New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04

| THE THIRD In MO|l-hESl--H.s MOkt1
TER FORGEKf- PROTECTION THE GREAT
ISsyE-PAHTY NATURALIZATION
OF GAkrIELD-cLoSE OF THE
HAYES ADMINISTRATION.
The Presidential campaign of 1880 saw severa
third parties" in the field these latter being or
| ganized expressly 10 divide the Republican vote
The Republicans wei. equipped for this
| Campaign. The Administration Of President
| Hayes SO far had been notably pure, firm and
| successful. While the withdrawal Of the Army
from the South. in Difference to public sentiment
bad been attended by disaster 10 the Republican
vote in shat section, yet its motive had beer
patriotic and the failure of the ex-Confederates
TO appreciate its magnanimity. and the fraud
and violence by which they had secured nearly
solid South" had produced powerful senti'
ment OF Indignation in the North. The disastrous
record Of the Democratic party in Congress ir
It's effort 10 suppress freedom in the election
also gave the Republicans great advantage
The resumption Of specie payments and the re-
vival OF business secured for the Republican
party the general confidence OF the Nation.
Tie Republican Convention met al Chicago or
June General Grant earnestly desired the
Republican nomination this year, in order that
by firm, vigiant and upright Administration
be might repel the SANDERS heaped upon him
four years before. General Grant had many
friends among the delegates to the Convention
and 307 OF them voted for him thrty-six times
n a vain effort 10 secure his nomination. Gen
eral James A. Garfield. of Ohio. an able leader
Of the party in the House OF Representatives, Sc
cured the nomination on the thrty-slxth oaiiot
An admirable platform was adopted. Thus foru
fed the party made gallant campaign during
the following five months.
A remarkable incident of the campaign was the
forged "Morey letter" purporting 10 have beer
written by General Garfield, January -. lsso
10 II L. Morey. Of Lynn Mass. on the Chinese
question. In this letter General Garhelo "As
represented as saying that individuals or com
panies have the right to buy labor where they
can get it the cheapest" and that the Chinese
treaty should not be abrogated until our great
manufacturing and corporate interests are con-
served in the matter Of labor" The letter was
a forgery put forth by Democrats to defeat Gen.
eral Garfield The forgery was proved. and Ii
failed in its object.
The Democrats unexpectedly in the hope OF
attracting the vote of Union soldiers. nominated
General Winfield s. Hancock, a brave and Drill
liant Union soldier, who. however, was so lack
ing in knowledge Of public affairs that during
the campaign he made the remark that the
tariff was a local question which he had heard
Of in NewJersey. expression which subject
I'd him TO ridicue. The platform was tersely &C.
scribed as one Of free fraud and reputation IL
itself repudiated in the election.
The campaign ended n decisive victory for
the Republican party. which triumphantly
elected not only the President and Vice-Presi-
dent but working Republican majority in the
lower house Of Congress and many Repub-
hcan Legislatures as TO secure gain in Repub-
lcan Senators and tie tine upper house Of Con-
gress.
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
The Republican candidates and platform were
follows
For President-General James A. Garfield of
Ohio. previously Representative in Congress.
For ce-Presdent-Chester A. Arthur, pre-
viously Collector of Customs at New-fork
City
Convention held in Chicago. June to S, 1880.
PLATFORM
First-Recited the achievements OF the Repub-
lcan party in suppressing the Rebellion; recon-
Structing the South freeing the slaves; raising
the value OF the paper currency from Is per
cent TO par with gold resuming payment Of Ma
tionai obligations in COIN improving the public
creci' until bonds at 1 Der cent interest were
eagerly sought for at a premium; reducing the
PopIe debt %'So.WvED; reducing the interest
charge rom SlJoWO,V0 year to $SS.OOO.O 600;
N'i'hg industry, increasing the wages Of labor.
ana pensIOning the Union soldiers.
, oecoho-Afhrned that the work OF the Repub-
mean party had been such as TO commend ii 10
The favor Of the Nation
Ihifu- declared that the Constitution was a
supreme law. not a contract and the boundary
De,"eeh National and State powers to be
determined 10y the National Government
the States
rHih-kecommended Constitutional amend
neni fOrhidding aid in the States 10 sectarian