New-York tribune., 1875-10-04
MASSACHUSETTS POLITICS.

Whether republics are or are not ungrateful,
there can be no question of their short memo
ries. To say that without Mr.. Charles Francis
Adams there never would have been Repub-
lican party in Massachusetts would be to put
the matter little too strongly, but it is a
mild statement to say that he is one of the
fathers of that party; and most OF the men
who manage it would never have been heard
of if Mr. Adams and two or three other
gentlemen of ability and honesty had
not set the example of boiling. Mr.. Will
son began by repudiating the nomina-
tions of tho party which had found him in
obscurity and made him a public character.
He never would have been Senator, and
never Vice President, if he had considered
himself bound to stand by his political asso-
ciates through thick and thin. This is true OF
many others. The Republican organization
of the State is made up of the dis
jecta nembra of half dozen political
AssOciations-of Wings, Democrats, Know
NOthings, Liberty men, Temperance men,
WOrkingmen-all the dissatisfied and discon-
tented and doubling elements of one of the
most thoughtful constituencies in the con-
try. We can well remember when Mr.. Adams
was TeRdIutu, anu very plopclll, ny wv hi'h
who now cannot vote for him, as a leader to
be trusted, as an adviser to be respected,
as the strongest of candidates when he could
be prevailed upon to stand at all. Prosperity
has spoiled these Massachusetts Republicans;
they need little of the political adycrsity in
which they were nurturcd. When the Old
Free Soil party Of which they are the
descendants and the heirs, was passing through
the purgation of its homage and utterly des-
pissed by the Boston Wings, it plumed itself
upon the ability of its prominent members
upon its fTSt-rate men, like Adams, and
Dana, and Palfrey, and Allen, to men,
ton no others. But Mr.. Wilson, who
was in hurry to go to the Senate, and various
aspirans who were in hurry to go to the
House of Representatives, could think of no
better way to kill the Whig party than to
coquet with the Know Nothings, and the re-
suit was third-rate Governor who couldn't
tell the truth, and a delegation in Congress
which astonished everybody. The iniu-
ence of Massachusetts upon national poll
tics has declined frcm that fatal hour.
The people of the country lost their re-
spect for the State which, after noble record
of representation, could send such a ragged
platoon of nobodies 20 Washington. The Dem
Ocrats of Massachusetts,, though reduced to
mere handful suddenly rose in the scale of
respectability, being also reinforced by the
Hunker Wings, who had brains and culture
even if they did not have much political
sagacity. At last the Republican party, trad
ing upon its Ant-Slavery traditions, became
strong enough to discard and deny its Know
Nothing antecedents; it had come into its
fortune, and it has been playing at ducks and
brakes with it ever since. There was but one
way of winning back the Liberal members,
and that has been studiously avoided. We
honestly think that the vote for Mr..
Adams would have been enormous. Thousands
would have felt it to be privilege to sup
port him. He would have come into the can
vass with a good name, with deserved repu-
tation for ability, and, more than all, for hon
esty; while his willingness to be candidate
was piece of pure good luck of which these
Republicans have not shown themselves worthy.
Now for the issue OF course, Gov. Castor
NAV be defeated; but that will settle nothing,
except for the present. 1t may require five
wears to perfect the revolution in Massachu
setts politics, but that revolution is nevertheless
certain. The Republican party then must taste
the experiences of the old Whig party-defcat,
partial success, and defeat again. Should it
learn wisdom it may survive, or reappear in
better form. But will it