The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-13
The Dangers and Opportunities OF the
Republican Party.

State offices and for the transaction of other
appropriate business" This call is signed
by the Hon. T.. d. Morgan We are informed
that mt the meeting of the committee there
was much harmony. The desire of republic
can leaders, especially of men as far sighted
and cautious as Mr.. Cornell, TO bring back
the seeding liberals and TO give them place
of honor in the party, is natural result OF
the democratic victory of last year. If tho
republican party in Now York were as strong
now as when General Grant was elected TO
the Presidency there would be, we fear none
of these expressions of sympathy and alice
ton for Governor Fenton, General Merritt,
Mr.. Depow and those who, like thom, have
gone out Of the republican organization and
have given n negative if not an active, sup
port TO the democratic candidates We do not
think the complaint of the liberal republicans,
that they have been ''seliishly treated" by
the democrats. is fair. The nomination of Mr.
Dorshcmor 20 be Lieutenant Governor, along
with Governor Tilden, was certainly giving
TO the liberal republican party all that 1t de-
served The truth is there has never been u
liberal republican party in New York worthy
of serious consideration. The issue upon
which the leaders of that organization re-
tired from the republican party was purely
selfish. The first indication of. difference
was when in the distribution of government
patronage the liberal republicans were over
looked by the President. So long as Presi-
dent Grant was swayed by the counsels Of
one of the Senators from this State, and made
appointments to satisfy his personal sense of
party duty, there was no question of liberal
secession. AS soon MS the President changed
his mind, and in doing so changed the
personnel Of several of the federal offices, we
had the formation of what grew TO be n noisy,
ambitious but never very successful or
ganization Therefore, if the democrats have
given the liberal republicans but little, it is
because they deemed them Of Indifferent con-
sequence. For the last two years the only
value of the liberal party as an organization
has been to decker with the republicans and
democrats for terms. There has not been
time since the defeat of Mr.. Greeley
for the Presidency when the Glib
erals" as they call themselves, might
not have been showed over bodily
either to the democratic or republican organ
ization if any effort had been made to secure
their support Some of the experienced
members, like Dorsheimer have Como off on
their own account and have proftcd by the
change But in the questions that are to be
decided in the next campaign there will be
no room for liberal republican organization.
II might as well be eliminated from our pol
itics
The Republican State Convention will as
semble under peculiar circumstances. 1t is
the first Convention since the great defeat of
last year. Then tho Convention assembled
with every prospect of success with Presi-
dent who had been elected by n tremendous
majority, with Governor who had served
with singular acceptability and with an or
ganzation which was more harmonious than
it had been for long years. Its deliberations
tended rs much as anything else TO the disas-
trous result which followed 1t was timid,
cowardly, distrustful Convention. 1t nomi-
mated Governor Dix in obedience to a public
opinion il did not dare to oppose and allowed
MN 10 nc uElNtn lTOlu iIlt ttINISS nv OHly IL
partal support 1t shrank from the consid-
Grafton of the only question at that time be-
fore the American people-the question
of the third term. II allowed the
great party of great State TO sink into
a condition of vassalage TO the President
There were internal quarrels and discussions,
and disappointed ambition, and the apathy
that always comes from prolonged power.
These causes contributed to the defeat which,
although largely owing TO the dstrust of the
republican party by the country, was still
strengthened and precipitatcd by the dissen-
sions among the leaders. But the men who
control the party now arc wise enough to see
the mistakes they made last year and to cor
rect them. Senator Conkling especially,
although not an apt pupil in matters of dis
cipinc, has learned wisdom and patience,
and feels as keenly, perhaps, as any leader in
the State that no party can commend the con-
fidcnce of the people which falls at the feet
Of the President and becomes the abject
slave Of his will. He sees that there are
great questions that must be met by this
Convention and that if it means to represent
q vital and aggressive party it must make its
record clear and right, whether pleasing or
displeasing TO the administration. Mr.. Con-
king himself must decide now whether he
will be simply n vassal, following the chariot
wheels of the successful President and drag
ging with him all tho members of the party
who care TO follow his course, or be u leader
n leader Of ideas and Of men, rcsolutc, bravo,
bold in tho expression of opinions; that his
duty is not TO the President who honors him
with his friendship, but to the party who has
made him it's leader.
The republican party must have clear
record upon several points 1t will speak
with no uncertain sound, VIC are confident,
upon tho question of imitation or repudintion.
On this issue, let us say with gratitude, tho