The Reform Convention

A careíul examination of the platform and proceedings of the Reform Convention at Lnnsing will s,ignally disappoint tliose who have based their hopes of overthrowing the party in power upon a popular upnsiug tor wbich this Convention was to furnish tho signal aud the battle-ery. That thu men wlio participtttéd in the ConveotioQ were honettt ín tlicir view and earnost in the expressiou of tuem, there is uu reasou to doubt ; but a glauco at iho resulta whiob they have rnachud shows tliat they struck out no spark by whioh the popular enthusiasin can be h'red. The platform with a single marked oxceptiou, to be uoted hereatter, is au unobjectionable one ; and were it uot for the exception referred to, it might prove suirioieiitly ingpiriting to unite the various eleuients of opposition to the party in power uuder a eominon banner. The denuuciation of corruption, by whatever party praotised, the uiaintenance inviolate of the rights of the State, the one-term principie, the demand for economy aud for piotection to the interest of the producing classes, must command the approval of every right-thinking citizen who does uot value party or the party name above the cornmon good. The resolutions as to State policy, also are wise and discreet ; and will be coinmended by men of all parties who have witnessed with alarm the abuses wbich have crept into the administration of our State affairs, and the enormous power which that administration wields by means of the accumulations in the treasury. But whatever thero is of good - and there is a great deal - in these resolutions is neutralized by tho exception spoken of. That exception is the resolution on finance. That tho Convention, in the present conflict sf public opinión upon this important subject, should have been a unit in regard to it, was neither to be expected nor desired. What was to be expected, however, was that the Convention, in deallug with the question, should either come to some such conclusión as would harmonize conflicting views, or decide that in the present aspect of affairs and of parties it was inexpedient to uiake uu issue in regard to the question. It has done neither. It has not even embodied clearly the prevailing sentiment of the Convention, which was so strong in opposition to inflation, or at all events to any inscription of it on the campaign banner, that the advocates of inflation withdrew from the Convention. It has adopted a resolution which may mean anythiug or everything, but which will impresb the vast majority of those who read it with the idea that it maans nothing. fcíucb. a resolution was entirely unworthy of the Convention. From the cali, and from the names of those ideatiiied with the inovenient, the people were led to expect, and had a right to expect, that whatever platform the Convention should adopt wouid be perfectly plain and incapable of niisconstruction. In this respect the people have been disappointed. Had the Convention put itself on record as clearly and unmistakably advocating the wüdest and most visionary of the currency schemes which have been proposed, it would have done far more wisely. It would not have commanded the support of the " hard-money " ineu ; but it would have at leaat cominanded their respect and treed itself from the suspicion of endeavoring to secure their support by sounding preteuses. The course which the Reïorm Convention has taken in this matter shows, if indeed there was any necessity of showing, that the Democratie organization haa done well iu not identitying itself with the movement. That it was quite possible for the Reform Convention to so act is to make the indorsement of its action by the Democracy of the State a political necessity, we have more than once affirnied ; but in so affirming wo have always kept in view tbe counter possibility that it would so aot as to make such indorseiuehts impossible. Upon every other point but this financial one the Democratie organization, as such, 3ould accept the platform of the Reform Donvention ; but it canuot, without abandomng one oí íts cardinal doctrines, go before the people with any such meaningless proposition upon a subject of vital importance as that presented by the Refortuers on the subject of financ. It is plain, therei'ore, that the Reform Convention has not rendered a Democratie Convention unnecessary, as sorae enthusiasts were led to believe would be the case. It has done no good work which the Democratie organization could not do quite as well, and in soine respects better ; and it has lelt undone some things which the Democratie organization can and will do. - Free Prest.