New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-14
PRIME AND WHAT CAME OF 1T.

"Prile goeth before fall" and we may add
upon the authority of history and as one of
the lessons of recent events that pointing
with pridc' sometimes goeth before dis
aster. 1t is almost pitirul to witness the dis
comfiture which in the past month has over
come the lofty spirits who have so long stood
up in manly beauty before the people and
pointed with pride to the record OF the past"
Not long ago q Continental chain of COnven-
tons stood facing to the rear, marching back
ward to the future with index fingers pointed
to the past. There are not so many now. Ii
they should all reassemble tomorrow prob
ably not one of them would "point with
"pride.n Alas and alas; we all do fade as the
leaf. Parties, like flowers of the field, grow
I'D, bud, blossom, and fall off; like the New
town pippin, they ripen and decay; like men,
they get pulled up and blOated and mistake
il for solid flesh, and some day go off with
apoplexy or with govt.
It was only year ago that the party which,
according to President Grant, has just suffered
defeat directly traceable to loose and bad
Legislation by the two Houses of Congress"
stood up in the plenitude of its power and its
confidence in the future and asserted its indie
pendence of public opinion. Only year, and
vet how long it seems since the Republican
General Committee of New-YOrk went out of
its way to kick Republicans who did not vote
for Gen. Grant. Only year since they felt
strong enough to administer discipline in the
party by admitting no one to the party coun-
ellis who did not vote for Grant in 1872. II
seems much longer. 1t seems SO long too since
Mr.. Matt. Carpenter asked the Republican
majority in the United States Senate to vindi-
cate him from charges which he had not the
assurance to deny, and they, confident that
the party was strong enough to stand it, COM
plied so long since the Senate cabal ostra-
cized all Senators who were not personally
agreeable to Gen. Grant so long since Charles
Sumner was deposed from the Craftsmanship of
the Committee on Foreign Relations and Simon
Cameron was put in his place; so long since
Sumner was sent to the foot and Flanagan of
Texas of Flanagan's Mills put at the head of
the Committee on Education; since the party
was thought strong enough to give Williams
ief-Justiceship. Richardson Judgeship Of
the Court of Claims, and make Boss Shepherd
Governor of the District of Columbia; since
Speaker Blaine supposed he could afford to
give Butler position of influence and power
in the House and in the party, and the lead
ing statesmen all believed they could differ
among themselves upon the most important
questions, and be all right with the people so
long rs they continued to "point with pride
to the record of the past" All these things
seem so long ago. And yet all have happened
within two years, and some within less than
a year.
Well, well, this appears to be clear case
of Jeshurun. The party waxed fat and kicked,
and at last the people became recalcitrant.
The new men, the little but venomous and
persistent men, came in and kicked out their
betters, and because they had the ear of the
President thought they owned the party and
could run the country. They not only pointed
with pride, they acted with arrogance. The
Slave-Drivers in their best days were never so
supercilious and naughty in their manners, so
intolerant and brutal in their use of power.
They united tho vanity OF the peacock and
the cN,,!-..cy of tho mule with the cunning Of