New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-06
yEpTBLJC1N SAFETY.

Ii is not pleasant, we presume, for adnerents
of the Administration faction to be reminded
that they have brought the Republican party
to the verge of destruction, or to be told that
the party can be saved only by taking counsel
of those whose advice it haughtlly Fpurned III
1872. We do not wonder that such remarks,
which are made quite often In these days NY
journals and leaders Of unquestionable fidelity
to the party, irritate the followers OF Grant,
Morton, COnkling, Chandler, Cameron, and
Logan. and prompt sundry manifestations OF
unhappy temper. The medicine that cures is
not always palatable. When a general is de-
priyed of his command for incompetency,
when an official is sentenced to the pententiary
for theft, the Just judgment, however neces-
sary to the public welfare, is not quite de-
lightful to the individual condemned. stu, II
does no good to rave, nor to vince.
The verdict of the people was pronounced
in the elections of 1874. Republican journals
of the Drawer sort are but repeating 1t when
they tell the leaders who have been running
that party into the ground that the country
has no more use for them. The fact may be
unwelcome. But journals that dare TO speak
the truth ought not to he abused because tho
truth is not pleasing. We can bear witness
that they have displayed no hot nor hasty dis
position to censure. They waited great deal
too long, indeed, for the good OF the country
or the success of the party. Had they spoken
half as plainly prior to 1872, as they speak
now, perhaps the Republican party would have
been spared much humiliation. Even now, not
many of them speak of Grantism as plainly
as it deserves They usually content them
l. eto ipoopfnetab lp fopt-tI1t
the country will not tolerate Grantism any
longer, and will defeat the Republican party
if necessary in order to get nd OF that
nuisance. This fact the party refused to see
until the defeats of 1874 had made it pain
fully manifest, and acknowledges even now IN
q sort of half-bearted and timid way. Mean
while the leaders who have been dong the
mischief, and who are asked to get overheard
as soon as possible, are very angry about it,
and their henchmen passionately ask whether
the Republican party proposes to sacrifice
Grant, Morton, Conkling, and the rest for
those traitors" the independents.
We do not perceive that the independents
feel any anxiety. They have helped to defeat
the Republican party when it was in error.
They have given it success, as in OHIO, when
it was in the right. Calmly adhering to their
principles, they ask no favOrs. 1t gives them
pleasure to see that the people are inclined to
insist that those principles shall rule in the
Government, and if sthe people have that de-
termination one party or the other will proba-
bly, respect it. Whether the hearty adoption
of lust principles shall secure victory for
one party or the other is matter Of
very much more consequence to the parties
and partisans than to those citizens who care
mainly for the public good. If the Republic
can party chooses TO deserve success, we have
no doubt that its triumph will give sincere
Measure to that class of citizens, whether
they have occasion to identify themselves
with it or to maintain their Independent
position.
But to the partisans it is very important
question whether their party shall be put
under ground forever at the next election. If
defeated as completely in the Presidential
election as 1t was in 1874, the Republican
party would not continue to live, as the Dem
ocratic party has lived so long, through mere
attachment to q name. 1t would die; its
machinery would cease to exist; its voters
would seek new methods OF usefulness. Re-
publican partisans, with few exceptions, COM
prehend that the party would be defeated,
even more decisively than it was last year, II
it should 20 into the next campaign carrying
the load of Grants administration. Hence 1t
is that they speak out, not as plainly as they
might, but plainly enough to make followers