New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-02
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In some of the super-yrtuOus JOuInals IL
is regarded as quite a dscredit to can
didate that other men "wOrk to secure
his nomination. Thus these journals OBJ
serve that Mr.. Blaine has had a great deal
of effective work done for him In the
North West and appear TO regard the TACT
as evidence of Mr.. Blaines political turpltude,
and as sadly illustrating the saying that the
children of earth are wiser in their generation
than the children of light. The trouble win
some people is that they consider it quite enough
to sit in comfortable arm-chairs and THINK
piously and periodically, but are not willing
70 bestir themselves in the least to bring other
men 70 their way of thinking. The world
ought to go right without "work,' they hold.
IF il does not, so much the worse Tor the
wicked world. This is an exalted way of look
ing at things. II COMFORTS with pleasing con-
seriousness of superiority to the world at large.
But. unhappily, this wicked world has never been
reformed to any great extent by men OF this
temper It's heroes, philanthropists, true states
men. and genuine refOrmers, have ever been
men who were willing to mngle with other
men. to make the most and the best OF them,
to use facts as they exist, and, In Snort 10
work nightly for the faith that was Ill them
II will not do to overlook the fact that many
of Mr. Biaincs friends are refOrmers aiter
their sort, and are inspired by genuine de-
sire to lift the Republican party to higher
plane. They see that it has fallen very low,
that its aims are dim, its methods degrading,
its conduct often rasca'ly; and they believe,
rightly or wrongly, that the nomination OF
Mr.. Blaine would bring some change for'the
better. Undoubtedly, there are many who
have motives less high and pure. Many, too,
are not conscious of any motive beyond desire
for success. But there is a very important
element which to-day puts forth all It's efforts
for Mr.. Blaine, simply because 1t believes that
he is the best man the party can he brought
to nominate at this time, the best man who
can be elected, and the man, therefore, whose
election would lift the party and the pollucs
of our day quite as high a. 1t Is possible TO
lift them. Why have they this beletP Chiefly
because they find nobody doing any practical
work for any better man. Ii may he that
their views are not high enough if so, whose
fault is it? 1t may be that the Republican
party and the country can he lifted much
higher if so, why have not wiser and purer
men taken pains to make the fact known I
If there il better and wOrthier thing to
do. who can tell how many OF those
who now urge Mr.. Blaine would be glad
to Join in doing that better thing. If
they were shown that it il practicable
In the end, no party can be lifted any higher
than its working force will help to lift it. I'm
der republican form of government, Ill which
the majority rules, the few supereminently wise
and virtuous persons who sit still and do
nothing have no power. TO them 1t may be
an unhappy fact, but it Is fact. For prac-
teal men, the question always Is " How much
"that is good can be accomplished at this time :"
If the people who see the best thing lock the
secret in their breasts, make no effort to bring
others TO see it, and in short, refuse to work
for il. the best thing will not get done. Nor
arc those to blame in that event, who do
"the best they cam That it is possible to do
better they cannot know, for those who should
lead and help them insist upon enjoying their
beautiful isolation from things sublunary.
A little while ago The TRIBUNE told the
Republicans of Illinois and Wisconsin that
they could do a great thing for the Republic
can party, strengthen it throughout the land
and help to hft it far above the grovellng
methods to which IT has been used, by bold
declaration for the Secretary whose
warfare against corruption has made
him so much admired by honest and indie
pendent citizens. Such a declaration would
have told Republicans everywhere, who are
trying to do the best they cam that
this nomination also could be made. So once
more we tell those who desire the nomination
of Mr.. Bristow, in order to make the issue be-
tween corruption and honest government
sharper and more distinct than any other Sc
lection can make it, that it il time for them
to "wOrk"-t0 adopt some practical method
of making known their wishes and their
strength. If, as they believe, that selection is
the right one they may accomplish much by
giving expression TO their opinion. and trying
to bring others to entertain it. But they will
accomplish nothing at all by sitting still. and
grumbiDg because Others choose to work