New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-15
HONESTY IN POLITICS
Mr.. BRIsTow THE BEST MAN.

| CAND--wHAT TRUE REPUBLICANS AND HONEST
| INDEPENDENTS OUGHT To STRIVE FOR.
To ths Rdftor or RE TrtbUn,.
SIR: Will you allow one of your readers who take,
hearty interest In public affairs to tell you Nc
briefly as he can what he thinks true Republicans
and honest Independents should hope for in tba
present political crisis! These two classes are now
united by grave public exigency. Devotion TO
party, depriving the Republican party Of the sense
of responsibility to the people has made its rule W
corrupt as TO dishOnor the nation. Devotion 70
party, impeling Democrats to court the votes Of
those who want initiation and reputation, has mads
even the better end of that party willing to break
down the last barrier against increase of currency
and TO trampe under foot emn pledges of the pub.
lie faith. To the people patisans offer this alterna
tive, Belknapism, Conkngism, Grantism. or inHa-
ton and rcpudiation-which will you hayei The
people recoil They will have neither. They tole.
rate TO longer the party drill and mercenary ma.
chinery which would force them to take either and
they demand honest government as well as honest
money a recognized Reformer well as Repub-
lican." Let but the deed answer to these grand
words and the only separation between honest In.
dependents and genuine Republicans will vanish.
The deed means Bristow. Others may talk and
promise no acts. Thus the man has become the
personiication and embodiment Of that spirit which
is sick Of broken promises, cowardly evasons, pal.
tering lodges, and hungry for stern and uncom.
promising reform. That he means il the people
know, because he does it, Others may intend rs
WELL without the masculine courage and sturdinos.
to do as well. The country has HAD intents and
words ever since 1869 when President Grant and
Republican Congress promised specie payments and
reform of the civil service. Eight years Of promise
are enough. The country demands performance,
and to the limit OF his power Mr. BristOw is doing
tho thing so long promised. That fact makes as ]
think, the man for the time the one upon whom
all honest Independentsend genuine Republicanscan
unite. There is no other, because 10 other man
divides with him the honor of fearless and uncom-
promising reform to tho utmost extent Of his
power. Either the people want the thing done,
they do not. If they do, they will insist
that the man who is above all Others doing that
thing shall be the man chosen above all others for
greater power. If they do not they viii strive for
some other man less active, less fearless aud
lutte. les. surely committed beyond possibility OF
withdrawal Any other selection, facts remaining
as they are means something less than thorough
and uncOmprcmising reform. will be performed by
all the klaves and rings because it is something less
and for that very reason will be unhestatngly
spurned with contempt By men who are in earnest.
Nothing less will do. The Republican party is at
deaths door, because 1t has so long covered up OF
tolerated corruption. Nothing less than the most
thorough and incorporating reform that be
suggested will save it. The nation sits bowed with
shame hiding its face waiting for the opportunity
to vindicate its honor. Nothing less than the most
unsparng and vigorous reform can eface tho stain.
ANY other nomi nation, no matter how good, would
he only another promise. The oxigency, Sir, de-
mands performance Any other would be more
pleasing to thieves therefore other will satisfy
thief-haters.
The name of Mr. BristOw divides parties sharply.
Like the magic mirror Of fable, which became
cloudcd whenever turned upon one who had known
an unchaste thought, the suggestion Of this mans
reveals the nmOst feelings and secret purposes OF
men, If they really want utterly unspaTing war
against corruption here it is; help it, and make it
victorious. If they want anything less, necessarily
they must prefer another man. With that test, men
who scarcely confess to themselves that they have
tainted records, or cherish greedy and corrupt de
sires, are instantly exposed. They are afraid OF
the power of the rings" perhaps they dstrust "a
border-State Unionist," or think some other man
"has done more for the party" reluctant to
take one who has had so little experience in pub
lie llfe.r The reasons ten thousand; the motive
is reluctance to have the fight against corrupt par
tisanship pushed to the very end. But that is eI-
actly what the people want and need. Hence it il
that while the politicians hope and scheme for other
candidates the millions Of unselfsh and honest
voters viii turn more and more uniedly toward ths
proved foo of corruption. The Republican party
gained power by regarding the will of the people.
1t can retain power in the same way, and probably
I'M no other HONEST VOTER
Nee FORK, March II, 1875.