New-York tribune., 1876-05-24
MACHINE Politics.

The appointment OF Mr.. Spencers man
MAYER in Alabama and of Senator Cameron's
son Don in Washington are the answers OF
the Administration faction to the remon-
strances of the Republican party against ma
chino politics The dissatisfaction OF the party
with the practices of the Grant clique Is moth
ing new. 1t has been growing for several
years, and of late it has developed strength
very rapidly. The complaints OF the better
class of partisans like Mr.. q. w. Curtis were
n significant demonstration to which wiser
politicians than those who rule ut Washing
ton would have been quick to give
heed. The popular sentiment in favor
of Mr.. Bristow, gentleman of whom
hardly anything is known except that he did
his duty in the prosecution OF the whisky
thieves and who thus represents in general
way the prevailing desire for reform, Is an
other symptom which ought not to have been
overlooked. Then came the remarkable re-
volt of the Union League Club against
tho Custom-house in New-York, and lastly
the independent conference, in which "A
large minority at least of honest Repub-
| lcans uttered their detestation of the
machine and their determination to break
it. TO all this Gen. Grant replies by tighten
ing the screws.
It should be understood, therefore, that tire
issue between the Administration and the party
is made up, and during the next three or four
weeks a battle is to DC silently fought out
which may be more important in It's results
than the larger contest to follow in November.
| There was no misunderstanding the bold reso-
lutions adopted by the Union League Club on
1
agement as an intolerable grievance to which
"we refuse any longer to submit" and
demanding as the next candidate of the
Republican party ga man who has had no
connection, direct or indirect with the
"errors and abuses which have brought
"reproach upon the fair name of the
"country and tho party" There was no
question in anybody's mind that this Club the
most important political organization OF the
kind in the United States and the representa-
tive of all that is most decent and conscientious
in the party, meant by this action to rcpudiate
i'm advance the nomination of thick and thin
partisan which the "machino" had under
taken to fOrce-meant TO declare that it would
not submit to tho nomination even if it should
be pushed through the Convention, and would
not recognize the authority of the Oflce-holders
TO dictate to the voters. And the applause
with which these resolutions were generally
greeted proved that the Club reflected the
sentiments of the community. Republicans
everywhere seemed to be heartily tired of
official tyranny and alarmed at It's consequences.
To this declaration of Independence the Presi-
dent replies only by fresh measures Of coercion.
He has made up his mind to try conclusions
with the remonstrants, and so far as he is con-
cerned the struggle is to be no child's play.
The valor of the other side has yet to be tested.
If, after all, there is no real courage behind
the brave words we have heard during the past
few weeks, if the Republican party surrenders
to the clique which is trying to dominate it,
to use it in corrupt bargains and disgraceful
intrigues, to drive it into heartless acceptance
of candidates in whom it does not believe, and
AN abandonment of the reforms which it has
declared to be essential to the welfare of the
country, conscientious and sensible voters will
be forced to the conclusion that there is no
cure for the decentralization and corruption OF
American politics until the Republican party
has been disciplined-if not destrOyed-in the
bitterness of defeat and humiliation.