The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-16

nrbt HppTOVeu, anu tneu ny ono Oh tuOse
astounding mental processes which no fell
low can find out, extinguished by veto.
MORTON fell only TO rise again as the sup
porter of that amphibious and worthless
measure OF resumption which distinguished
the last Congress. Bad rs his legs are, he
never fails to scramble TO the top of the
wheel, If he is given but half chance.
Then we must not overlook i}EN BUTLER,
because he has been II public notoricty for
long time. As he is a great criminal law
yer, and did some apt things in the war,
and possesses unlimited check and pretcn-
sion, people even in trade have supposed
his views on finance were worth knowing.
lie has accordingly uttered them from
time to time, both in Congress and out.
But he has, In giving them, only freshly
illustrated one special weakness Of his char
acter; namely, want of judgment. lie re-
pudiates experience and logic. and wan
ders OF among the theorists. lie supports
n fantastic proposition, and does il all the
more earnestly because practical men of
sense reject II. He displays an eccentric
disposition of mind, developed by profess
sional experience which has sometimes
good ms truth. Thus he clings to flnan-
cial eccentricity, partly from love Of it and
partly because his judgment fails him in
determining its merits. We must leave
him u his mental meanderings and his
financial fioundcrings. He has swallowed
the fatal hook, and must drown.
There are very few other leading public
men who have SAID or done anything note
worthy on the subject. Senator SCOTT
of Pennsylvania had an excellent financial
talent, but under the cold shade OF
CAMERoNNs corrupt politics, he hid
ii mostly in q napkin. New England has
had no Senator equal to the emergency.
MORRILL, of Vermont has done better
than any of them, but his views, though
sound, are narrow. THURMAN, though
hampcred, has shown wisdom and discre-
ton, but he has been frngmcntary, like too
many others. His colleague, SHERMAN,
has occupied the position which would
have given him a commanding lead il he
had been equal to il. But his acts have
been but the pottering of u small poll
tician. CoNKLINo, who is the leading rep
resentative Of this great State, and who
is equal to th c position, has foolshly wasted
himself in partisan advocacy that has
well nigh destroyed him. Perhaps he
might yet emerge. but will her Finally,
we hardly need mention the Philadel-
phia school headed by CAREY and KELLEY,
who have really talked themselves out OF
court.
Our readers will soc from this brief re-
sumo how little we have lately had that Is
l.. a
on the financial question. II shows us, too,
how much the quality of the discussion
can be improved. and must be improved,
II 1t is to be influential with the coun-
try. What Secretary BRIsTow said in
December, what Gov. TILDEN uttered In
January. what Brother BLAINE has put
forth now, is all great Improvement
upon previous utterances since Nc
CULLocn went out. They have each and
all been brought to see the substantial
truth and though all have fallen short of
the ideal standard we have suggested, and
have misjudged IN some particulars, and
have failed to discern in others. yet tn cir
attitude is most encouraging TO the politi-
cal philosopher. They stand OH diverse
political planes, and represent varied party
associations. TILDEN is Democrat,
BLAINE is a Republican, end BRTsTow is
an Independent. But there is scope for
n much greater financial effort than either
OF them has made. and II Is 10 this fact that
we invite the thoughts of the candidates.
The time has come. The hour has arrived.
Now let us see the man. There is ample
room and verge enough for everybody.
The opportunity is yet open TO nil a glo-
rious niche and achieve an enviable fame.
Who is TO he the heroi Or shall we ig-
nobly fail because all are politicians and
none are statesmen