New-York tribune., 1875-10-06
4 SINGLE EYE TO SUCCESS.

1t il impossible not to admire the calm aud
confident attitude of such statesmen as the
Hon Fernando Wood of this city, and such
newspapers az about three out of five of all the
Democratic organs in the country. 1t is an
attitude in which are serenity and content; a
contemplative enjoyment of the prospect Of
political success, and a firm and persistent de-
termination not to be disturbed in the contem-
plation by any questions of politics like tho
currency or administrative reform. or any
other little thing upon which there may
be differences of opinion in the "Great Demo-
"cratic Party" Just as Mr.. Wood had some
years ago "single eye" to the public welfare,
lie has now single eye--the same one doubt
lcss-tO Democratic success. 1t would be the
hight of folly, he thinks, and do the majority
of Democratic newspapers, to waste time and
opportunity in the discussion of questions Of
finance, upon which there can be no agreement
in the party, and meantime run the risk of
losing the victory which seems almost in the
party's grasp. Mr.. Wood aud his cO-thinkers
consider only that the party has been
great many years out of power, and
that just now there seems to be an
Improvement in its prospects. SO they think
that there should be no discussion of disputed
questions to jar the harmony and upset the
prospect. The party, they think, should move
forward-to use a Western fgurc-with tho
stately and majestic tread of mule toward
its oats 1t should not look TO right nor left,
but simply ahead to ultimate success.
You ask these people what they desire in
politics, and their answer is ready. "Why, the
"succcss of the Democratic party of course"
And if you ask them what that means they
answer unhesitatingly, "The defeat of the Re
"pubicans." And if you push them further
to know what will happen then, they will tell
You with the utmost inSenuCusness, "Why,
" the Republicans will go out of office to be
"sllre" "And thcn2" "Then why then
"the Democrats take the offices Themselves
"why should MT they7" And if you follow
I'D this short catechism with an inquiry
as to what the Democrats when they
come into power will do about conducting the
business of Government rcdeeming It's prom
ises, paying its notes, &c.-in short, upon what
principle of business or of political economy
they will administer public afars-they say,
ooh that is a matter that can be attended to
"later. We shall discuss subjects of that sort
" after we come into power. They only dis
" turb the harmony now." And Mr.. Wood
and all his set of politicians either do
not or will not understand that the
people themselves have notions on some
fundamental questions in politics, among
which is this one of an honest currency, and
that they are going to put men in power who
think as they do, no matter what party name
they go by. 1t s nothing but political ques-
ton, to be sure, and may be these gentlemen
dismiss 1t as "side issue.' But after all it's
what the people most want to know about and
what they are testing candidates by.
"Look here, JIM" said a surreptitious
poultry fancier, as he paused a moment with
his hand on the Ioost, "aint this what they
"call stealing1r a donno nothin' bout
:" that" said jim. That's great moral
"question. Pass down another pullet." Be
tween "Billn Allen and Sam Cary and that
sort of political Jewelers. there may not be any
such dialogue as this, but they may rest
assured that somebody is asking whether
their little financial schemes are not