New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-11
HONESTY IN Politics.


II il at once melancholy and amusing to
find story of political probity, though it may
be of the cheapest sort, regarded as something
so extraordinary as almost to need the sub
sanitation of an affidavit. Mr. George b.
Upton, perfectly respectable old gentleman
of Boston, died the other day. AS a Wing
politician he formerly had considerable local
reputation, particularly in his own city. His
death has Occasioned a reproduction of the
fact that long ago, under circumstances which
somewhat tested his honor he behaved in a
perfectly honorable way. Itappears that when
Marcus Morton some thirty odd years since
ran against Edward Everett for the Office of
Governor of Massachusetts,, it was supposed
that the last named was elected by about
forty majority. Mr.. Upton, occupying an
official position, discovered that there had been
miscount, and that Gov. Morton was really
elected by majority of one. The secret
we are told, "was with Mr.. Upton alone, and
Gin all probability would never be discovered
He had only to keep silence and his party
would retain the place in Massachusetts which
they had monopoized so long and which they
loved so dearly. Now it is a sad and hui
initiating fact that such a secret as this
would. to-day, be perfectly safe in the keep
ing of scores upon scores of party leaders
We might name, if we cared to be personal,
many prominent Republican who, if he had
known at the close of the last Presidential
canvass any fact invaidating the election Of
Gen. Grant, would hardly have acted as Mr.
Upton did on the occasion referred to. He
called his friends together at the fremont
House in Boston. To strengthen them for the
disclosure he first gave them one OF those
good dinners for which the house was at that
time renowned Then he told them that the
hated Judge Morton was really elected! 1t
was bitter pill for Wing asccndency in that
State had seemed to b. rs solidly fixed as the
everlasting hills. Norton had been running
so long and had been so often beaten, that he
was regarded by the Wings with certain
degree of contempt. and his annual defeat
was considered predestinatc. BIT Mr.. Upton
was a man not easily put down. Measures
were taken to have the error reCtitied before the
official count and proclamation had been made.
The Wing party lost their Governor for that
year, and Judge Morton became in the mouths
of men Governor Morton for all time to come.
1t would hardly be pleasant to compare the
conduct of this private Boston merchant with
the course which has sometimes been pur-
sued under the pressure of partisan emergen
cies without a qualm, by more than one public
character. If Mr.. Upton had been engaged at
all in the miserable Credit MObilicr business,
he would never have told lies either black or
white about it afterward. lie might have
thought Sir. Greeley not exactly the best man
for the Presidency, and as he thought so he
would have voted but we cannot conceive
of him coming little ISLANDERS to blast a good
character established by years of scrupulous
and, as some men thought, of over scrupulous
integrity. The weapons of calumny, of mis-
representation, of unwholesOme ridcule, would
hardly have been resorted to by him, readily
as they were grasped and welded by more
than one man calling himself honest during
that memorable year. He would hardly
have hunted an honest opponent into the
grave-he would certainly have RETAINED from
heaping upon that grave persistent and null
tiplied indignities.
Wehear continually that politicians should be
honest. We have been hearing the same
story all our lives theoretically, it is ad-
mitted that mcndacity is not the browning
grace of great public character; but prac-
tically. the weight of opinion in certain politi-
cal circles seems to be that it is. 1t is
thought at least, that when the ascendency of
party is in peril, there is no harm in being
little economical of the truth. Whatever
sin the partisan leader cannot deny in a
speech, he denies by his silence Occasionally
be gets into a passion so tremendous that We
almost believe it to be real he runs in hot
hurry to his lawyer, and that functionary,
under ample instructions, begins an action
against journals which have spoken plainly of
disagreeable matters. A good many men,
when they have done this, pretend to think
that they stand fully indicated before the
world. Gradually their suits fade from the
calendar without trial; and the honorable
plaintiff is ready for fresh enterprises and for
new experiments upon the popular patience