New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-26
NEH,JERSEY POLITICS.

NEW-JERSEY POLITICS.
The prospects of the political campaign in
New-Jersey are rapidly assuming definite shape,
and it is in many respects one of the most in
teresting of the many contests now In pro-
gress. 1t is without complications fair fight
between advanced Republicanism and New
Departure Democracy. There is hardly side
issue. Not even State pOlity, as confined to
the limits of New-Jersey is concerned, has any
influence upon the result. The great lease of
the United Companies to the Pennsylvania Cen
trail Railroad does not seem likely to affect
vote. The Erie controversy of last Winter ID
nothing in the fight. The official conduct of
the Democratic Governor, Randolph, is calmly
approved by all save the bad men in bis own
party. No tangible nor probable charge of
corruption rests against the Republican ma
jority in the Legislature of last Winter. Both
candidates for Governor-COrnelius Walsh,
Rep, and Joel Parker Dem.-are men OF
character and ability. Each of them is iden-
tilted with his party, its history, and its ideas.
Against neither lies any serious charge which
does not appertain to the political faith of the
man.
1t thus happens that III a strangely clear
and positive manner the issue Is made as to
whether New Jersey is or is not Republican
State upon questions of national policy. For
twelve years the gubernatOrial chair of New
Jersey has been filed by gentlemen who have
no fear of reproach on any ground other than
that of difference in political opinion. Neither
Olden nor Parker, nor Ward nor Randolph,
two Republicans and two Democrats, have
been anything else thanlpure and able. In the
constantly changing political character of the
Legislature, the faults and merits of one party
are the faults and merits of both The fight is on
national policy, on tariff or free trade, on the
Constitution as it is or the Constitution as it
was, on the steady advance of Republicans to
reach the fruits of their past sacrifices, or the
equally steady drag upon the wheel by the
Democracy to crawl back to past conditions.
1t is a representative tourney between knights
to whom fair play is freely granted. We re-
gard it as singularly Indicative. If New-Jer-
sey is Republican State this FALL it will be
because the national sentiment is changing in
that direction.
A cleaner race was hardly ever witnessed
Neither of the candidates fOrl Governor can
be said to have more than their party strength.
Ex-Gov Parker, like ex-GOv. SeymOur-the
prefix EEK" applies TO hosts of Democrats
has a record as "War Governor with a
Provost Marshal behind him. He had the
choice, If he had the pluck, to throw the State
into open resistance to the Federal Govern
ment He lacked the latter. He preferred to
take it out in persistent / umbling at
the Federal power. His claim to election
by the Democracy is that he was very
Indifferent Democrat during the war, that
he was active and prompt in forwarding
troops to suppress the Rebellion, and
that he gave his whole heart to the cause of
the Union. Two classes of men turn cold
cheek on all this sort Of talk-the Repub-
licans, who remember and laugh; the
Peace Democrats, who had their surfeit
Of falsehood seven years ago, and now say
that during all the war Gov. Parker was a
drafted man, doing as he was told, and going
wherever Provost Marshall General Fry ordered
him to 60. During all the trying times he
betrayed in his speeches want of sympathy
for the Union cause. Long after the Procla-
nation Of Emancipation, he spoke Of it as
something to be repealed of the war itself as
produced by political ambition. Ambitious
I" and wicked men," he said, used the Slavery
Question to attain power. They found the
religious sentiment of the North hostile to
Slavery, and then cunningly inculcated the
modern doctrine that Slavery is sim" In
the political campaign of 1894, Mr.. Parker
declared that, in case of the success Of tho
Democracy, among the first Of their political
acts would be to wipe out all proclamations
" of emancipation, Having gone back to where
I" the war began, the way would be open for
times of peace" ...
AS we have explained, the gubernatorial
contest In New-Jersey is one not of men, and
has next to nothing to do with the personal
popularity of the candidates, against neither
Of whom can any substantial charge be
brought. Furthermore, it Is not State con-
test. The whole thing rests upon the ques-
ton whether New-Jersey Ia or is not Repub-
hcan State in this year Of our Lord. And
there we leave It, conhdentfthat Mr.. Walsh
viii be the nert Governor We have not re-
cited orrdafended his course. Why should
wes He, b. IN honest man, Republican, o
Christian, and % such ne IL known Of men.
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