New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-26


Mackey, tho present Treasurer, whose admins
tration has been surrounded with an atmosphere
of scandal. Nor is no helped much in the
good opinion of this class by the report in cir
culatiOn among the delegates at Lancaster
that he will contribute 100000 toward the
election expenses in case of his nomination.
And yet the element in the party which con-
siders more what candidate is willing to pay
for nomination than what fitness he has for
the place. is 80 strong in the Convention that
probabilities favor Rawlc's success. The men OF
plumber in the Republican party of Pennsylvania
have not yet been sufficiently taught by the
honest, independent voters that there Is dan
ger in this sort of management. little less
hide-bound craftsmanship and little more in
dependent voting on the part of honest Penn
sylvania Republicans would teach these in
triguers the necessity of making ticket to
carry the election as well as of carrying the
Convention.
There seems to be no doubt that the Con-
vention will adopt some sort of a resolution
touching the third term business. The ind-
cations are that it will be so delicately worded
and politely phrascd that its force will be en-
tirely lost, the multitude of compliments to
| the President so Overburdening and loading IL
down that the average voter Will only get
from it O vague idea that the Pennsyl-
vania Republicans would prefer some
other candidate, but that President Grant
il 80 good and 80 great man that If
he really wants third term they will yield
gracefully. The Federal OfficehOlders, who are
reported to be in attendance in considerable
numbers, will of course oppose the passage of
any resolution whatever upon tho subject, but
there is still sense enough left among the
marty leaders to appreciate the absolute neccs-
sity of saving something with regard to it, and
there will very likely BIO q compromise upon
something which shall seem to express
public sentiment without giving Of
Tense to tho President Pennsylvania
politicians are never OutspOken and pronounced
in their opinions; they always prefer methods
of indirection. Last year, it will be remem-
bered, the Republicans of that State met or
rather lodged the third term issue by adopting
resolution naming Gov. Hartranft as their
candidate for the Presidency. Report has it,
too, that Pennsylvania politicians have sat
in shadow, 80 far as Washington sun
shine is concerned, ever since. Obviously
enough their plain duty (and their best
policy as well) is to say in their resolutions
distinctly and unqualifedly that they are OPP
posed to the third term project and to leave COM
pliment and palaver about it for some other
occasion. But this they will not do. Still it
must be admitted that tho Pennsylvania Re-
publicans are improving. Last year they made
bold to nominate candidate other than Gen.
Grant. This year they reach the point of say
ing President Grant is too good man to want
a third term, and that so long as he does not
want it they are opposed to it. And next year
ali next year-well it may not make much
difference what they say next year.
There seems to be prevailing impression
in the State, if not outside, that the election OF
this year is to have an important bearing upon
the Presidential campaign of 1876, and we
see it repeated quite often that no President
has ever been, or can be, elected without the
vote of PENNSYLVANIA. Possibly the politicians
who magnify the influence of the State by the
assertion forget that the change of the time of
holding the State election, from October to
November, deprives Pennsylvania of the
effect of leading off the Fall elections,
which has always had very marked in
fluence upon the Presidential election
month later. The change has deprived the
State election preceding the Presidential OF
much of its significance. Under the present
Constitution the election to which tO-days
nominations are preliminary will be the last
before the Presidential. If the Republican
managers wish to strengthen themselves for
1876 they must begin their work at Lancaster
to-day TO do this they must recognize the
demand of the people for able and
honest men in Office, for pure politics
and upright administration, and for thorough
and sweeping reforms in all departments
of government and all the ramitications of
politics 1t will not be enough to pass resolu-
tons upon the subject and issue platform
promises. These must be yOked with better
and purer candidates than they have been in
the habit of Offering tho people; and the char
ncter of the men they put in nomination and
of the men to whom they commit tho ma
chinery of the party and the management of
the canvass, must he the voucher for
the sincerity of their professions. The
Pennsylvania Republicans are watched with
some anxiety by the people of the country,
not from any special interest in the candi-
dates they may nominate or the resolutions
they may adopt, but because of desire to
know whether the spirit of their action is in
harmony with public sentiment upon the
great questions of reform now so prom
inent feature in our politics. The people are
anxious tonearn whether the Republican poll
tcians have found out yet that the time has
passed for carrying elections on the record of
the past and empty promises for the future.
There's a new day in politics in this country,
and they want to see if Pennsylvania has
walked up to it.
RICMAPCR IND Ills 1GS4SSINN