Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-25
THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.


There are not few doubters and ner-
vous people who entertain and express
fears of the result of the National Repub-
lican Convention to nominate at once.
They fear that the struggle of the friends
of the many candidates makes it appear
too effortful to fix upon leader. 1t would
seem to cool judgment, however, that there
is strength in the fact that the Republican
party is so rich in material from which te
choose a standard-bearer for 1888. Were
there but one candidate, as was the case
with the Democratic Convention, where
no other than one dared to present hi
name, it might well be feared that there
was lacking that confidence in the party
and the principles for which it stands thai
is the essential of success.
The truth is, there are not less thar
? three score of men in The Republican
party so pre-eminent for craftsmanship
patriotic service to their country and 10y
atty to the patty through long series O
years, that any one of them might be
chosen as a Presidential candidate with
the perfect confidence that in case of cleo.
ton we would have Chief Executive
capable, able and trustworthy. That the
eight hundred delegates at Chicago should
among so much political and personal
worth, continue in session five days in the
effort to fix upon one out of so large q
group, indicates precisely the reverse Of
weakness. Moreover, the Republican
party never has been in national council
so "bossed" that it walked in this
that or the other path at bidding
All its Conventions prove that they have
been deliberative in the true sense. They
have very often been contentious in COM
mendable sense; very often there have
been many candidates hotly pressed by
their friends for preferment in the National
Convention.
In the Convention of 1875 at Cincinnati
there were eight candidates, and Mr..
Blaine leading throughout to the eighth
ballot, was defeated by Mr. Hayes. The
former at one time received 35l votes, Mr..
Bristow had 126, and Mr.. Hayes started
in with but 81; Mr.. Conkling had 90, Gov
ernor Hartranft II, Governor Morton 124.
That was memorable contest, with such
men as those named, and Jewell, Wash
burne and Wheeler and others in the
field.
In 1880 at Chicago no less than 81 bal
lots were taken, and the contest was one
OF the most exciting and remarkable. The
candidates were very numerous and yery
strong, and though such a great name as
that of Grant headed the list, and Sher.
man, Blaine, Edmunds, Warshburne and
Window were in the field, the choice
fell on the last ballot upon Garfield.
The Convention of 1884 was compare
lively the briefest of those of recent years
though the candidates were plentiful anc
strong, such as Arthur, Logan, Edmunds
Sherman, Hawley, Lincoln, Blaine and
Others.
Let the friends of the Republican
party be not misled by the fears the
Democrats are SO industriously cult
waiting among them; for the present Con-
vention is not exceptional in the heat OF
Its contest, or the numbers and strength
OF tile great names under consideration.
That there are many, and that their fol-
lowers rally about them so valiantly, is
one of the best evidences possible to be
had Of the compactneSs and strength of
the party.
After al, it is not nearly so much the
man who Is to be chosen, as the meaning of
the party platform on which he is to stand
and the underlying motive of the party
that forms the substructure of its activity.
1t is, to all sincerity attached to it, chosen
because 1t means the broadest, best and
most economic government for the Republic,
for the interest of all the people; the as
surance of the rights of all citizens at the
ballot-box; the guarantee of a free and I'M
interrupted vote and az honest count.
1t stands, and always has, for homes for
the people out of the public domain; for
energy and push and for development of
the nation in all fulluess; it stands for
inspire respect abroad, and enforcement
OF laws at home; that political diversion
essential to liberty; that liberation that
insures to every one the exercise of his
political privileges free from threat or
COW. In short, the Republican party is
to-day, as it always has been, the party Of
liberalism and progression; of fair play and
individual independence; of political
equality and of humanity. And at this time
there is in the hot contest in its chief de-
Lucrative body the best evidence that it
Is not the party of programme" and of