New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-12


Republicans who did not vote for Grant
in 1872, and i.s devotion to party fealty
reached droll climax in a careful effort to
keep all its addresses and documents from
getting published by any possibility, as news,
in that hated organ Of treason, privy con-
spiracy and rebellion, THE TRIBUNE.
Well, well; times have changed, and the
Republican Committee, at its meeting yester-
day, resolved to invite " the Republicans OF
"the State and all who unite with them IN
"desring good government to meet in their
"seyeral Assembly districts to select delegates
"tO a State Convention to be held at Saratoga
Springs"
The language of this is certainly very pretty.
But will it do any goOd' Gov. Dix was de-
featcd last year because he did not succeed
early enough in telling the people how hostile
he was to Gen. Grants aspirations for third
term. When he did speak, he spoke bravely
but defeat was already staring him In
the face. There may be people I'M
reasonable enough to remember that the
invitation of the State Committee comes now
under somewhat similar circumstances. At
least it must be acknowledged to bc some
what late. OF one thing politicians may he
sure. The Springfield Republican is right in
saving that leaders who undertake to sell ont
the Liberal vote will he unable to deliver the
goods. The Liberal Republicans, though fresh
from their crushing defeat of 1872, were
formidable enough, the next year, to elect
the State ticket. In the year following
this nucleus of an Independent force WAS
vastly increased by accessiOns of dissatisfied
men from both parties, but especially from
hsN
cast off party discipline, not because they
want to trade for Offices, but because they do
not ike the conduct of the officers they have
helped to elect. What they seek is the election
of better men, not the promotion OF TINS or
that individual. 1t is in the power of either
party now, just as it was in 1874, TO secure
their vote. The party which adopts tie
best platform, and puts up the best
ticket, is sure of it. But both parties
may as well understand ut the outset
that angling for the independent vote merely
with the bait of small places on the State
ticket, is child's play. Such nominations might
possibly serve az guarantee OF good
faith, but otherwise they are valuelcss.
Hundreds of the most substantial Ke-
publican merchants and bankers IN this
city last year cast their votes LOT
Samuel j. Tildcn, against their party ana
against popular favorite whom they had de-
lighted i'm the past to honor, and whom they
still esteemed. Does anybody suppose that
single one of these votes was directly secured
because tie Democrats had chosen to put
worthy young Liberal on their ticket
These men will he apt to vote the Re-
publican ticket this Fall, if they are
satisfied that last Falls lesson has been
learned; but the nomination of Gen. Merritt
for State Surveyor, though very proper
thing in itself, would not be sufficient
to convince them. In word. what both
parties need to learn is the lesson which
politicians who manage caucuSes find it so
hard to comprehend-that the thinking
people who <have raised the banner OF
revolt against both the political parties
are really in earnest in wanting reform.
They will demand first of all II wholc-hcarted
support OF the war on the Canal Ring.
The resolutions must be clear the ticket
must he bomb-proof; there must be no sneak
ing effort to attack the leader while protesting
to follow him in the fight The
biggest question of State policy we have
had for years is whether wo are able to
stop the Canal Ring from robbing us.
The party that fails to take abso-
luely imprcgnable ground on this must
20 to the wall. SO, too, these Independent
Republicans will demand absolutely square
action on the currency. The party
that flinches there is lost They will
demand the most direct ard specific ac-
ton as to the ways and means for
decreasing taxation They will demand
that the trading politicians of all sides at
Albany be forced to keep hands OF this
city, And they will tolerate no word which
tends to reverse, or even to mitigate, the just
verdict on the National Administration and
the continued aspirations of Gen. Grant, which
they rendered last Fall.