporters of the Administration will probably
be able, without much delay, to concentrate
upon some candidate more than n majority Of
the whole Republican vote in the Legislature.
When any candidate has received in open
convention that number of votes, the question
will then come home to every Republican
member whether he has good reason for de-
feating his party 10y resisting the will of its
majority. No caucus nomination, made by
secret ballot in meeting not required by law,
could ever have the binding force of formal
decision by majority of Republicans acting
In the broad daylight Of an open cOnven-
ton, in discharge of their sworn duty
as members of the Legislature, and with
full responsibility to their constituents. If any
blame attaches to him who bolts the action
of caucus, tenfold more rests upon the man
who refuses without good reason TO give sup
port to O decision made by majority of Re-
publcans in open convention. There, he who
refuses his vote abandons his colors and his
comrades in the very presence of the enemy,
and must know that only the clearest and best
of reasons can excuse him.
The supporters of the Administration owe il
to themselves and to the parry of which they
are the true representatives to bring together
in the voting majority of the Republicans as
quickly az possible. If it be true that there
are fourteen "Half Stalwarts" among the
seventy who vote against Mr.. Conkling there
would still remain fifty -six-three more than q
majority of all the Republican members voting.
A genuine and hearty effort to unite as many
Republican votes as possible, first for one good
candidate, and then for another, ought soon to
bring forward some who can command a ma
iority of Republican votes and are faithful to the
party. Then let US see what members there
are who will persist in helping Mr.. Conkling
or the Democrats. When that time comes,
votes against the leading candidates will be
votes to prevent the election of any Republic
can, and to give the Democrats control of the
United States Senate. Republican constituents
would soon be calling on members to resign
who should cast such votes.
Mr. Conkling processes to be astOnished be-
cause the people show disposition TO ostn-
CHE him, as the one Republican for whom Re-
publicans ought not to vote. 1t is true that
his position is exceptional. He made it so by
his own act. It is not worth while to speak
separately-of Mr.. Plat; he has seen fit to count
only as the cipher added to Mr.. ConklIng. A
Republican who IL at war with the Republican
Administration, who Ia using against 1t the
worst slanders that Democrats have contrived. |