The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-04
A Returning ProdigaI.


Fenton, the leader of the liberal republicans
in this State, is about to make his peace with
the republican party and return to its
bosom. This rumor does not appear TO us
incredible; for Mr.. Fenton is an astute poll
tician, who probably sees that the republi-
can party in New York though perhaps
more harmonious than Tammany under the
rule of Mr.. Kelly, is yet divided into two
tolerably irreconcilable factions; one OF
which follows Senator Conkling, while
the other would follow almost anybody
else rather than him. 1t is not to
be supposed that Mr.. Fenton will join
the Conkling ranks but it is quite pos
sible that the anti-Conkling men, the Nor
gan men, let US say, may be very glad OF the
help of so excellens and powerful a political
manager rs Mr.. Fenton. They might do
worse; for they might go far away and not
find SO helpful an ally as he could be.
What appears to us less probable in this
rumor is that the statesman of jamestown
should put his reconciliation with some of
his former associates upon the ground that
the republican party has acceded to all the
demands of the liberals, and that therefore
the natural and comfortable place of these
prodigal sheep is in the old fold. Mr.. Fen
ton is hardly capable of putting forth such a
pretense as that; for he would expose him
self to laughter. He and his associates have
certainly been badly neglected by the demo-
Gratis; but so far they have received
no comfort either from the republicans.
Nor is this surprising. The democrats
would have been wise had they, wherever
they could, put forward eminent liberal re-
publicans as their own men. Had they
made General Schurz Senator in Missouri
and David A. Wells Senator in Connecticut !;
had they given Mr.. Fenton hopes of po-
litical future in their party in New York,
they would have strengthened themselves in
their one weak point-the confidence of the
country But they failed to do this, and it
is but natural under the circumstances that
the republican leaders should now give
cold shoulder to the liberal chiefs. They be-
lieve that they can regain the rank and file
of the liberal party without the help of the
leaders. The republican chiefs evidently
believe that democratic folly will serve them
more powerfully than Schurz and all the
liberal leaders combined. Nor are they
wrong in this. There is no room for third
party. A third party movement next year
would be farce. 1t would have only the
most scanty following and its leaders would
fall into public contempt.
But if Mr.. Fenton should say, as rumor
reports him saying that he and his fellow
prodigals may safely return to the republic
can fold because all that they demanded has
been granted, he would put himself in
fatally false position; for it may more justly
be said that nothing which the liberals de-
manded has been done by the republicans.
They opposed, in the first place, the renomi-
nation of General Grant; but to-day a third
term stares them in the face. They de-
manded reform of the revenue laws, and
it has been refused by the party they left.
They demanded sound financial
policy, and in Congress felt themselves
compelled to oppose every republican fnan-
cial measure. They demanded the punish
ment of corrupt public officers, and they
behold Mr.. Delano in the Cabinet. Finally,
they demanded liberal and judicious policy
toward the Southern States, and they see
Spencer, Kellogg, Packard, Casey Brooks
the favorites of the republican admins
tration.
The truth is that the liberal republicans
stand to-day in an awkward and painful po-
sition. They have no place to CO. Both
parties have treated their principles and their
leading men with contempt. They are re-
PEELED from the democratic ranks by the
melancholy lack of principle manifested on
that side. If they look to Ohio they are dis
gusted with Allen, Carey and Pendleton, and
probably no less with Thurman. If they
look to New York they are not charmed by
the whispers of Tilden. 1t cannot be sup
posed that any thoughtful liberal just now
democratic party. If he surveys the field he
probably determines he will not 60 there at
any rate. But on the other side stand the
republican chiefs, who hold out no welcom-
ing hands. They plainly believe that these
wandering lambs have no other place to go,
and must return to their former home. 1t is,
as in the old nursery rhyme
Little Bopeep,
She lost her sheep,
And couldn't tell where TO find them;
let them alone
And they'll come home,
And bring their tails behind them.
The spectacle of this return may not be
amusing to the sheep, but it will regale
LII