New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-03

classes. To the former or them because Oh
the honest love they bear for the old organ
ization, its pleasant associations, and its
honorable record; to the latter because dam
age to tho party is hurtful to their personal
interests and perilous to their hopes OF ad-
vaucemcnt. The argument with both is the
same. Party organizations, they say, are mecca
sary. Granted. The Republican party contains
a majority of the sincere and patriotic men
in the country Well, suppose we grant that,
and that its record is as honorable and patri-
otto as the record of the opposition was dis
honorable and disloyal during the war; what
thenf With the fact perfectly patent that
this great party which deserves so well, ana
has such large possibilities of good in ut, mas
fallen under the control of designing dem
agOgues who are using its name and It's ma
chinery for very selfish and dishonest ends'
to the destruction Of moral standards and the
decentralization of politics, what shall be done
What shall happen, indeed, if great
many voters-enough to turn the politicai
scale-shall say "Amen" to Freeman Clarkes
proposition in the Massachusetts Convention
that it is better to follow conscience IMAM
obey the caucusf What if, seeing the ten
denotes of the party, they shall permit 1t TO
undergo the Christening influences of defeat 7
Will ANYTHING serious happenq Does any sane
person suppose there is the remotest posi-
bility of the undOng of any part OF the great
work of the Republican party; the work tor
which alone it was called into being, and
which it has now so thoroughly and COM
pletely done that no profane hand can by any
possibility disturb It'll
No ono will seriously claim that there Is
the slightest danger of changing or unset
Ting the issues that have been definitely set
tied and LAID away after dividing parties so
widely and for 80 long a period. All the
talk about the necessity of keeping the party
united and strong, in order to prevent tho
dreadful things threatened by opposition
ascendency, is utterly idle and empty. Decent
people are asking now simply but earnestly,
GLOW can we get honest government" Inc
Administration promise it, but do not fulfill.
Mr.. Butler and other distinguished leaders
answer all complaints with, "Well, the other
"party is worse, and the best thing 10 DO Is 10
"h0d on and reform the Republican party
." from the inside" Now what is to be
donei Keep voting the regular ticket
and accepting the renewals OF dishonOred
promises as the best currency in the world
Or indicate in a mild way to the gentlemen
who are managing the party and running the
Government that forbearance has ceased to be
virtuef If there is any other way to do
this than by administering to the party the
lesson of defeat, it has not been announced.
We are asked what is to be gained for Civil
Service Reform for instance, by the defeat OF
Senator Buckingham in Connecticut. This, at
least: that his place will be filled by some one
who will not defend Custom-House abuses or
support the unfit appointments of the Pres
ident. Can any one tell what good there Is
in keeping him in the Senatei
1t is all very well for men who make their
living by it to talk about the Importance of
the party" To those who are at all disposed
to be influenced by such appeals we commend
a serious study of the uses to which the
"partyn was put in keeping the Tweed regime
in power the use made of it by the Phila-
delphia Ring, by the Louisiana cOnspirators,
by the South Carolina rObbers-in short, by all
the unprinciped Adventures who have been
robbing the Treasury and plundering the peo-
pie while they distracted public attention by
party cries If there is anything we can ever
afford to dispense with for a little while 1t is
craftsmanship.