New-York tribune., 1876-09-30

as saving " Let no man persuade you 10 re-
"nounce your faith and your duty due to the
democratic party. Remember ycu are tfee-
"men, and as freemen you must be open 70
" the convictions of the Democratic party. ln
"the Democratic party lie your chances OF
"success and retrieval of the bad times thaV
now ahlct the country. The worst man IN
" the Democratic party is better than the best
"Black Republican ever knew" Ana
this is the presentation of the argument
in the case by man Of affairs who knows
his party and what it wants.
"The worst man in the Democratic party"
SAYS NJ Wood, is better than the best
Black Republican | ever knew" WIN the
respectable citizen, of whatever party, VINO de-
sres for himself and his family-we will not
say an honest, dignifed, high-tOned admins
tration. but simply decent government
please read that statement over carefully and
consider just how much it means. MIR. Wood
speaks for party of which he has been for
many years recognized leader; party
whose honOrs he has borne, and in whose
cOunses he has been eminent; and, what is
still more for u party in which, II 1t is sue
cessful, lie will continue TO be leader, and
power. He rs much perhaps as any other
person will shape its policy and direct its coun-
sells The spirit of q new Democratic admin
istration CLEANS out in the brutal frankness
of this sweeping observation. He fOreshadOws
the policy of Democratic party in power.
Indeed, he but repeats what the brief Oppor-
tunity of that party in Congress to reveal it
self had already made manifest as the motive
of its acts and the handspring of all its con-
a. nv -. lln 10
"party is better than the best Black Republic
"can over knew" What key that is to
the Civil Service Reform which Mr.. 1ilden's
administration IN the event of bis election
would give us What a flood of light 1t
throws upon the performances OF the
present Congress. This is the belief OF
the whole party apparently. 1t certainly
reveals the underlying, principle upon which
good "Black Republicans" were hustled out
of Office, wherever the Democratic Congress
could reach them, to make room for bad Dem
ocrats. If the beadstrOng madness of those
wild days of turning out and bringing in with
which the present Congress signalized its en-
trance upon power needed any explanation,
Mr. Wood has furnished il ready made. The
worst Democrat is better than the best Black
Republican. That was the principle upon which
they acted. And that is the bottom rock, the
hardpan of Democratic Reform. Upon what
"principIe do you propose tn reform the civil
"seryice of the Government" il the question
the undecided independent voter is asking
Gov. Tilden. And Gov. Tilden may turn from
his interIocutor to the Hon. Fernando Wood,
and answer truly: "Mr. Wood has already
"stated it. Upon the principle that the worst
Democrat is better than the best Black Re-
"publican.o That's the Reform, and that's
what the masses of the party understand
about it.
IL is nice little Reform, isn't itf If any
one has any doubts ~ 10 the practical opera
ton of il, let him look about him and consider
for a moment who the worst Democrats are,
and whether he would like to see them IN
office rather than the best Black Republicans.
Here comes back 10 us from Vigo conspicuous
Democrat. How much better is he than several
Black Republicans who might be namedf Mr.
Wood is a man Of affairs, political leader.
statesman. He knows what he is talking about.
lie defines principles. We have to thank him
for furnishing a key to the proposed Demo-
cratis Reform. He has given us the underly-
ing principle of it, and we cannot be too
grateful.