New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-20
THE RIcHFiELD SPRINGS CONTENTION

THE RICHFIELD SPRINGS CONTENTION.
The Republican Convention has done well by
the party. 1t realized that much was expected
of it, and it met the demand. From beginning
to end the proceedings were characterized 10y
the old-t time spirt-the delegates seeming TO
Ue intent upon getting together on comrlon
ground for the advancement of the common
Republican cause. No tolerance was shown to
factionalism, and the nicknames which told
of division were dropped. The report OF what
was said and done which is gwen in detail on
other pages is well calculated to crafty Repub-
licans. Democrats would do well to skip 1t.
1t bodies them no good on election day.
The Convention simply responded to public
sentiment in renominatng the State officers
that were elected by Republican votes two years
ago. The record made by these men is the best
sort of campaign document. They have dis
charged their respective duties faithfully and
W ell and from the public confidence in which
they are now entrenched the Democracy will
not End it easy to dislodge them by any ticket
which they may be able to evolve out OF their
disagreemeuts. The new candidate, Pliny T..
Sexton, who is named for State Treasurer, Is
worthy to be associated with Messrs. Carr,
Davenport, Russell and Seymour. Mr. Sexton
may well be proud of his political ancestry, his
father having been prominently associated with
q the underground railroad y in the ant-slayery
DAYS. He himself is not only Republican by
direct inheritance but by strong personal con-
victioD while his special fitness tor the respons
ible Office for which he is nominated appears in
the fact that he is banker of extended expert
/ md hot his churacfpr ia alike yIO0rOus
and spctless. The circumstances attending the
nomination of this strong and popular ticket
are well calculated to arouse our Republican
friends all over the State to make one of their
old fashioned campaigns. Such was the gen.
eral desire for bona-ide harmony that the reg
ular standing Committee on Contested Seats
became unnecessary, since there were no con-
tests. The only two delegations III which any
disagreement showed itself came to an ami
cable understanding before the Convention
met. And If more proof to the same end were
needed, it is found in the way in which the
positions of temporary and permanent president
OF the Convention were filed, Senator Miller
being one Of the presiding officers and Senator
Lapham the other These two men have stood
in the near past as representatives OF opposing
factions. They stood yesterday for party
which Is fast reunting.
A feature of the occasion was the plea con-
tanned in Senator Miller's speech for a radical
change in the manner of selecting delegates to
our important conventions His suggestions,
| which were evidently the outcome of careful
thought, and which were, of course, based on
| ample knowledge, will doubtless be attentively
considered by the State Committee to which
they were referred for action. 1t is conceded
| by sagacious men in both parties that some
sort of reform is needed in this matter. The
| Senator's speech will quicken discussion and
| good results must follow. The platform
adopted by the Con vention is q clear and
| straightfor ward enunciation Of the position 0i
the Republican party of New York upon all the
great current issues. The planks relating u
| the tariff, taxation, Civil Service reform and