New-York tribune., 1874-03-11
TIE CLAIM or LOCALITY.

Already we begin to hear of the claims of
locality as influencing the nominations of Con-
gressmen to be elected this year. 1t Is more
than any ordinary sagacity can compass to
foretell what party or what candidates are to
come successfully through the contests just
now before u.s. The most brazen of the quacks
who have been hooting at the suggestion of
anything wrong with the Republican party
now hold their canes to their noses with faces
as long as the M6deoin Tantpis of the fabulist,
and admit that the patient is in evil case.
They deny that tho disease is organic, how
ever; and pretend to think the attack is an
acute one, originating in Butler and cOmpl-
Gated by Simmons. Having held all along that
Grant was the salvation of the party, they are
naturally somewhat embarrassed at being com
PEELED to admit that he is destroying it. But
they are generally beginning to admit that all
is not WELL and that the elections this year
are not to be tho simple affair they were two
years ago, when tho organization of the party
was unbroken and its command of money alb
solutely without limit. In the face of these
facts, therefore, it is little surprising to see
the old mean pettIness OF local politics sur
viving stronger than ever,-as 1T would be to
SEQ the passengers on a sinking ship quarrel
ing about precedence at tho Captains table.
From several districts reports are coming in
that the Honorable l.. C.. Statesman, who has
for two terms represented the district COM
posed of Subsidy, Grabbe, and Steele Counties,
is about to retire in accordance with general
demand from the last county, which has not
had the representative for three terms. No
dissatisfaction is expressed with the sitting
member lie has worked faithfully for his
district. He is not accused of any
partiality for his own county. He has
lobbied early and late for every scheme which
would benefit any portion OF his constituency,
and has suffered no considerations of justice
or the general welfare to stand in the way of
his votes where their interests were concerned.
But because he has served two terms, and has
learned something about public business,
about parliamentary practice, the wants of his
district, and the means Of supplying them he
is called upon to get out Of the way and to
allow some raw office-seeker from another
county to have his share of the glory and
profit which comes to tho average Congress-
man.
This stupid and shameless claim is regarded
80 much as matter of course that the poll
ticians who are sacrificed to it do not seem to
dare raise their voices against it, They yield
" to the wishes Of the people, and abdicate as
cheerfully as tho servile gladiatOrs who dis
torted their lips into smile when the re-
versed thumbs Of the amphitheater gave the
signal Of their death. Their friends go into
Convention, acknowledge with what grace they
can summon Il the just claims of fold Steele"
move TO make the nomination of old Steele's
| candidate unanimous, and separate with three
hearty cheers for tho underdono aspirant who
has been successful purely because he was not
qualified to sorve. The man who perhaps had
| reached the stage of intelligent discharge OF
! duty Esttrss y private yts sn4 passes tAs Eest