New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-24
THE POLITICAL FIELD.


been held thus far this year, and at least
twenty sets of resolutions adopted by them.
| 1t might be supposed that these declarations
would afford ample information in regard to
the principles of the several political Organi-
cations, or at least clearly indicate the drift
| of public opinion. They do cOnclusively show
that the existing party lines are no longer
significant of different views on great Ma
tiona questions. National questions we still
have, but the parties do not conform to them.
Take, for instance the currency question. in
| the New-England States We have clear ana
| positive declarations from both Republicans
| and Democrats in favor of a return to specie
| PAYMENTS In PENNSYLVANIA and the Western
States we have from both sides, either an un-
| mistakable demand for fresh issues of paper
| money, or some dOuble-faced, Oracular utter
apce, Just sufficient TO show that dishonesty
and cOwardice cannot be hammered out OF
that insidious and crafty creature. the mole
eyed politician, forever working in the dark.
So far not even in single State has the
issue been clearly made between the two
parties on the question of imitation. A large
number of the Conventions resort to the de-
vice of foisting in some formula of ambiguous
x.
will make q great stretch of bis principles,
provided only few votes can be gained or
saved by doing so. He is usually opposed to
the use of intoxicating liquors where temper
ance votes can be had. There are obstinate
and earnest men, both inhatiOnists and anti
inhatonsts, scattered about in the ranks in
both parties. Neither sort, it is supposed, can
be offended with impunty, and so curious
hodge pOdge of words, susceptible OF double
Interpretation, is thrown together and becomes
q subject of ridicule or contempt for all men OF
ordinary good sense. Such short-sighted de-
vices inevitably destroy those who resort to
them. What ore still called parties are to our
thinking already nothing but dead and decay
ing organisms, whose speedy decomposition
is required to lend strength to other forms OF
matter, destined soon to succeed them.
The first step toward a better state of poll
| tics will be an earnest and hearty fight in
| some great State over question OF real con-
| sequence. We can as yet point out no such
| battle ground but we have hopes that Ohio
| or Illinois will offer us this year something
more than the usual petty contests of petty
men for offices which they have succeeded in
reducing to their own littleness. There
| must be in the South and West, sooner or
later, purpose animating some political body
of such character that the honesty and in
telligence of the people can be enlisted in its
| support. AS things are in many States and
Congressional Districts the upright citizen has
at best but doubtful choice between doubt
| ful men. In such States as Indiana, if the in
| telIigent voter can see the faintest reason for
| preferring one rival candidate to another, let
| him thank his stars and exercise his choice
according to the light he has. Allegiance to
such parties as we have nowadays Is neither
| a public nor private virtue. To be mar
shaled in support of the regular ticket, and
led like flock of sheep to the polls, where
nothing is at stake but the low ambition or
greed of demagogues, is nOxiOus to the State
and degrading to the citizen. Eternal vigi-
Glance is the price of liberty" was saying in
this Republic in its early days. Vigilant must
the people be to free themselves from the net
work in which the spOils-hunting politicians
have SO deeply entaneled them. Private char
acter more than Outweighs the principles"
embraced in dozen platforms of the kind
now turned out. The principles must be looked
for in the candidate and not in the platform
on which he stands. The running of indie
pendent candidates should be encouraged. for
there is likely to be need of them in many
places,