The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-06-23
THE BIG CHICAGO CONVENTION.

main outcome of this last land likely for
ever to remain the last grand gathering o
the Republican clans 10 choose leader 70
the pending presidential campaign, we cal
only catch up minor incidents as straws in.
dicating the general direction of the wind
And first, as worthy Of note in this con
nection, Is the attitude Of Chicago itsel
(or rather the Republican half of IL to
wards the big convention, AT the meeting
Of the National Republican Committees Ii
Washington last winter, 10 fix the time anC
place of holding this convention, IL was
certainly understood among all the cities
contesting for the selection that In which.
ever succeeded, the delegates TO the con
vention should meet on free and equal
footing, be treated with the same courtesy
and the same respect and fair show should
be accorded 10 all the candidates alike
whose names might be presented for con-
sideration Instead of any such courteous
bearing Chicago Republicanism has SCI
up a candidate of Its own, whose cause the
whole local party, like a huge organized
mob, with the unanimous Republican, press
of the city In the lead, is sooming with a
pertinacity and din as noisy and insolent as
I Is supTemely indecent. The manner OF
II alone ought 10 XIII off Gresham's boom,
though Il possessed the proverbial vitality
of the tom cat.
In the proceedings of the convention the
first incident worthy Of especial note was
the action In reference To the Virginia del.
egates Malone, it is needless 70 say, is
the head and front, the embodiment and
brains of the Republican party OF Virginia.
Ninetenths of the party in that State as
indisputably accept his leadership and
obey his behests as the Republicans of
Illinois would those of Logan were he
alive. let because the Malone Republi.
cans failed 10 observe 10 its last punCtiliO
to the directions OF the national committee
In selecting their delegates 70 the Chicago
convention, a little faction of professed
| Virginia Republicans, headed by n son of
Henry A, Wise tine Governor who hanged
John Brown, held back room saloon eau
Cuses in the different congressional
districts and sent 70 the convention set of
delegates in opposition to those selected by
the regular organization, And the Conven-
ton has admitted these delegates! The
meaning of ii j., that the Malone delegates
were for Sherman while the Wise dele
gates were temptingly non.commltal The
vote of about 500 10 300 in favor of the
Wise delegates was, therefore, fair indi.
cation of the strength Of sherman In the
convention against the field. As the kick
dealt 10 Malone ant his friends is Submitted
TO relegate Virginia beyond all hope back
to the solid south, the result is probably
the first instance on record where the
majority of n great national convention
WAS stupid enough 10 sacrifice success In u
State, II not indeed in the whole Union, 10
manifest lis hostility in advance TO a partic-
ular candidate whose claims they are
asked TO pass upon.
When II came 10 mastering the Candi-
dates, nine names were presented Hawley
of Conn, Gresham and Harrison of Ind,
Allison of Iowa, Alger OF Michigan, Sher
man of Ohio, Depew OF New York, Filter
6 ,,.lr 80
The nominating speeches are admitted 70
have been exceptionally tame all around,
that of Foraker for Sherman alone eliciting
hearty applause, which, however, was
rather Tor Foraker than sherman Caliior.
nlu asked TO be passed when called upon
to name lis candidate, reserving the right
70 name him afterwards OF course that
means at the cppoytune moment 20 spring
on the convention The name of Blaine, to
whom the Caliivrnians are enthusiastically
devoted.
The only other stage in the proceedings
thus far here t. be noted, Is the adoption Of
the platform. II is rather long, windy,
! al c,lptdHd,m prUnOunCement, bu: the rs.
sence of 1t Is embodied in the pregnant
expression on the subject of the tariff,
| found elsewhere.
There Is no mistakirg this language
Hitherto the Republican party In itsconven.
tions has had the decency, al least, TO utter
few generalities in favor of the removal
of obvious and glazing abuses in the tariff !;
but here there is no such pretence. The
party takes advanced ground, and plants
itself squarely on protection for the sake of
protection alone. Every industry In the
country, in which large American capital
can be employed, is invited 10 organize
Itself Into huge trust, with immunity
insured In advance from all foreign compe.
tition, and these trusts can regulate with
mathematical precision the exact amount
of production that will insure q certain