New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-04-27
L" NOTHING LIKE LEATHER.D

The Republican party is abundant1y blessed
with sagacious and DISTINGUISHED cOunselors,
each of whom offers to insure it long life and
unbroken ascendency on the easy condition
that it will do as he directs. Unluclily, how
ever, each of these sage advisers prescribes
course incompatible with that dictated by an
other, if not by all others. Thus, The Ereaing
Posts especial nostrum is Free Trade. Let
the Republicans break down our Tariff, and
expose our manufacturing and mining inter
ests to destruction by unchecked foreign
competition, and The Post and its friends
will give that party an old-fashioned support.
The n. Y. Times has a totally different PAN
acea. All that the Republicans need do Tin
its opinion) is to reject what its friend Carl
Benson calls "aquarial" ideas and notions,
go in strong for boundless Lager-Lager run
ming freely all night-Lager foaming and
flowing every Sunday-and it may thus secure
the adhesion of united Germany. and rule the
roost for all time
And so on, and so on.
THE TRIBUNE dissents from each and every
one of these MOrrison'spill prescriptions. 1t
insists on the perfect right of each Republican
to be a Free-Trader or ProtectiOnist exactly
as his own understanding and judgment shall
dictate 1t never asks whether the regular
Republican candidates are Protectionists or
Free Traders, but supports them all with
earnest fidelity. Frankly and fearlessly avow-
ing and defending its own Economic views, it
acc0rds like freedom to others. 1t regards as
political brethren all who uniformly support
the Republican ticket, however they may
differ with it as to Protection. 1t holds that
the preponderance of PrOtectionist ideas in the
Republican ranks can be no puzzle to those who
know why white sheep eat more than black
ones-that is, because there are more of them.
So with regard to License and Prohibition.
The question was raised by the Prohibitionists
in our first delegated Republican State Con-
yention-that of 1S55-and was decided in
favor of the largest liberty. A Republican was
left at perfect liberty to favor or oppose Pro-
hibition as he should see fit, without disparage-
ment to his standing in the party. That rule
has not been changed, and we trust will not
be. We do not see how to improve it. Yet
The Times says:
1.-THE position OF our Republican friends must change
toward many the Teutonc habits and customs. 1t IL
certainly apparent chat the innocent German amuse-
mens the love Of outdoor pleasure, the fondness Tor
music the social quang Of agerbeer and Rhine wines,
have in way Slapped either the physical OF mental
power Of tho that they have not prevented Ven
il they have aided) them in attaining the most exact
discipline, the most thorough popular education, the
most solid military power and the very head and front
Of the worlds civilization. War is the utmost test OF
nations moral and physical power Under it, France
has exploded like prcked balloon. Under it, Germany
comes forth solid, WELDED and compact than ever
People who sneer at the German habits must
ask themselves what other habits make bet
ter men. At all events, we, as members OF
the Republican party, cannot expect TO make
England Puritans Of the ovial DeuScher. Wemust
take them as they Perhaps they would have been
stronger and freer II they had never INDUCED In lager
beer much tobacco, and acid wines. Perhaps a more
serious view life would have been better for Them
STILL we cannot reform them they do not want to be re-
formed and in future, they less likely TO want TO be
reformed than ever We must accept them and posi-
bic make some reasonable compromise between their
habits and American habits We need them In our great
struggle with q worse than French corruption and q
tyranny enslaying than was ever Napoleons.
With them allies may yet see an American Sedan
where the allied forces Of the NewYork Ring the foreign
priesthood and the Southern Democracy shall be
oyerthrown, and freedom and honesty triumph for
generation"
We object to all this that it proposes to
substitute a compromise" for the perfect law
of liberty. How can there be a compromise
between one who regards Alcohol as poison
and one who esteems lit wholesome, re-
freshing stimulant7 We know no rule that
might be substituted with advantage for that
of leaving each free to act upon his own con-
convictions.