New-York tribune., 1876-10-04
MR. CcNKLLNG Ar UTICA.

The address of Senator COnkling, delivered
yesterday at Utica, is the speech OF one 1t
must frankly be admitted, who is disposed to
regard as fayorably as possible the errors and
misdeeds of the present Administration. 1t is,
however, substantially candid. Mr.. COnllling
admits with shame and sorrow that individ-
"u uals holding official trusts have been guilty
of detestable jobbery." He thus qualities
himself for asking voters to consider "whether
" the nation is likely to profit by being given
&" into the keeping of those who IN heId ana
forum have been on the bad side in the vital
" trials of the last twenty years. Mr.. Conk-
ling falls naturally, as all speakers upon the
same side must into a consideration OF the
history of the Democratic party. We may not
be disposed to go quite 50 far back as he does
nor TO hold the children responsible for the
sins of the fathers. Ii may he urged, we admit,
that the Democratic party claims to be hoW
lust what it has always been, and that 1t points
to what 1t was in the days of Jackson as evl-
dence that it is to be implicitly trusted III the
davs of Grant. We, will not dispute upon
that pOint-thcrc is enough for criticism III
the party doings of yesterday OF of the day
before. We prefer to remember that Demo
cratic majority in the House of Representatives
gave the party such an opportunity as may
never come to it again; and voters who do
not care for the peculations of the Jackson or
of the Van Bmen dynasty may be decided by
the general character of the policy only lately
exhibited by Democratic Representatives.
Mr.. Conkliug handles this part Of his subject
vigorously and with q strict adherence to facts
the votes of the Democratic majority against
the speedy resumption of specie payments, in
favor of the assumption of Southern claims,
for taking the cotton tax out of the Treasury
and returning it to the Cotton States, for re-
funding the Southern portion OF the direct tax
levied on all the States in 1861. Meanwhile,
as Mr. Conkling says, "thcy reduced no tax,
" they did nothing to improve hard times, they
cut off appropriations most of which they
"will put back in deficiency bills, and they
removed Union soldiers from little places.
We repeat here what is really the important
Doint Of Mr.. COnkling's speech. There are
many voters who are dissatisfied with the
character of the present Administration,
and they are naturally inquiring whether
# will be better TO trust Republican pro-
fessions of reform, with a new class of men
in the Executive Offices, or whether they shall
east their ballots for 1ilden and Hendricks.
The value of Mr.. COnkling's speech will be
found not in his defense OF old RepublIcaniSm'
but in his searching criticism of what processes
to be new Democracy.
We think too that Mr.. COnl,ling is entitled
TO attention when no says that " the old
Southern political sway is uplifting Itself
" again. and adds Slavery in form Is
dead, but race hate, race oppression, ana
" race murders have taken its place" We
maynot he willing to 90 quite so far as Mr. Conk-
ling does, but there would be reason for grave
apprehension, were political power to bo con-
fded TO that branch of the Democratic party
which has always felt that its main strength
WAS with the South. We are cautious, and we
have reason to be. 1t was one thing during
the last Presidential canvass to be willing to
confde in certain Democrats in alliance with
Trustworthy Liberals: it wOald be quite
another to commit the whole power,
strength, and policy of the Government
wholly 10 the Democratic party. un-
curbed by concession and unrestrained by
coalition with men of larger and more
patriotic opinions. Mr.. ConkliDg admits the
necessity of reform, and promises it on behalf
of his party. This is step certainly Ill ad-
vance; there was a time when he might not
have said so much as this but that he and
others of his class see the errors OF thclr
Marty, and are deSirOus of reform. affords the
best guaranty which the honest voter
can have of the safety Of supporting the Re
publican candidates, support of Mr.. Tilden
being with such ont of the question.