New-York tribune., 1872-10-16

thought of the platform, and have given it
most conscientious support. Immense as has
been the increase in the material wealth of
the country in twenty years, it in nothing COM
Mares 10 the increased intelligence of the
people. The railroad, the telegraph, and the
newspaper make intelligence universal. A
people so informed cannot be long deceived.
The party that is honest and presents such
platform as the Liberal party cannot ultimately
fail of success.
The October elections have given frequent
illustration of the eanestness of the people IN
the movement, and their uncompromisng de-
mand for honesty and consistency in its sup
pOrters. They will not regard or follow any
one who seems to speak from private grudge
or mere personal reason of any kind. The OPP
position have been skllful and cunning in
urging the imputation of a personal feeling
actuating many of those who have leit the
old Republican party. They well know that
if they could make it appear that any
Liberal Republican was acting from per-
sonal spleen and not from principle, they
would largely weaken his influence. No mat
ter what mans position or prestige be, IL he
appear to act from any personal reasOn-sucn
as disappointment or selishness-or If ho holds
to contradictory opinions, he can have but
mcager following. The attitude and weak
ness of Col Fomey in Pennsylvania afford an
illustration of this. Hartranft, whose pecula-
tions when public officer had made him no.
torious, was taken up by the Cameron faction
and nominated for Governor. When we con-
slider that Cameron is the confidential friend
of the President and n controlling
spirit in the AdministratiOn-tlat Hart
ranft is in all respects the equal
and in many respects the superior, Oi
Murphy, who bears an autograph letter OF the
President commencing him as an honest Of
ficial-consdering these things, we may safely
say that Hartranft fairly represents the Adj
ministration, and was entitled to the full Adj
ministration support. Forney was and Is an
Administration man, and III the confidence OF
the President, or claimed to be. When, there
fore, he refused to support Hartrantt VINO
was wholly acceptable to the Administration,
and continued to support Gen Grant, the ln-
consistency of his position was so glaring
that men looked for personal motive stronger
than principle. 1t was found i'll his intense
personal dislike to Cameron. Had he opposed
Hartranft from principle purely, and not
simply as the nominee of Cameron, they
thought he would also have opposed Gen.
Grant. Such an irreconclable contradiction
utterly destroyed his influence. There is no
proof that he had any following whatever.
The defeat of the Hon. ID. w. Voorhees, for
Congress in Indiana illustrates in another way
the same thought. He had drunk of the
wine of Hendrick Hudson, and had dozed
through the tremendous events out of which
was born the Liberal movement. He awoke
and opposed in vehement speech the candi-
dates of the Liberal party. Later he was
nominated for Congress- and when be became
identified with those who were favoring this
candidate, he recanted and himself favored
the candidate he so strenuOusly opposed.
The contradiction of his position was more
apparent than real. The inference that
he was influenced by selfish considera-
tions was natural, but far from the
truth. In fact, be had spoken without
thought in the first instance. When he came
to study the aim and hope of the Liberal party
he saw that every true man who understood
if must favor it. But he had not time to ex-
plain his conversion. 1t was under such con-
more influence than had FOrney; but there
vas a suspicion in his position that was in
to the demand for honest unself-
sbness. and it was fatal. Indiana gives MS
mother illustration Of the drift of our thought.
J. p. c. Shanks, g Member of Congress from
hat State, lately said in a debate that "Civil
9 Service Reform and the cry for the Abolition
9 of the Franking Privilege were specimens OF
. Western humbuggery." He then took vio
lent position against two of the tenets OF the
New Party. He was a candidate for reelec-
ton, and had for his opponent a young Lib
eral Republican, mere STRIPPING in years and
appearance. He could honestly present every
of the New Party, for he had always
from childhood favored the old party that
first professed and then betrayed many of
these principles. John f. Neff, the youth, de-
feated Shanks, the veteran. The one was Ill
an honest postion-the other was not The
people knew which to support.
We might add illustration after illustration.
Every day we see more clearly that the people
are with the New Party in spirit, and that
they will give it their adhesion when con-
vinced that this infexible demand for truth
fulness is met. They abhor shams-devices-
makeshifts. They long for something better.
Let the leaders of the Liberal party see that
they appreciate this. Let them swerye nothing
from the high purpose with which they began.
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THE PRESIDENTS CONTEMPT FOR Law
We have mover agreed with those who re-
= e