Year: 1872

Possibilities anu DdnsSES VI sAO OhA-


cinnati Convention.


CHICAGO, April 1.-THE Times this
morning has a double-headed editorial
commenting on and censuring the course
of the Chicago Tribune, and other Repubh-
can papers, in seeking to change the char
acter of the Cincinnati Convention from
Liberal Republican, as originally announ-
ced. to merely a Republican convention,
which requires as a sine qua non the politi-
cal annimlation of the Democratic party, as
well as the defeat of Gen. Grant. The
Times saws. Now it should be distinctly
known to those who set up this new theory
ofthe Cincinnati Convention, as a neces-
sary theory, that it is not the
theory Of the Liberal Republican
movement, as three millions of citizens
who expect to vote for the candidates to be
nominated at Cincinnati, understand it.
They do not understand that the Repub-
lican party Is merely to divide itself in
halves, each half nominating its favorite
man and inviting the Democrats TO come
help elect him, after which the two halves
will reunite and go on plundering, robb1ng,
stealing and rushing the Government into
despotism as before, while they laugh at the
ridiculous loonies who have made them
selves their catspaws. They do not under
stand that the term Liberal under which
the Cincinnati Convention is called can be
construed to comprehend any such illiberal
arrangement. They do not understand
that anything of the sort is necessary OF
the Cincinnati Convention. If they did so
understand it, or if they should be made to
so understand it, the Cincinnati Convention
could hardly be expected to realize the
homes of its most sanguine friends.


The Times insists that as the Democrats
are expected to furnish the votes to elect
the Cincinnati nominees, they should be
consulted. The success of the Cincinnati
movement will depend not on Democrats or
Republicans. but on the harmonious Co
operation of citizens included by both those
terms, who hold liberal opinions, which will
| enable them to unite upon a common
ground of equity. Manifestly, some sacri-
| fees will be necessary on both sides. There
is not the least likelihood that party preju-
dices on one part will be given up to any
greater extent than party prejudices on the
! other mart are given up. If it be made on
the one part a sine qua non that the Demo
cratic party organization shall perish, then it
will be made on the other part sine qua
noh that the Republican party organization
| shall perish also, in order that out Of the
! dead bodies of both there may spring into
| existence a new political organization, rep
resenting that great body Of liberal opinion
| which in its name is imperishable, which IS
every where the pioneer of human clviliza-
! ton. the guardian of liberty and the hope
| of the world. Thus on both hands t1ere
impends the danger that the Cincinnati
movement will be wrecked on the rock OF
party prejudice, the Republican Charybdis
| or the Democratic Scylla. That ma
! tional convention of the Democratic party
will be held is now determined fact.
1t will be called to nominate candidates for
President and Vice-President. If the stu
alton is then found to be what the Chicago
| Tribune declares it must be, then the Dem
ocrats will nominate candidates, and Grant
will be reelected. Such is the danger
ahead. The one paramount necessity OF
the Cincinnati Convention is to avert this
| danger. 1t will not be averted by treatin g
the Democrats and their opinions with con-
tempt. 1t will not be ayerted by any at
tempt on the part of either party TO dictate
terms TO the other. 1t will not be aVerted


by the nomination of any candidate upon
the theory that one existing party shall per
ish but that the other existing party shall
live. 1t viii not be averted by excluding
from the Cincinnati Convention the broad
meaning of the word Liberal" Demo
cratic party prejudices cannot die while Re
publican party Irejudices conspire to keeI
them alive; and the converse is, of course


equally true. The course of wisdom al


Cincinnati will manifestly be that which
will least tendto awaken old party cOntro


versies, or excite the dormant thought O


now dead party prejudiCes.