Year: 1876

1t is curious to note the impression made
upon the country by the republican nomina-
tions. month ago and the party was divided
into factions, clearly defined, under ambi-
tious leaders. There were the Blaine men,
the Morton men, the Conkling men-not to
speak OF the poets and old maids who made
the night hideous with howls for Brstow.
In all these contentious there was no princi-
pie at issue. Blaine had worked up a cam
vass in true dru MINER STYLE and just when
the Convention was to meet he arranged a
sensational transformation scene worthy of
Barnum. Morton had strong following
from the West, who naturally enough desired
to honor him for his rare and meritorious
services during the war. Conkling had q
strong following in the East, who
gave him the allegiance which high character
and courage always command. But the
rivalries were prolonged and bitter. Sud
denly second rate man-always second
rate, whether in the army, the House or the
Governors chair-was discovered and NOM
mated. The argument in his favor is that
no one can say anything against him. He
has lived tifty-four years without making
record above that of ten thousand other
republicans. Compare the record of Hayes
with the brilliant parliamentary career
of Conkling or Morton or Blaine, and
how small he seems 1t is as though
an army had tired of its generals,
Of the commanders who had led it to vic
tory before and who would be summoned
to do so again, and picked out an orderly
sergeant In one of the French operas by
NJ. Offenbach we see how o strong -limbed
private is made general -in-chief in a mo-
ment. The same caprice seems to have ami
mated the republicans at Cincinnati. and it
is an interesting question what inspired
this nomination The answer is simple
RoAsT BEEF


The republican organization has become
party of beef-eaters. When we think of this
party as it came into being twenty years ago;
its leaders men like Sumner, Seward, Chase,
Lincoln; its platform universal freedom and
the integrity of the Union; when we think of
the great soldiers and statesmen who have
been proud 70 enroll themselves in its ranks,
and see now what it all comes to-Hayes and
Wheeler and pea soup platform-we can
see how it has fallen. The fall, however is
what we must always expect from party
long in the possession of power. The men
of principle in the republican party have
gone out of it. The men who gave it leader
ship and ideas are no longer in authority
This was seen when a successful trooper like
Grant, who never voted for q republican
until the party had given him command of
the army, was not only made President, but
allowed to govern the party on the military
principle. 1t was power which consented to
this. SO we had at Cincinnati the creatures
Of power. 1t is not too much to say that
nine-tenths of the Convention we're gentle
men to whom republicanism meant roast
beef, and who looked upon the nomination
of President and the arrangement of
platform as the laying in of supplies for
four years. 'Who will VIM" That was
the first question. (Which winning can
didate will do the best for us in the way of
beef?" This was the second question. Of
course the Blaine people preferred Blaine,
because he would cut them off larger slices
and see that they were better fed than Morton
or Bristow. The struggle in the Convention
was really what might be called-if we are
permitted to carry ont our illustration-a
fight for tenderloins. Blane's friends wanted
the best slices, and so did the friends Of the
other candidates. But once this quarrel was
over there came the question of roast beef
Your true party man if he cannot obtain the
tenderloin will be content with shin bone
SO the enthusiasm which "rent the air" in
Cincinnati when Hayes came in winner was
a shin bone enthusiasm. The leaders thought
he was the surest to win, and the beef-eaters
roared like hungry lions.


1t is odd to note with what avidity the
party supports the ticket. The favorite
hour in the geological gardens is the feeding
hour. Then the true nature of the animals
is manifest. The lion and the tiger the
wolf and the hyena, are seen at their best
SO we never know the true points of the
beef-eatefs until the hour of the nomina-
ton. Once that it was seen that Ruther-
ford b. Hayes was, so far as republican votes
could declare, to be at the meat table for
four years, and the heart of the party went
out to him. Reformers like Curtis saw
in him the best reformer carpet-baggers
like Dorsey hailed him MS the carpet -baggers'
delight; plumbers like Boss Shepherd al
most melted in the ardor of their enthusi-
asm the old-fashioned postmaster and edi-
torial expounder came into line with eagles





Kelley saw in Hayes Niagara of greenbacks,
while bullionists like Woodford vowed that
he was eighteen carat gold f; protectionists
like Carey and free traders like Schultz
raved over him and our brethren of
fhe Union League, who but recently
demanded q statesman like EYarts or