New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-23

"cannot be of healthfnl vatcr, md tho sooner
eft GIBBS the better for our island md the tie
"public.r When Bailey grapples subject nc
means business. This letter was ono or DIS
best efforts and is well sustained throughout.
But 10 recur to Lawson. Lawson made somo
remarks upon this solemn occasion. Ana wnen
we say he made some remarks, we convey but
q feeble idea of what he said And 80 dlu no.
He expressed bis confidence in the future sue
cess Of the Republican party III such Terms
that Col. Charles s. Spencer. who was
recently candidate for Congress, was
fired to tho highest pitch OF enthusiasm
and many persons in the audience SAID, WIN
tears streaming down their checks, that II that
was the case they were willing to run Tor al
most anything. But Lawson said Afterwards
that in order TO succeed the party must " s'and
"on o platform representing its progressive
"ideasr-" those IDEAS he says IN niue
burst of eloquence not unmixed with general
information, :" to which the people rallied when
"tbo nation was in peril, conquered the
SHAREHOLDERS rebellion, and liberated mil
lions of bondsmon those ideas that have
"led the country Oh, step by step, in the
Correction Of unequaled and perfect freedom
CHOSE ideas that, rs has been said, have MADE
cit possible for us to say to the nations OF the
"earth, when, next year, We celebrate inc
"centcnnial anniversary OF tho establishments
"of our Government, that the sun does not
"rise upon q master or set upon slave III all
"ths broad land those ideas to which the
"party is pledged by its past and its promises
"for the future" We undertake TO say that
no better description Of "tlOse ideas" has ever
been given. The next Republican National
Convention will make tho mistake Of life
time il it does not reach out for Lawson
and say, Lawson now make q plat
"fo1a for us containing those ideas.
There may be persons who will insist upon
something more explicit, who will want to In
ouire further what CHOSE ideas are. Out
upon all such. Those IDEAS are simply and
plainly" those ideas, and the man Who doesn't
know what "those ideas" arc Is n man OF very
mediocre calbre and fragile virtue who would
not hesitate to leap to inInaculacy If no got
good chance.
Having described the platform. Lawson had
the goodness to namc tho candidate. For
lawson being about to retire from public me-
WAS sincerely DESTROYS Of leaving the party
well provided for. So says Lawson Ill his
earnest and imprisoned way: 4" venture t"
name tho peer of all i'll everything that
constitutes true craftsmanship, OF the
"Lighcst integrity, tho most exalted
"pairiotism - Ncw-Ycrk's fayOrite son,
Roscoe Conkling." Now what could
be better than that7 "1he peer OF all in
everything!r just describes him in SEN
tcnce! Sums him up and bands him over to
YOU on a plate with curl over bis left eye
and Il retainer in his hand. And yet it is so
strange that there should be differences OF
opinion about little thing like that. Mr.
George w. Blunt objected to COnklns
aud nominated Hamilton Fish. There
might have arisen q controversy over
this matter had not Charley Spencer said he
would he perfectly satisfied with ConkliDg
This ended it and the party sat down to
dinner Immediately without waiting to hear
from the friends of Daniel Pratt and Sergeant
Bates. Hero let US pause. Lawson has retired
from, public life and nation misses and mourns
him. But let us dry our eyes. He has lett
us " those ideas" for platform. and given lis
81 the peer of all in everything for candi-
date. And let US cherish the hope that here
after there will be no more lcaping to
HDfnacuEicy 10y mtu Vi very Hic'Otic taii'''
and fragile virtue. Mr.. Bailey's letter has
put q stop to that sort Of thing.
And yet--a fearful thought comes to us 1t
may he that wicked and peryersc generation
will say they never heard Of Lawson before.
Tho dense ignorance Of some people is sur
prising. Lawson WAS a member OF the
last Congress. lie would have been mem
Der of tho next, but no did MT get votes
enough. He made up his mind to retire from
public life after the votes were counted lust
November. And Charley Spencer and the rest
of them are holding him by the coat-tails and
saying " oh don't 90, Lawson. Take sOnc-
Thing before you go. anyhow !" And the
nation weeps as tho form OF Lawson, larger
than human on the frozen hills fades away
into private life.