New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-15
THE LESSON OF CONNECTICUT

THE LESSON OF CONNECTICUT
There has been no more important or sig
nificant event in recent politics than the
action of the Connecticut Legislature yesterday.
II left Gen. Ferry with an aggregate majority
of the votes cast separately in the two Houses.
Unless there should be such marked change in
the minds of voters within twenty-fOur hours,
"a no honorable causes seem likely to work,
the result to-day in joint convention must be
the reelection of Gen. Ferry as United States
Senator. There was some premonition OF this
at the time of the Republican caucus,
when the Liberal Republicans refused to meet
with the Administration members and allowed
the latter to nominate the candidate deslg-
mated by Washington without opposition. But
until Monday the certainty of the harmonious
working of the united opposition was I'M
known, and therefore the action of yesterday
will be to tho country at largo as unexpected
as it is gratifying 1t shows that the desire
for Reform is strong enough TO break and
pulverize the former chains of party in both
political organizations, and to bring the
conscientious members Of both cordially
together for practical measures of relief.
At the late State election the Administration
party were never weary of asserting that
every vote cast for the Republican ticket was
vote for Grant and when the Republicans
had carried the State tho organs repeated
everywhere the silly calumny that the Liberal
Republicans had voted for and aided the
Democratic ticket; and that the Grant men
had met and overborne both. For once the
Liberal Republicans and the Democrats, under
all sorts of restraints and disadvantages, hare
acted together and the Grant men can devote
the rest of the season to reflections on the
result. One of the most wholesome effects of
the work of yesterday and to-day will be to
show the partisans of the Administration the
fruits of their proscriptive policy, and to teach
those Democrats who honestly desire emanci
patton and reform the way to obtain it. They
have both learned to doubt the party caucus
and herein lies the beginning of political
wisdom they have both seen that the Liberal
Republicans bear the banner of victory, and
herein is found the forerunner and token of
the greater Future.
The result is especially grateful for many
reasons. Not the least of these are the merit
and worth of Senator Ferry. He is, as THE
TRIBUNE has before said so good a man that
the State is fortunate which can find better
servants. He was an able member of the
House of Representatives. He went into the
army from the Capitol, and made an excellent
soldier. AS a Senator, he has been without
reprOach. During the next seven years it is
not imprudent to predict that the good citi-
zens of his State will not regret his election.
While we regard this election as warning
and a lesson to politicians, we cannot but re-
greet that the subject of the experiment should
have been so valuable a man as Gov. Haw-
ley. He is gentleman who has deserved
well of the State. He was the man who,
after all the miserable rout and confusion of
Bull Run, marched his company into Wash
ington in perfect order as if on dress
parade. His whole military and civil careers
have been eminently successful and credit
able. He is as good specimen of that New
England brain and conscience we are all
proud of as can well be found
But he wanted what, to the poll
tician as well as to the Christian,
is the root of the matter He lacked faith.
He properly belonged in the ranks of the
reformers. He ardently desired the coming of
better time in Congress, in the Civil Service,
in the councils of parties. His associates and
friends, his tastes and sympathies, all led him
to Cincinnati. lie was not at home in that
atmosphere of vulgar self-interest which per-
vades the Administration party. But he could
not see his way clear to success under the
banner of revolt. The Senatorship appeared
to be in his hands, if he would only make that
sacrifice of taste and conviction involved
in supporting the nomination of Gen. Grant
The President was not a man after Gen. Haw-
ley's heart. He has different and far higher
ideals. But he accustomed himself to the
thought of enduring regime which he could
not approve, simply because he lacked the
self denying initiative which leads men TO for
sake the narrow limits of the caucus in ODE
dence to the imperative demands of political
morality. In ordinary times this may be the
easier way, though at all times it is not pleas
ant to see a man of Gen. Hawley's dignity
making this indolent compromise with his
own best impulses. But in times of revo-
luton, like the present, the men who
throw away their chances, find them.
Civic courage amounting to indifference to
consequences, il better in these breaking-up
days than any prudent and discreet calcula-
tons of the strength of the party which ap-
pears to be in power The present examples
of this may be useful to several other eminent
and worthy gentlemen now trembling on tho
brink of action. whose decision will DO mat