Year: 1876




so that the popular rhoice may te de-
feated and the candidates OF cliques
brought to the front; for 1t is In no sense
to the purpose that Blaine was the least
available candidate in the convention.
He may have been the least available
candidate, or he may have been the most.
1t was the business Of that body, whose
majority was for Blaine, to send him and
their constituents for ratification. So
that the lie and delusion which inaugu-
rated the proceedings of the convention,
with a platform to which M two states
agreed are supplemented by the selec-
tion OF Candidates who were really de-
sired by but few of the delegation, and
supported only by scant majority of
his own state delegation. The choice
which was denied to the Blaine people
for the first place on the ticket was con-
ceded them without protest on the
second. Wheeler would have been ac-
ceptable TO msst cf the Blaine men for
the presidency, and Hayes was the
opcnly-expressed choice of all of them
for the second place, so that Blaine, vic
torious alike III his defeat ~ well as tri-
umph, went into the convention dicta-
tator, and came out its master. To
ascribe single jot or title of the results
to any reform instinct, or any idle CROP
ings for reform, is absurd. 1t was a
machine triumph from the beginning to
the end. The men who were followed.
the, men who controlled the coun.els
and carried the day, are the men
who uphold Grant and Graiitism.
the men who approve the record of
the subsidy congress, and who are,
in all but name, the responsible
authors of the Grant administration. II
is neither creditable to the honesty nor
discrimination of such men as Schurz,
who have determined to demand reform,
that they should accept the work of this
convention as in any sense step in the
direction of the reforms that they have
cried for during the last five years. HAYES
himself and Wheeler personally are
proper men, no better and no worse than
the majority of their fellow -partisans
Possibly In the white house, Hayes, from
revi1usstirroundings aid some strength
of will, might be able TO resist the overt
tendencies of the Grant leaders, but un-
less he had the countenance and support
of an opposition congress, sec no reason
why he should be able to resist or do bet
ter than Grant has done. II elected.
Hayes will be elected by all the rings
which have upheld the republican party,
and it is impossible that the slight leaven
of reform which may be mixed in this
combination shall tell conspcuously in
an essentially republican administration.
No; the republican convention, in its
results, is as clearly an of.shoot and an
utterance of the same personages and he
same condition which have marked the
party in power as though Grant himself
had gone into the convention and bull
letined his wishes from the platform as
he did in 1868. The traffic and dicker-
ing incidental to the condition show
clearly that the conditions of reform
were never dreamed of. First, there
were bids for Morgan for the second
place on the ticket in the event of Nor
toms success, or BristOw's success, or
Washburn's success; there were bids for
Beveridge in the event of Blaine's success,
and Logan and other distinctiyeiy
partisan personages, whose presence on
the ticket would be continued assurance
of the prominent methods which have
reduced Grantism to the last extremity
and thrown one branch of congress into
the hands Of the opposition. Where the
money of New York failed the cajoleries
of her politicians were brought to bear
with as much force as Tweed illustrated
in his palmiest days of supremacy in the
filthiest politics of New York. Even the
acceptance of Wheeler proves beyond
question the strength of the influences at
work for Bristow and the reform wing, but
the machine elements came in and would
bave none of them. SO that on the whole
the six days Of canvassing, discussing and
comparing of notes, and wedding out the
waste places of the party at Cincinnati
resulted in just exactly what might have
been expected to come from a custom.
house caucus in New York or hummer
gathering in Springfield. The indepen-
dent reform elements present pretended
to rejoice that no bargains were made
and no promises given for the future.
Yet there are circumstances which 60
to show that very unequivocal terms
were made and very frightful bargains
agreed upon, (which virtually inaugurates
Grantism in the event of Hayes success.
In every state the forces which come
triumphant from this convention are
those known to be identified with the
rings of every description which have
disgraced politics and robbed the treasury
during Grrnt's two terms. How, then,
if this people have brought about this
thing and are satisfied with Hayes and
Wheeler, are we to have enginery of re-
form set in motion as was previously
prophesied and promised by the Hal
steads, the Seizures, or Smiths, and the
more or less conspicuous following that
delight to train in that executive COM
pany? / see that Mr. Medil and Others
who have been something like the free
lances within the party profess immense
satisfaction with the result. | can not
believe in their sincerity, since these
men saw clearly the forces operating in
the convention. II Bristow were the
representative of reform, or IL he embod-
led the better tendencies of the party,
how can Hayes and Wheeler, candidates
of the anti-reform elem mt, he accepted
as in any sense the exponents or the
thing the people of both parties have
been demanding? There's the puzzling
point. Blaine, whom the reform people
especially abhorred, was the strong cen
trail figure Of the convention. When he
was thrust aside one of his own choice
took his place. The corrupt elements
which Bristow's friends charged alone
opposed Bristow were responsible for
HAYES and Wheeler. Why? Because
they best typify the reform tendencies
ascribed 10 Bristow. Mr.. Medill was