New-York tribune., 1872-08-07
PARTY INTOLERANCE.
THE OPINION OF IAN AVERAGE VOTER

Something upon what everybody is talking about;
to wit: the condition of the country and National
politics And 10 say IL TO a great many people. Not
that think am competent to teach the people ON
political subjects by any means, or because have
the cacoehes s0tbendi or i0qaeRdi; but do think
there s great deal Of very loose illogical and ir
relevant thinking, talking. and writing upon these
things, and being more anxious 10 be instructed
in my duties a citizen than TO have my enthusiasm
kndled my prejudices fed I am quite tired Of It
| all. 1t seems TO possible, or that it certainly
ought to be possible treat questions Of National
politics with greater degree Of fairness and free
| dom from prejudice than we are in tho
! habit Of doing. For assuredly there arc
| citizens and, | apprehend. a very largo
| number, who are thoughtful and serious even upon
the political issues of the time, who have sense
of duty and responsibility in these matters and who
may safely be talked with reasoning men. Hear
ing and reading everywhere much Of cbaii and 30
little of sober talk upon politics. have been wrcst-
| ling for some time with an impulse TO cry out in
some public place manner: 4" Oh, hush this pain
ful, pitful gabble let us stand still moment, and
consider whether this be noisy rattle for plumber
and place or grand act in the government Of CON
tinentD And what especially desire to saw 10 tho
| people who are talking about these things Is just
this that it is not worth while to set ourselves
them because we happen TO be Democrats
or Republicans Liberals, for any reason indeed
The majority of US certainly have interest except
to have the country well and wisely governed. Let
us discuss that question calmly, and without excite
OF anger and keep always in mind the fact that
human judgment is very fallble and that 30 long az
there is the remoest shade of possibility that our
| neighbor who differs from may be right and We
wrong, we may as well treat him kindly and tolerate
his divergence. BY all means let us believe each
other honest so long as we can. And then think it
possible for all quiet thoughtful citizens 10 get down
to the true philosophy of the situation, and, If
differ to know at least the reason and ground OF our
| differences
am the more earnest in favor of cathOlicity and
| tolerance from having myself experienced some
| thing of the opposite spirit. Having voted the Re-
publican ticket since 1856, and before that time the
Wing ticket, but not being entirely satisfied with
the Administration of President Grant, found my
self, some little time ago. pondering the anomalies
of the situation, and deiberating somewhat doubt
fully to my duty. L very shortly became, az dis
covered, object Of suspicion TO those with whom
| had been politically associated; men who had
| hardly given the political complications a serious
| thought sneered at me az doubtful voter I" some.
who could not tell the difference between the parties
| except in their names, spoke unkindly OF me AZ
man who "did MT know his own mind;' some OK
| cellent men pitied my weakness, but said perhaps
| meant we'll" Some called me a grumbler, and
| some who held Office did not hesitate 10 stgnatize
me as a renegade. All this struck me very queer;
| | had done these people no harm, had not as yet
made up my mind that was at odds with them;
was only considering it, 1t was a very unpleasant
revelation to me- But it seemed to me, on the
whole to belong to my duty a citizen to try to do
| inLi / I sbould On
and so have endeavored by such processes as was
| capable of to work through it. L hope | have
| learned lesson of charity from this little expert
| ence. You newspaper people do great deal OF
| humping and whacking at each other and at all
who differ from you, and do not know that there
is much to choose between the parties in that re-
gard but it does not 70 me to be at all neces-
sary or to do any good Why not let man think
for himself once in a while, and not mpute bad mo
| tives to him if he differs from a caucusf
That is about the thing wanted to say to tho
gentlemen who are dIsputing over politics aud can
ddates-let us be tolerant and charitable When
we come to that we shall sweep away a world of
| petty things from the surface of debate and get
clearer insight and truer views of duty
Pricked to it by sense of personal wrong and in
| Justice at the hands of men whom had given no
occasion for it, wrote little screed the subject
1
treated me quite civilly when submitted it TO him.
and said they were his views in the main, but de-
| clined the communication for the reason that he
feared II would be offensive TO the State Committee,
who he said were very sensitive just now about any
thing that might disturb the harmony Of the party.
He was consulting his business interests OF course
| but l was surprised to learn that the Committee
| exercised so rigid a censorship over the
newspapers. 1t would be an exa0geration
| to say the press of the country is fettcred, aud
vet there seems at first blush to be something IN
this control of the press by partisan committees who
suppress fair discussion not quite consistent with
our boast of free press. The editor was at liberty
| 70 be sure TO publish what he pleased. but | am
told that last year when he criticised his party on
the eve of an election the Committee made it very
Improbable as well as uncomfortable for him. So it
| is not TO be wondered at that he is little tmid
about printing anything that may disturb the bar
| mony of the party. was quite jostled in my mind
| by the discovery that the contents Of my weekly
newspaper have to be sfted down to me through
political committee. 1t shows that they have high
regard for my mental and moral digestion know.
but it seemed somehow to be such reflection on my
Intelligence that did not esteem il complimentary
at all.
And while on this subect, am reminded OF
| little circumstance day or two since, IN my own
| neighborhood. A neighbor of mine who has been al
times quite active in politics and has served once or
twice. believe rs committeeman for the tswn.
brought to me a letter which he had received from
the member of the State Committee for this county
OF district asking him to report certain facts per
| tanning to the canvass, and, among Others now
many TRIBUNEs were taken in the town. ana
whether they could not be changed for an Admins
tration organ My neighbor is very earneS' ne
publican. and suppose intends to vote Tor "rah'
,ot;ono ahout DrODriety ana Wltnal