Year: 1876

The late Republican Convention in Massa-
chusetts cDntrasted strikingly with the late
Democratic Convention in New-fork. IL
didn't, after terrible parturient pangs, bring
forth a still-born gubernatorlal candidate
1t was not without conflicting elements, but IL
managed to maintain almost mem. con.
unanimity. Like all conventions, it had its
fleas, but it managed admirably to keep them
from being very annoying, while the absence
of Gen. Butler indicated suspension at least
of the funny and fierce feuds of the past
The convention was remarkable, not for what
it did, but for what it escaped dong. NO
clique captured it; nobody with bee IN DIS
bonnet was able long to retard the progress OF
regular business; and when some discoh-
tented units threatened q bolt, the convention
went on deliberating and discussing, and was
not alarmed to the value of one penny.


There was Mr.. Faxon, who is strong out
and out enthusiastic and perpendicular Pro-
bibitionist. There was Mr.. Blackwell, who has
an ardent passion for woman suffrage. There
was a Mr.. Crocker, whose passion is III pre-
cisely the opposite direction. The way in which
the convention triumphed over, suppressed
and silenced everybody with an "lsm," with
out leaving the IsmatiC the least grounds for
complaint was such an exhibition Of practical
wisdom that we hasten 70 accord to it our
hearty admiration. A few words in the
very tail of the resolutions about Education
"and temperance, labor and equal rights of
citizens, irrespective of SEX" settled every
thing. ave frankly differ" said the conyen-
ton, "as to methods but we believe that these
twill be best left, subject to constitutional
"limitations, to legislature which is fresh from
"the people and familiar with their will"
Some difficult people may call this dodging.
To us it seems to be sensible declaration OF
the impossibility Of holding n convention ex-
pressly for the purpose of promoting every
body's private opinions Everybody doesn't
of course, like 1t. He comes with his long.
speech ard his little resolution, and II the
convention will not listen to the one and pass
the other he feels the refusal to be personal
injury, and threatens to secede. 1t seems 10
us that this too frequently happens through an
honest mistake about tho real functions OF
political convention. IL represents party,
and should be guided by the leading opinions
of the party. 1t must consider the main pur-
poses for which that party was organized.
Variety of opinion as to the best method of



avoided, and the majority in such case must
rule. But no convention is obliged TO take up
and take vote upon opinions which have
no definite relation 10 the organization.
The Republican party. particularly in Massa-
chusetts, has always had an unfortunate habit
of putting two or three fancy planks iuto its
platforms about matters of outside and imme-
date interests, and in this way it has got into
variety of scrapes out of which 1t has not
easily extricated itself. This year it was won
derfuly cautious and prudent. 1t hit upon
few ingenious phrases meaning something or
nothing, and would not he forced, either by
Mr.. Faxon or any one else, into saying what
il did not honestly believe.


Between these cautious and measured utter
ances and the resolution on finance, for ex-
ample, or the illusions to civil service reform,
there was n remarkable difference. Here
doubtless the convention was in earnest In
what it had to say of temperance or OF woman
suffrage it was not particularly in earnest, and
we are glad that it said no more. For we
most sincerely hope that the time will come
when political conventions will cease to say
what they do not honestly mean.