New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-12
OUR CHARTER ELECTION.
To The Editor Of The Tribune.
Fran The Tribune Nov. 5.

There is a majority OF legal voters Of our City who
would rather be governed honestly and frugaly than
corriptly. fouy, and wastefully. That majority Is
habitnaly circumvented and tampled on through the
unfortunate connection OF Municipal affairs with
National politics. We're there National parties. the
punderers and debauchers OF our CITY would Do con-
roned a every Charter Election by the great body or
upright dfearing citizens and generally beaten But
the suffer themselves to 90 arrayed against
each other party lines, while the villains look out Tor
the main chance, and thus secure the impuity they
and prize above all party success This should not
II the Republicans Of this City t in the Charter
Election at hand TO nominate and support RepuD-
@ on afy e seS and S &
triumph If they should it, on the contrary, to g-
more politics In Municipal matters ana uniLe Wi 4tnef
best men, they may save mlons per anInn ~ OUT our
taxes and arrest downward iehqeney WGergW ,e sne
and there we leave IT. any reform Is 70 oe eeeted ue
machinery Of Primary meetings ''Si De discarded ana ea'-
didGtes otherwise chosen"
SIR We have just passed through a national
election which has greatly strengthened the Republican
party as an organization in New-York CITY. and caused
it to poll higher vote than it polled before Had 1t
been for the dsorganzing policy foreshadowed ana
renewed the above ragraph we believe the Repub-
llcan party might now be In position to contest New
York against the Democrats at all elections-whether
City State or National-wth chances OF success.
But political party, like tree man. nation or any
thing else having organization and life depends for its
power on the development and growth Of ITS organza-
ton It cannot be formed and brought into power IN
day. whatever may be Its principles. Nor can IL be de-
srOyed in an hour whatever its crimes does not come
into power until long after the Justice of its principles
been shown and retains power long after Its prn'
cples ceased to be just party that dsperses az
ter every election like plant that dies down to the
roots with every Winter 1t never produce timber
Great parties grow slowly and whoever issues an order
to the Republican party in this city to dispense in 1865
will find that he cannot rally its dispersed elements In
1870 and 1872.
The order may be issued in form to both parties. But
1t issue from Republican and be read, as the
editorials in THE TRIBUNE mainly are, by Rep"0hean
voters only, IL exercises no influence whatever over
Democratic politicians or voters and does seriously dis
organize the Republican party.
The doctrine that where Republicans cannot elect men
OF their party they ought to vote for the best men
OF the Democratic party, is plausible in some respects;
but 1t subject TO the counter doctrine that Republ
in such localities always vote for the best men OF the
Democratic party they never can elect anybody OF their
own party whereas II they would steadily poll the arS-
est vote possible for Republican candidates, they wonld
soon attain momentum which would bear their candi
dates into Office The very exceences and virtue OF the
Democratic candidates strengthen the Democratic party
and weaken Republican The success of the Repubh
can Organization, and through 1t the triumph OF
Republican principles, advanced by the nomination
election OF bad Democrats and retarded by the Sc
lection OF good
The real question that arises therefore. is whether the
principles and ideas OF political party are more import
ant than the personal qualities OF candidate for Office
We believe they are for candidates must represent their
parties or they would not be nominated. while parties
must represent the people, they would not succeed
Pure administration be sought not In the dioyncra
sizes and pretended honesty of particular politicians but
in tho success OF those political parties which represent
the greatest OF the honesty intelligence, and purity
OF the country THE TRIBUNE speaks OF the "unfor-
tuuate connection of our Municipal affairs with National
politics" This connection, II properly managed would
bo a most fortunate one. IL is only mlsmanagement
that unfortunate Should the fact that the Republican
party the ascendency In every Northern state ex-
ccpt NewYork aud NewJersey and that 1t is coming into
degree Of power in all the Southern states, have an in
furious effect the efforts OF those seeking pure adj
ministration OF municipal affairs in the City OF New
Yorki Certainly not II rightly used by the
Republicans Of New-York City, the mighty State
and National power OF party should
be our great bulwark and aid In city reform,
There is natural affinity between the principles Of the
Republican party OF the nation and those Of the honest
taxpayers seeking reform In NewlOri City without
discussing whether the honest could outvote the
thieves I'm NewYork, it is certain that that party which
sure OF the entire vote OF the thieves and half the
honest men, and which keeps its organization intact
from election to another will always triumph
that party which, without being entirely exempt from
dishonest In its own ranks las no party can bel,
breaks up It's organization after every election and
sends third half OF its honest men, and few OF
dishonest partisans voting some for the thieves and
some FOR the honest men of the opposite party. In
politics, the power OF candidate officer is Of little
avail to the general drift and purpose of the party
that elects him. The true way TO an honest poll
cian Is 90 have him elected mainly by honest party,
that his political promotion shall be obainable by
honesty, and not by dividing the public treasury
among his friends. No "honest" party can be formed
on the basis OF the personal qualities
4. II Il
spread enduring principles TO make successful party
We have these elements for the growth OF honest Re
party In the city Of New York In the Republican
ganizaton 10 is eeble but IT has only been kept feeble
by policy OF disorganization A thorough manten-
auco Of It's organization would In few years enable II
TO carry tho city. We reform the government
of the City through the Democratic organization party
that batens Southern Slavery and Northern Ignorance
and fraudulent voting can never nominate and elect
enough honest To office to lift finger toward Re-
form Hence we say, REPuBLICANs, VOTE AT THE COM
ING CHARTER ELECTION FOR YOUR OWN PARTY TICKET.
STRAIGHT. The stronger the vote you poll, the more
likely will the Democratic party be 10 nominate and elect
honest men, II is the absence OF effective political
party opposed TO them in city affairs that makes them
bold, corrupt, and INSCRIPTIONS Strengthen your Re-
publican organization and you compel the Democrats in
sheer prudence 10 be cautious, moderate and honest.
Besides there is indssouble sympathy between the
principles OF Justice ana liberty In our National affairs
and those OF economy and good government In city
And by outstanding and fostering instead of dsorganz
ing and demorazng the strength Of the Republican
ganizaton in New-York, in few years carry the
City itself.
Above all. the machinery OF our primary meetings"
Instead OF being weakened and left to the hands OF st
fewer men, should DO SO developed and expanded to
represent the voice and express the best and choice
OF the party. Visionary aud reformers may absent
themselves from primary meetings, but they cannot
abolish them Professional politicians will them IL
the people will not ana dishonest mon Will obtain power
through them If they are neglected, which they could
~ ...I..l NJ.