New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-05
- MR.. sEwARD's DEFEAT.
CORRESPONDENCE of The n. Y. Tribune.

49, Mr.. SEWARD DEFEAT.
Correspondence of The n. Y. Tribune.
"swAsHIxerox NAV - 1867.
,The excemens ofihe week nemuaon
s~srs stiNs and services have been cheeuy reeogazd
theie prevailing sen'inent almost universal among @
si% %'' s' ATos s D'i may s ay the feeling Che
FepDbaesns Of oonsres win few eHeepi oer was
And Of las. when the 6ne cane, and vas snp T bas
s ssPh sss S Sse1 r SS'' majority s Mr. there
feeling Of relief experienced and an Not
;i,,s S shI ,s ,ss to Re seward the c.e
the poh,csn and the people e.r 70 elevate to the Pres.
iienSy the had begun 50 early sns aad
n befsb Of their cardinal d0'''i"e' iHs was D'S"
ans, r.o,deu, Of Tar TRIRvsE has been at work at
vbir,on IN Maine and elsewhere for more than year
louy Against Gov. Seward not on the ground that ne e'od
- he sctea but because not IL t or OF ms election
1--WE one.,ion no mans privilege oppSse whom he Pesses,
DO we inpusn motives Of but we DO object to all
fhrse fsse pretenseS
,onvny 10 ali electors and all Editors Having tiamphed,
they can afford drop the disguise They had perfect gh
w repesio oppose Gov Seward; but is not night Ter hos
tHity 70 assum the guise Of friendship.
do not quote this to embark in any personal
debate though unustly sssailed as guilty OF false
"pretsnses;" an allegation which distinctly de-
nv. and which is utterly refuted in the letter from
which Mr.. Weed quotes. But l wish to make 1t
the text of few observations of much more inn
portsDce than any personal controversy can be,
inasmuch as they touch vital questions of public
policy.
There can be no doubt in any reasonable mind
that we are entered in this country upon what may
be fairly termed the Era of Corruption in the adj
mipistration of public affairs. We have reached
it by rapid and il SINE sort, natural stages. Not
that all the corruption of mankind has at once
oeptered upon our tine but circumstances have
eopspired to give it remarkable development al
this seriod j confidently assume that the NUM-
.;ral government of New-York City, The legsla
ton of New-York State as well some Other
States) and the acton of Federal authority duriDl
( the two past Administrations, are 50 well kuowI
/ to the public that this declaration viii, without
! more elaborate proof, pass unchalleOged by the
! intelligent reader.
At this iuncture the Republican party has risen
to prominent position in the country, aud claims
to be able to take possession of the National Gov
ennent. It's fundamental principles of govern
nent have been often and clearly expressed, aud
are perfectly well known. Its theory of admiaiS-
tration has been far less distinctly understood, and
has never been authoritatvely promulgated.
Now in the Republican party, as 10 every other
party coming suddenly into prominence, there are
individuals belonging TO different schools this
)f question OF administration There are those WIN
hold to loose maxims Of official conducts who be-
6eve in the virtues of lavish expenditure; who 10
brief, believe in plundering generally as the most
certain method Of compacting and yitalizng {
party. On the other hand, there are those wit
disbeieve in such methods, and who hold firmly 4
The belief that strict integrity and wise economy
m management aHaIrs FORM the only jus
rule, in public as in private concerns. And the
truth is that ncipient conflict has existed 10 the
Republican ranks as TO which of these schools
should dominate in the prospective Republican
Administration This conflict showed itself 10 the
contest for the Presidential nomination at Chicago;
and it is what Mr.. Weed dmly audes to when he
assails me because have yenturcd in advance TO
state the existence Of the conflict, and to express
deep solicitude lest the Republican party should
before being awake ~ its dangers, ind itself under
the lead of guides likely to plunge IT into inextrica
bic misfortuue-in a word, become rotten before
il was ripe. | have not believed IN the New York
school of politicians. | have detested their theO-
ries, and deplored their practices. And when |
say the "New-York school, | hope not to be mis-
npderstood; for there are as honest men among
New-York politicians as anywhere else.
1t is DOT necessary to vase words 10 exhibiting
the necessity that the Republican Administration,
when it shall come into power, shall stand clear of
all entanglemeDts and ASSOCIATION that shall have
tendency to bring suspicion and reprOach upon it,
This is point that does not need argu ne, Every
body of common honesty Will admit it. And in
view OF the fact that ours is especially an era Of
corruption, and that the Republican party is a
new party with reputation to make, and that it
is TO be closely scrutnized by jealous hostility it
10 prominently important that it should so organ.
ize the personnel of its Administration, and SO
arrange its surroundings and influences Of every
nature, as TO be at once above reProach aud above
suspicion. 1t should come into power standing
upon platform not only of sound principles, bu.
of perfect integrity, straightforward honesty, and
rigid economy in the expenditure of the public
money. At 30 time in the history of our Govern
mrpt has it been more a duty to raise the flag of
RetreDcbmeDt and Reform; for at no time have
the ma1ims Of common prudence and honesty been
50 uDscrupulously disregarded as by the present
National Administration, and by various State aud
Municipal Administrations as well.
II We would save the Republican party, as well
as our institutions, from stiDgiDg aud world
vide reproach, all good Repu, licans should unite
to bring back the Government to the honest dis
charge Of its legitimate duties.