Year: 1872

What the World Saws About 1t.


New YORK, April 23.-The World has an


editorial on the Cincinnati convention,


which says:


We watch with some solicitude to see


whether, when its proceedings are con-


cluded, it will be our duty to write an cpl


taph or celebrate christening, and we


have no doubt that the Cincinnati cOnven-


ton will make nominations, but it concerns


the public welfare that they nominate


wisely. There are some practical difficult


ties growing out of the fact that the con-


vention was originally called as a mass


meeting for mere consultation. and the ex-


preston of opinions, but the movement has


developed into such unexpected strength


that it has outgrOwn the swaddling clothes


suited to its Infancy.


A mass meeting is not an appropriate


body for nominating candidates for the two


highest offices of the government. 1t will


not do to have Presidential nominations


made by the three States of Ohio, Mis-


souri, and Illinois, which are likely to have


more delegates than all the other States to-


gether. The best plan thus far suggested


il for the delegates from each State to have


their own separate headquarters, and meet
for consultation one day in advance of the
convention. States which send several hun


dred delegates must select limited num-
ber. and authorize them to cast for that
| State a number of votes equal to its Presi-


Dental electors, and States having smaller
delegations should pursue the same method.


In all cases where the number Of delegates


exceeds the number of votes to which the


State is entitled, none but those thus au-


thorized to cast the vote of their State
should receive delegates tickets or be ad-


mitted to the privileges of the floor. 1t is
only by some such method that the Cincin-


natl convention can be made body capa-
BILE of conducting its business in an orderly
manner and reaching result which will
satisfy the country.


1t would save some confusion and delay
if all the leaders and journals that favor
the movement would come to an under
standing on this point before the delegates
set out for Cincinnati. Democrats have no
right to dictate the candidates, but the con-
vention will make a great mistake if it for
gets that the Democratic party has right
to freely say, after the Cincinnati ticket is
nominated, whether they will indorse or
ignore it.


The Cincinnati people think themselves
strong enough to succeed without Demo-
ctatc assistance. We shall not question
their right to follow their own judgment,
but if they expect Democrat votes they will
treat Democratic voters with reasonable
consideration. Democrats seem to be and
are as patriotic, as loyal and as devoted to
the public good as the members of any
other party, and unless this just claim is
recognized we do not see how there can be
any concert of action.


1t does not become us to say what par
ticular men we would refuse to indorse, but
certainly there are Republicans opposed to
Grant whom Democrats could never be
brought to support for the Presidency. The
Cincinnati convention need not expect us
to support any man for President whose
pretensions rest merely on his participation
in this movement, and who would not other


wise have been thought of for that high


office. If the Democratic party are to sup


port the Cincinnati candidate they will in
sist that he be statesman, man of such
pre-eminent and recognized fitness that we
| need offer no explanation for our course. A


man of the type of Charles Francis Adams


would be spontaneously adopted by the
Democratic party, because, besides possess
ing the requisite elevation of character and
public experience, he has never insulted or
atfronted his political opponents, has never
played the demagogue nor done anything
| unworthy the dignity of a statesman. Dem
ocrats can not afford to go out of their party
and pick up second rate candidate, but it
would be no sacrifice Of Democratic pride
to support the ablest statesman of the coun-
try, even though he has never acted with
the Democratic party.