New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-13
STATE POLITICS.

We fail to discover any good ground for
complaint at the recent action of the Repub-
lican General Committee of this City, in voting
to make their organization select and exclu-
siye; or of the Democratic State Committee,
in calling Convention of their own upon the
same exclusive pattern. 1t is entirely con-
sistent with the theory upon which both par
ties are managed. The main idea with the
gentlemen who on one side and the other
administer with so much confidence the
affairs of their respective organizations,
is, not that there are principles separating
parties upon which every citizen has or ought
to have an option, but simply that there are
offices to be fought for and divided Naturally
enough, then, instead of inviting people to
act with them in the advocacy and support of
certain principles, they close their doors for
fear there will not be Offices enough to go
around. Nobody can find fault with them
for it; but perhaps, by and by, honest
citizens will begin to inquire by what
right parcel of Custom-house officers
and Government dependents assume to rule
the party that rules the country; and at the
same time-though that is of smaller conse-
quence-ask these Democratic gentlemen who
are undertaking to act as agents for a living
organization, when the most they can claim
to be is administrators dc bonis non of dead
one, whence their authority is derived. Then,
perhaps, honest citizens recognizing and adj
hitting the right of these gentlemen to Or
ganize and be as select and exclusive as they
WISH but denying their right to bind any
body but themselves, will hout them both
and vote for whom they please.
The action of the managing politicians of
the two great parties in assuming to call con-
ventiOns, nominate tickets, and make plat
forms for people who distrust them both, may
have inspired the Liberal Republicans to a
like work. Certainly there seems q place in
the politics of Newr York for their Convention,
and perhaps it may have chance to do good
service. In any case, the gentlemen concerned
in it will hardly be accused of office-seeking
or other selfish motives now, as they were a
year ago. We do not share the belief
some of them express, that they are
about to form the coming new party.
New parties are not made in that way i'm
fact, are not made at ALL they grow. But
they have a chance to unite organized action
on some reforms in State government, In
favor of some honest men who ought to be
reelected, and against some thieves who ought
to be defeated. IL they have the wisdom to
undertake this work, they may WELD such
balance of power as shall prove salutary
check upon both parties, and force in each
the selection of good men for Office.
We have no means of knowing what course
they may take, or what either of the other
Conventions will do; but there are three or
four things which honest citizens, seeking
honest government, ought to urge, no matter
what party may favor or oppose them.
We believe the present Controller, Nelson
X. Hopkins, ought to be reelected. He is q
capable and an honest officer and he has
been the efficient foe of that powerful Canal
Ring, which usually names its man for Canal
Commissioner in the Conventions of both
parties. To the persuasive manipulations of
the adroit managers of that long successful
Ring we owe it that there is no re-
trenchment in our shockingly wasteful
canal expenditures. To them we owe
il that three men now holding the Office
of Canal Commissioners are able to paralyze
every effort TO reduce those expenditures to
the honest limit--which Is probably not half
the present amount. AS q good officer, who
has opposed and may be trusted TO oppose
this Ring, we hope Controller Hopkins may
be reelected and if placed Oh tho ticket Of