The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-12

We observe, not without interest, the
efforts of those Republicans who, having
walked UP to the depraved condition of
their party, now frantically propose TO re-
form it.
Conspicuous among these philosophers
IL Nj. GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS. His views
are expressed in the columns OF Hdrpcr's
WeekiH of which he is the editor, espe-
cially in his articles against the nomina-
ton OF Senator CoYKLrNG for President.
Mr.. CURTIS resists the Senator because he
is not 1.-THE representative of the best
sentiment of the party, or the universal
demand Of the country for n return TO old
fashioned principles and practices Of poliii-
cal morality"
What Mr.. CURTIS proposes is simply that
the Republican party shall commit suicide,
In order that new party may be estab-
1ished over the remains. The corruption
of the Republican body Is its life, aud to
take out the corruption is TO take the life
away.
Mr. CURTIS and those who agree with him
have but lately walked up to the facts; yet
they have been notorious for years. After
having labored with constant industry,
always with effect, to make the Repub-
Ican party what it is, by keeping corrup-
tonists and thieves in power. these gentle
Zen now look with alarm upon the result,
and fondly indulge the deusion that they
can regenerate their party. Undue il with
new principles, start II in pursuit of new
objects, make it clean. honest decent, turn
out the rascals, fill their places with pure
and upright men, and send the party forth
on an ideal political career such rs will be
satisfactory to the noblest moral senti-
ments; and ms the first step in this process,
they wish to defeat Senator CoNKLING and
TO nominate instead Mr.. BRIsTow, Mr..
WAsHBURNE, or any other man even rot
ten jim BLAINE.
Their purpose is amiable. but Il is child
ish. They are but a very small minority
OF the Republican body. They are not,
and never have been, leaders or officers in
its organization; they know nothing of its
practical management. They are mere
private soldiers, a kind Of awkward squad
in the vast veteran array. And yet they
are anxious to tutn out all the off GERS
every general with his staff all the colonies,
captains, leutenants, sergeants, and cor
porals-to turn them all out at one blow
and TO put other men, not merely of diff
ferent but of an opposite character. ia
their places. And they expect that after
such n revolution their forces will still be
IN condition TO contend Mt once against
the disciplined and well commanded hosts
Of the Democracy. Their design is lauda-
BILE, because ii evinces the personal repent
nnce of those who entertain II. But it Is
vain rs practical remedy for the evils
which the Republican party has brought
upon the country.
The Republicans have been too long in
power. In free government no party can
be safely trusted 10 rule for so long term.
They have also had too great majority in
the country and in Congress, leaving them
almost without responsibility. They have
grown tyrannical aud they have grown
corrupt beyond all precedent. Their moral
decay cannot be exaggerated in words.
They must be turned out. That is the only
prescription that is adequate 10 the dis
ease. The worst Democratic administ-a-
tion will now be better than the best oEe
that the Republican party can give us.