New-York tribune., 1876-01-18
" UORk."

We begin to suspect that in this Gentleman
,-oor ,lo nonular,tv of n candidate may prove
TO be in inverse ratio to the amount Oh Cioi'
made by him to secure popularity. Inc coun-
try really seems to be giving renewed cohSiu-
Grafton to the old saying, by politicians uSu-
ally supposed to be quite obsolete tlat the
office should seek the man and not the man
fine Office. Honest discharge of duty, with sole
regard to the public welfare, evidently helps
man in these days Effort of any kind which
seems to be prompted or even guided Ill any
dcgreo by desire for Office evidently hurts Il
man. No wonder that the politicians consider
tbc situation chaotic, and aro at loss to discern
the future.
President Grant, for example, has had more
numerous and powerful rctlnuo OF personal
supporters than any other public man. warm
friends of other candidates have not been Stim-
Mated 10 greater zeal by pay actually received
and by prospect of continued pay ior lour
wears longer but Grants army OF oilce-holders
have been laboring for him with fcrvor ana
disintcrcsted zeal which the pubic seems iuliy
70 appreciate There is tho difficulty Inc
lobors of these gentlemen have been like seed
cast upon stony ground. When the favored
iobbcr, or the holder Of fat Office goes ABOUT
telling what the people think, ana deScah'ihe
upon the unparalleled merits OF The great
" soldicr.- n ouct smile is the only pcrceptlblc
efTect produccd The stony hearted public
reflects that the man is earning his bread
and butter When the hungry asplrant Tor
Office indulgcs in similar efuslOns oil adlnira-
ton. tbe public discounts his statements in the
Same way. When the able editor of govern
70 n
tr,otis,n in a powerful leader in favor of the
third term, the smile expands to broad grim
/ Re the reason what it may, all the effort
/ which has been made To secure popularity io
| Grant by these and similar methods has con-
qnicnonslv failed. He has done very credita-
/ Secretary BrstOw, for example and the c0un-
try fully appreciates these acts. Yet the
work done for him by various adherents
! has been nauscating and 80 much more pO-
! tent that, in spite Of all that he has done to
deserve favor, he Is really weaker in public
opinion to-day than almost any other candi-
date.
1t would be well for Mr. Blaine and Mr.
Morton If they would take to heart this lesson
Mr.. Morton also has host of adhercnts, whose
political gratitude, well defined as "a lively
sense OF favors to come" bubbles over con
tnually in laudatiOn. Nor does he lack men
who "pull the wires" and "sct up the pins +"
very effectively. Indeed, as his recent partici-
patton in the work OF the National Committee
shows, he does not consider it beneath him 10
take personal part in these manipulations and
to "work" for himself in open daylight.
Thereby he rcjoices bis rctainers, and we sus-
pect, disgusts some other people. Mr. Blaine's
a.
or without it, are generally regarded as hav-
ing been prompted by desire to secure the
favor of certain classes of voters. Probably
Mr.. Blame himself will hardly dissent from
the opinion that his efforts have not made
him stronger ~ a candidate.
In contrast with these illustrations of "worl -
that does not pay, every observing man can
point to the faithful work of public servants.
who show determination TO discharge their
duties to the country without fear or favor.
Their efforts pay; the public does unqucstion-
ably appreciate them. Whatever strength Mr..
Bristow has among Republicans, or Gov.
llldcn among Democrats, has been caused by
such faithful and courageous discharge of
duty. In either case, very powerful opposition
has been aroused. Each has made enemies Inv
the thousand among the managing politicians.
But each commands, by virtue of his manly
endeavor to serve the people, n sort of
appreciation and confidence which ia not
readily won by any efforts that are
thought to be prompted by personal
ambition Thoughtful voters understand that
if Governor or Secretary had looked only 10
his own interests, and considered only his |
chances Of political prefement, he would not |
have been in haste to make war upon power |
full rings, and to show that he was not the |
sort of man who could be used by the spoils- !
men and jobbers. Because the managing poli.
ticians dlstrust such men, the people trust
them. 1t is not impossible that in this Cen
tennial year the opinion of the people may
have more weight than that of the politicians.