New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-09

ariah Chandler, and Simon Cameron dToVe
away such men 10 Sumner. Trumbull, ana
Schun That kind of management has be-
como somewhat toned down with tho thin
mig out of the Senators who c0unseled 1t.
But the party then was strong and its leaders
arrogant. In couple OF years this policy dld
its work, and tho independent voter, instead
of being suppressed, appeared at the door OF
the Senate chamber and led away some Sen
atOrs by the ear.
Just now the other "great" party is in luck.
1t has what it considers substantial promise
of power. The effect of such prospect upon
some OF its lighter headed organs and leaders
has been rather bewidering. The clearheaded
and sensible are content to wait till they como
to power before putting on airs and under
taking to set up tests of party fealty. and en-
force discipline. They are not yet so sanSuine
of ultimate success as to think 1t necessary to
drive anybody out of the party. But the
whipper-snappcrs of the press and stump, the
little fellows who sec nothing wrong in their
own party, and nothing right in TIE opposi-
ton, the sort of people who when a salute is
fired for Democratic victory feel that no.
body but Democrats should be permitted TO
"hcar the gun &, off," and who have a sense
of personal injury if anybody hears it
who voted scratched ticket - these
people bounced cut Immediately after they mad
read the vote OF Connecticut, published cxclu-
siyely in TnE TRIBUNE the morning after
the election, and began to say "Shoc," to
everybody who was not dyed-ln-thc-wooi
Democrat who expressed any satisfaction with
any part of the result. 1t struck the ordinary
observer as being triio too early to begin
indulgng in that Kind OF amusement, but so
long - il harmed no one and exhibited q
rather iudicrous narrowness OF view little
notice was taken OF it. Only the wiser ones,
who hal not lost their wit, or been overcome
Nv . sense OF their own Importance, shook
their heads and said such things would be
very indiscrcct if it were not generally under
stood that the pomp0us little Oraclcs were OF
no earthly cons ;qu"ncc.
One of the most amusing things in conncc-
ton with the Connecticut election Ii the Calm
an confident manner with which these per-
s0ps tell u3 that tho overwhelming Demo-
cratic victory in that State settles finally the
question of Third Party. That IDEA they
SAY is at rest; the country mast be either
Democratic or Republican and between the
bless their dear little c)mplaccnt souls.
The Third Party ia already power. Every
man who scratched a ticket i'll Connecticut
last Monday belongs to il. lis sole principle
is the individual responsibility OF tIe voter
not to any party o. caucus, or man or set OF
mcn-but to the whole country ana to his
own tiioughtfu fully considered and carefully
weighed convictions of his duty rs citizen.
Thousands OF conscientious mcn IN Con-
nectjcut last Monday rcyoltcd from party and
caucus. and voted upon their Own deliberate
Judgment They do not care fOf Office OF power
or political position. They do care for honest
administration and good government. You
may say .iey had to choose between the two
parties after all. Suppose they did. Livery
scratched ticket had its mission AID Cld It's
work. Il VIA warning TO boGh paroles tmt
q rrcat body Of Intelligent voters waited upon
their proceedings in caucus and convention;
not simply to accept or reject according TO
,hc parry name they bore, hut to pass fair aud
impartial Judgment and approve or condemn
rs they deserved approval or condemnation.
That party is not possibility OF the future.
but an actual fact of to-day. Ii is large enough
already to compel respectful consideration and
to force the great" parties into decent
behavior. 1t looks through tickets instead OF
at the headings; considers the qualifications
of candidates rather than their party associa-
lions; and t laughs in the face OF the stereo-
ivnod cyb0rtation to vote the regular, beware
nj the spurious, and avoid the scratched
ticket.
The independent Voter may not convene, or
nominate. or resolve; but he votes every
time and he votes with Judgment and discrlm-
nation. The great parties are slowly learn
inc that he is, that he thinks, that he votes.
and that they must come to him. lie does
not ask for Office; only that they shall offer
him candidates who are worthy his support,
and between them no will judge. Ho is an
element in politics that neither party can af-
ford 10 despise, or the country afford to have
pat down. lie has already taught the Admin
istration party wholesome lesson. lie VIII
not be slow TO rcbule the Democracy If, IS
seems probable, it loses rs head with success.
lie holds both parties in chcck, and keeps
both on their good behavior. And perhaps
by and by his presence in politics will do
awoy with the bald a1surdlty OF electing
town c0nstables upon the issues OF ne
tional politics and establish tho principle OF
clecling men to Office on account OF their
fitness and not because OF their relations with
some great party or their belief in some doc
trine of politics with which the Office has not
the remotcst concern. The Independent Voter
il already on deck, gentlemen, and you may
as well make up your minds TO report to him.
Please take notice, too, that he is the fashion.
II used to be rather diSrcputab!c to scratch
the regular ticket. l. is getting to be 50 cred
liable that men talk very freely about il, and
4 decent man b,ushes to confess that he voted