The Portland daily press., 1869-08-04
RspssiIsas irasassmsns n Nov Vera

OAtys
The Republicans Of the rural districts of
New York are not at all satisfied with the
management ef the Republican committees
having control of the party machinery in the
Metropolis, and mako loud complaint OF the
selfshness and corruption which character
iEe everything they do. They do not hesitate
to say that the party is purposely Kept smaller
than IL might be, in order that certain un-
principIed scoundrrls belonging to the ward
4 or general committees may better control the
government patronage in the city, and other
wise provide for themselves and favorites.
The peculiar hardship of the case is apparent
to all. Outside of New York city, the State is
safe at any time for a reliable Republican ma
jority, but the immense Democratic prepon-
derance in the city ordinarily overcomes the
Republican majority in the rest of the State
and ensures toe success of Democracy in the
election of State Cffcers and for the Presiden-
tial ticket.
In such a city as New York, il would be alb
surd to expect large amount of virtue even
among the committeeman of the Republican
party.
The shocking example set them by the COM
mittee men and fuglers of the Democratic
party, whose political action grayitatss toward
corruption as by fixed and inexorable law,
has not been without its influence upon those
caucuses and superintend the running Of the
machine" in New York city.
The better portion of the party in that city
long since abandoned participation in the pri-
mary meetings to the professional Gentlemen
who make the selection of candidates their
business. These patriotic individuals, as
shown by experience, cannot resist the tempta-
ton of looking after their own interests in
preference to the interests of the party. They
seem to be severally impressed with the idea
that their duty consists in looking after the
greatest good of the greatest number, and that
the greatest number is number one.
Prior to 1866 there was but one Republican
committee in the city, and that was under the
management and control of ThurIow Weed
He had access TO the President, and the faces
of Office holders and office e-seekers were nat
urally turned toward him. In the general di
rection Of this committee he was supreme, but
in 1866 he broke with the party, and under the
auspices of the State convention a new city
committee was organized from which the Weed
men were excluded. The organization of both
committees has been continued to this day
and has been productive of anything but har-
mony and good results.
An attempt is now being made to consolidate
them, with the proposed object of strengthen
ing the party in the city. We are not san
guine that the consummation of this scheme
will produce the desired result. The unifca-
tion of the rival committees will not purge
them Of the corruption with which they are
tainted, nor will it make them more anxious
that the respectable portion of the party
should have o hand in tho making of nomina-
tions or ''nteriere" in the general direction OF
party affairs. The new committee will un-
doubtedly insist upon the old division of work
claiming that it belongs to them TO make nom
nations and parcel out offices, and to the Gre
spectables'' to confine themselves exclusively
to voting for the candidates whom the com
mittee may select. We apprehend that the
Republican party of New York city will never
have the weight or influence it ought to have
until the control of the party machinery passes
into the hands of better men than those who
have of late controlled it, nor, indeed, until
the true men of the party awake to the neces-
sity of taking part in the primary meetings
and attending somewhat 70 the details of po-
litical affairs. We know how ayerse the mer-
chants and other men OF business are to dab
bling in politics, and how content they are to
let others having taste in that direction have
q monopoly of the entire business but they
must overcome their repugnance to this sort
Of labor, or permit the Democracy to have un-
disputed sway in the city and through the ma
jorities which they can there manufacture ts
order, control the destinles of the State, and
possibly in some closely contested Presidential
election, the fate of the nation.