New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-17
THE NEW POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY.
From n, Nation


The small impression made on the imitation
ists by the arguments with which they have been
sssaed both by the minority in Congress ana Dy the
Drqs- and indeed the silence with when THESE asu
ments have been received have excited good deal oi
surprise all tue country, and nave seemed AZ ,e
anost Incapable OF explanation. IL was not easy 10
discover ut first what this meant, because they were
ot until lately sufficiently sure OF their game 70 DC
omen in their confessions their recent successes
however both IL the Senate and House. nave apparently
rendered caution longer necessary ana the latest ac
couns from the bestin,ormed observers In Washington
assure us what n IN the mind oil tho managers o
the nhaouist RInQ is really repudia0n-tOlal repuul
ton all Government Liabilities arlSh out vi thc wa,
is no DENYING that the situation Is very grave
one but Is the whole great deal more I.VOtaDIe
ana hopeful than any when year ago We Da ~ "U ,
10 expect This assault on the puDhc crcuIt ~ III oI
minds a far more msldous and dangerous attempt 10
break down free government on tnis coneihene h t
mat made by the Shareholders, because, as we nave
TstSer the final step n system OF corruption which IL
WAS difficult to combat because dlncut 10 citch seut
drums beating and cOlOrs yng prond OF their numbers
ana OF their cause and their destruction was simply
Inc other hand careiGl not 10 parade themselves as
separate organization and have hitherto Oeeh Ionhu
in greater numbers IN the camp OF the reolmeIs 'han
Under these circumstances, the consolidation OF the
forces Of corruption aud dishonesty mo pylltlcil Or
gnuization for assault the public credit-and 10
tins complexion il seems 10 have come az hstIhust DC
congrdtulaOn TO all Trends or gOOu
government We now know VINO tbey are anu Where 10
1nd tnem. They are band OF f JSn9
without mOnoouOus toii others OF ADDITIONS 10 aeeu
ratIons already large aud dishonesty acquired. No
Lrtter opportuuity could be wished for than Is now
offered for irving the question whether the honesty and
intelligence OF the United states, or is ignorance ana
kn,ypTy Shall govern the country. All That is really
rotten IN politics pretty sure TO Ds IOunu Ia inc III
naonist rak, and the issue they present ~ not one
that can be lodged eyaded or mixed mp with other
things. This time there Is no place 10 Wnlcn
the rich man cultured man or industrious man VINO
hates politics retire because imitation and repu-
daon are measures which reach every home, however
luxurious or however humble, and which are intended
by those WELD them 10 get NJ the owners OF prop
erty aud fleece them We glad lt has come 10 tnls
because II indicates tnat the national disease mas
reached il. crisis, and that the patient Will now either
throw il of succumb. But IL - not moment TOO
begin prepare the remedy, and we have seen
no more valuable suggestion looking in this direction
than that made by DR. Bacon Monday last IN letter
o Mr.. W. w. Phelps published IN The NEw-foRK
TRIBUNE; namely thar those members OF Congress who
have stood well for good morals aud sound policy
should and dYaw statement OF the issue before
the country they UNDERESTIMATE and thus furnish some
thing the nature Of platform 20 which the honest
men OF all parties give IA their adhesion