The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-22
rav Liberal Rspublieans as Leaders

ment and that it never before had so little
hope of it. We are drifting toward a Presi-
dentiaI election with feeling in every
thoughtful American mind that neither of the
two political parties which are preparing to
dispute for the supremacy is worthy OF con-
fdence or can be hopefully trusted to serve
the nation as it would like to be and as 1t
ought to be served.
There are wise sincerely patriotic, states
manlike men in each party--men to whom
the people would readily trust themselves,
with the fullest confidence that they would
guide the vessel Of State with skill and
fidelity; but these men are not at the top.
They do not lead; they allow themselves to
be put aside, and adroit, noisy, ignorant
demagogues mainly usurp the places OF
leaders, control conventions, make platforms
and call themselves ''the party" No patriotic
democrat can look with pleasure or hope at
the condition of his party, with distracted
councils, abandonment of tirae-honored prin-
ciples and reckless self-seeking everywhere
prsdominating. No patriotic republican can
look with patience at his party dragged
through an interminable and nauseous mire
of corruption and mismanagement, ruled by
men forgetiul OF the public good, and with no
leader to protest and save tho honor Of an
die the death Of dog.
What is the matter2 What has become Of
our public mens Where is American states
manship? Have the people no longer lead
ers fit to draw their affairs out of the mire-
men with courage and ability and voice to
| protest in the name of good government
against the reign of chicanery and ignorance
in party councils, able and willing to make
crusade through the country for sound prin-
ciples, and TO gather around themselves the
multitude Of men in both parties who are
deeply and justly dissatisfied with the present
condition OF our affairs, and hopeless OF sub
stantial improvement at the hands of either
party as at present constituted?
The democratic party leaders hope to win
next year through the peoples disgust at the
hard times and tho notorious corruption of
| GeneI al Grants administration. But so far the
| democrats are no more united upon platform
of principles than they were in 1868. They
prom sed nothing and are agreed upon nothing
| The republicans apparently, hope to succeed
by raising the "bloody shirt" by appeals for
the "poor negro" who is not poor at all and
is getting on very well, and by general beat
ing of gongs to scare people. II they have
any other ideas they very carefully keep them
concealed, and are even foolish enough in
their State platforms to praise the present
administration, which hangs like a
milestone about the party's neck Is it
not time for little truthP Suppose one
or half a dozen republican leaders had the
courage-the audacty let Us say, consider
ing what a timid creature the American
statesman has got to be-suppose they dared
to address to the country plain, honest,
| truthful, unexaggerated statement Of its con-
| dition, OF the evils from which it suffers, and
of the remedies which they propose? Sup
pose they should tell the people that there is
no hope in either OF the old parties that the
country is really In an unhappy condition
that we need craftsmanship and brains at the
top, and not ignorance and party zeal that it
| is time for the honest and patriotic men of
both parties to combine and try TO give the
nation an administration which shall have
wisdom and intelligence enough to put it
back on its natural course of prosperity d?
Does any one believe there would be no
response2 Or, suppose one or half dozen
democratic leaders did the same thing, fear
lessly casting off the inhationists and other
barnacles who have too long ruined their
party? Would they need to fear silent
reception?
The liberal republican Caucus of Saratoga
yesterday was step in the right direction,
but q very mud one. The country does not
want caucuses, but a crusade The people
have got tired Of political machines and ma
chinery; they have learned BY a long and sad
experience that if they trust to political
manipulation the professional politicians of
the baser sort are pretty sure to
step in at the last moment and beat them.
The country does not want to see the Cncin-
matt Convention repeated. What is needed
is some public maL-some man of eminence,
of chara cter-in whom good men everywhere
can have confidence, who shall set the exam
pie of break with both parties and organize
crusade over the whole country for sound
principles.
Three great questions are before the ma
tion-the currency, the South and the civil
service. We cannot enjoy good government
and prosperity until we return to gold and
silver, until the Southern States are allowed
to rulo themselves in their local affairs and
until the civil service is securely placed on q
business footing and is no longer the sport of
1 political gamblers and favorites Now IL 10
certain that the mass Of the people in the
country desire all three OF these reforms.
But what political leader promises them?
Which political party will give them? The
necessities OF the country require all three,
aud they of such kind that there Is no
] nond rnasnn whY-riren fcrr real ntnto.r.A..