New-York tribune., 1875-09-02

alarm. Perhaps if the remarks made by SignOr
Vani earlier in the day had been thoroughly
understood, the danger in his case might have
been apprehended in time to save him.
A HINT TO THE SARITOGA CONTENTION
The Republican State Convention which is
to meet at Saratoga next week will have all
opportunity to do very just as well as very
graceful thing in Offering Gov. Tilden the con-
gratulations and thanks of the Republican
party for his campaign against the Canal
Ring. 1t may be without precedent to award
praise in this manner to political opponent,
but really what reason is there for refusing to
do it except that it never has been done? The
gentlemen who will assemble at Saratoga are
tho representatives of party which
has been loud in its professions OF SYM
pathy with just such reforms as Gov
Tilden has initiated' and carried forward
so successfully. Nothing could be more natural,
if the party is honest and sincere in these
professions, than the formal expression OF
approval of the Governors course, and the
prOffer Of generous sy ympathy and cordial
cooperation with him in his efforts to ferret
out dishonesty, punish thieves, and purify the
public service. 1t would be the very best
attestaton to the sincerity of Republican pro-
fessiOns of desire for administrative reform,
for the State Convention to put on record its
approval of the reform measures of an Ex-
ecutive of the opposing party. If, as is some
times claimed, the Republican is the only party
that actually desires reform, and the only one
that can be trusted to carry out reform meas
ures, then by so much is Gov Tilden a con-
oII III, vvifl bia
own party. Why not congratulate him, then,
upon that fact, and congratulate the State
upon having a Democratic Executive enforc-
ing Republican ideas There is a very preva-
lent belief in the State that the main issue in
the coming State election is whether the move
mcnt started by Gov. Tilden against official
corruption shall be continued or abandoned
The Democratic Convention to be presently
held at Syracuse is committed in advance by
the terms of It's call to thorough approval
of the Governors course. 1t will hardly do
for the Republicans to take the opposite
ground the most they can do in that direc-
ton will be in the nature of small and i'll
natured criticism. The best course for them
is to give the Governor their approval in
manly, hearty way.
We are aware that the suggestion will be
secuted by some of the leading statesmen of
the party as quite ridiculous and absurd, and
that others will be shocked by its novelty and
abruptness; but we venture to say that no one
of them can give any good reason for refusing
to accept it. Awarding just praise to an Op
ponent, instead of weakening the party, will
strengthen it by giving the people this proof
of earnestness and sincerity. Gov. Tildcn in
one of his recent speeches set good example
to both parties when he advised voters in
effect to lay aside partisansilip in the coming
election, and vote only for honest men who
could be depended on to support the Reform
movement, whether they were Republicans or
Democrats. Obviously enough the question of
Reform is the most important issue entering
into the canvass. Indeed, we suspect it would
puzzle a good many of the able-bOdied states
men who manage the party conventions to
state precisely any other upon which the two
parties pretend even to be sharply at issue.
The men who meet at Saratoga next week will
make a serious mistake if they do not rccOc-
nizc and frankly admit the conspicuous fact in
the political situation that great reform has
been begun and carried on by Democratic
Executive, and that the Democratic party is
now ENJOYING the prestige of it. 1t will
do no good to try to belittle the movement
or to sneer at its authors. A much better
way will be to give credit for what has been
done to those who deserve it, and then to earn
popular confidence by pushing forward the
work of administrative reform in all directions
to still larger results.
Let the Saratoga Convention astonish the
politicians, and astOnsh itself perhaps, by
passing resolution of approval of Gov. Til
den's campaign against the Canal Ring; it will
do the Republican party no harm but great
good, and if there is no precedent for such
manliness and magnanimity in politics, there