New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-17

HAMPSHIRE And PdRTY PROSPECTS.
The dullcst Democrat can read in the cleo
ton returns from New Hampshire the answer
of the people TO the behavior of his party in
Congress. IL proposes reputation; the people
rccoi Ii investigates only where Republicans
may I've blackencd; the people want honest
exposure Of all corruption. 1t ilauntS tho Con-
fcdcrate flag in the faces of loyal men of the
North; the people answer with indignation.
Beyond doubt there was great deal of fraud
in New Hampshire, and the Republicans had
the moro money to spend, and the more
effective organization for the use of money.
But, had there been any opposition worthy Of
public confidence, The exposure of rascalitics
at Washington would have turned thousands
of votes, even in rocb-ribbcd New Hampshire.
1t is exactly IA THE TRIBUNE stated after the
exposure of Bclknap the Administration loScs.
but the Democratic party does not gain.
BY the victory i'll Ncw-Hampshire the Re
publican party may gain, exactly what the
Confederates gained at Bull Run, fatal over
confidence Already Administration organs
begin to improve the occasion by declaring
that any good Republican can I've elected. To
them it is sweet to~bclicvc that R,publican
knavcry is still less offensive to the people
than Democratic folly or disOyaly. Exactly
as we warned the Democrats, III the flush OF
their triumph after the exposure of Bclknap,
it is necessary now TO warn the Republicans
that they have gained nothing except an OPP
portunty. There has not been general
stampede from the Republican rinks-why :
Because voters still hope that tho Rcpuhli-
can party may purge itself of corruption.
They have many reasons for d>tru,tlng
Democracy. Since the exposure OF Belknap
they have seen many evidences that The better
elias, of Republicans mean tn take the control Of
the party into their hands. Disguised with Demo
cratic leanings toward population, cncour-
sgcd more than ever to hope that the power
of corrupt rngs in the Republican party
might yet be broken, the Republicans OF New
Hampshire had also crcditablc local ticket,
while the Democrats had nominated man OF
offensive record. and brought Generals ol the
late Confederate service to sustain him on the
stump But what will happen in the deciding
States next FAM If the Republican party
does not purge itsclf of corruption, what may
happen even in New Hampshire
In every part of the country there has been
a great revival Of confidence the part of
those who desire better things for the Rcpub-
lican party. Elsewhere, a, well As IN New
Hampshire. the Republican party has been
stronger and more hopeful since the exposure,
because It's honest voters felt sure that at last
the rascal4 would cease to direct il. If the
party il wise OF honest, it will not di.appoint
these hopes. But if it docsf l. there sane
10 hot la rsNIisipu pI feel
ing would be fatal to tho partyY Its earnest
and conscientious voters would either refuse AT
the outset to support it, ticket. or would 80
into tho campaign with sense of fear and
shame. Day after day all the shameful dis
closures OF corruption would he thrust before
them. and they would be challenged 10 say
whether the control of the party had really passed
To other and purer hands. Unable To satisfy
their own cOnsciences, they would be forced to
choose between Endorsement of the most shame
less corruption and the support of another
ticket. Democrats would tauningIy tell them,
"Your party reforms only far enough to keep
"the votes Of fools, but never far enough to
close the votes of knayes.n Ia there Rcpub-
lean who does not know that his party, II
thus assaed through all the months OF hot
Presidential contest, would become displIIted,
ashamed. Disguised, and d,morailzedT The end
would be defeat.
Shall w-lIampshlre DE the Republican Bull
Runf Hope Of reform "wihin the party still
holds it, voters. Democratic stupidity still
repcls. But if tho Republican Convention
refuses reform, who can toll with what ndigna-
ton honest Republican voters will spnrn the
party that they had hoped to drag from the
miro of corruption, disgrace, and dUiedti
4 RJIL FOE THE PROTECTION or OrFICE-
HOLDERS.
We should like mot merely rs matter OF
curiosity to see an authentic statement oil the