Religion and polities are not very congenial companions, and yet it would be a great gain all round if something more of the true spirit of the former could be infused into the latter. It may not be amiss to note two significant political conventions recently held. I say significant, because being an "off year" when such gatherings do not usually count for much in the poli tical world, it is thought by many. that these will do much towards' forming and shaping events and votes for the next presidential election, The conventions referred to were those of the Republican, and of the Democratic parties of Ohio, which it is thought will influence action in other states. The Republican Convention was held first. It emphasised tariff to protect American labour against the low wages paid foreign labour, reaffirm. ed ity approval of reciprocity, and urged such treaties in the interests of commerce, recognised the right of both labour and capital to combine if wisely administered for the general good, but called for ous legislation where such combine was to form monopolies to control prices and limit production. Tt also denounced the action of some of the Southern States regarding negro suffrage, and demanded " such legis lation as shall secure the strict enforce-mont of Constitutional measures guarantee. ing to every citizen the right of Franchise, without distinction as to race, colour, or previous condition of servitude."
They also demanded "that representa Congress and the Electoral Coll based on the actual voting population as provided in the Constitution, proportionate reduction being made for any state in which the right of suffrage is denied except for crime." The Administration was sustain-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.