New-York tribune., 1876-03-11
AEH- UfMPSHIRE-

II il not quite clear whether Ncw-Hampshlre
may he looked upon as leading off in the years
elections, or whether it should not be SAID
with more propriety that she brings up the
tail end of the procession OF all previous CON
tests. For really there il nothing in the char
acter of the arguments and appeals to voters,
or in the staple discussions of the canvass,
that relates much 10 anything that has hap
pened in the past twelve months. Both sides
are fighting backward talking about things
historic and pTc-Adamite; the very troglo-
dytcs Of politics are running the campaign
The letters Of our staff correspondent III the
State have given the readers OF THE TRIBUNE
a very thorough insight into the spirit
and purposes of the parties, as we'll as with
their methods and management. From these 1t
appears that contrary to the general expecta-
ton last week il is not now probable that the
Belknap exposures will damage the Repubh-
cans TO any great extent. The present prospect
IS that they will carry the State by something
less than thousand majority. The spell OF
the party name, and the record OF ITS
past, with all its memories and associa-
tOns, are very powerful upon the mlnd
of the average Republican, and there Is very
little political thinking that does not run IN the
old and worn ruts and relate to old differences
and disputes. Partisanship Is nowhere more
bitter, blind, and unreasOning than In New
Hampshire. The voter looks at the label on
his ticket, and no further In such state o1
affairs q matter like the Belknap exposure
would not change votes enough to Affect the
result though the influence of 1t might be de-
pressing to the leaders. Then, too, the argu-
ment that after all the exposure OF Grantlsm
is an advantage to the party, since 1t opens
the eyes Of the people to its character and
makes it less dangerous, is not without weight
! II is no doubt true that the Administration
has been suspected by its own adherents Of
things 30 much worse than this that there Is
| n willingness to accept these disclosures as q
compromise The people had discounted them
before. Their present disposition is TO stick to
the party but throw Grant overheard.
One conspicuous feature in the management
of New Hampshire politics has been brought
out in our correspondents letters, which we
hope will not be forgotten after the election Is
over The open and shameless buying and
selling of votes which has been carried on by
both parties for several years past is terrible
present evil but what is worse 1T is practice
which if continued must sooner or later result
! In the utter abandonment of political morality
and the overthrow of free institutions. We are
inst now on the brittle edge of serious peril
| from this cause. The practice which has OBJ
tanned in many of the States OF nominating
men for Office on account OF their
| pecuniary ability 10 pay what are
| called with charming ndiret% " the
necessary election expenses" has but one
| logical ending. 1t is purchase of the office
| on the one hand and sale on the other and
/ only decentralization and corruption can result
/ from it, The effect of it is beginning to be
| seen in New Hampshire. But the system of
assessments" of Government offices, under
which thousands of dollars are raised every
wear TO corrupt the voters and buy up the
! State is q still worse feature of the manage
ment Of the Republican leaders. The evils
that must arise from practices Of this sort,
whereby an Administration perpetuates itself,
reaching into the Government Treasury prac-
ticaly for means to keep itself in power,
are so plain as not TO need point
ing out. One of the remedies suggested
for this condition of things Is change by
constitutional amendment of the time for hold
ing the elections, 80 that they will come IN the
| Autumn, at the same time with most Of the
other States BY this means II is believed that
the raising OF money in other States for use in
! New Hampshire would be prevented. No doubt
1t would be An improvement; but q much