New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-20

upon Washington OF n fanIshtd norue vi '"o
and ignorant and lame and lazy and impudeht
and greedy politicians fiom the whole couh-
| try 4; sweeping removals of every KepuDhcah
who held an Office they could reach, and the
| installation in their places OF as incompetent
! and worthless a set IA ever settled on u pco-
pie, scourgcd community, or sacked treas
ury. Then what large and striking Illus
| trations they have given us the past
year of that charming phrase, clay
| ling aside craftsmanship" Honey is bitter
to the sweetness with which the Democratic
editor overwhelmed the Republican who laid
aside craftsmanship and voted for Tiden. But
within a few months past there have been
several cases reported of Democrats who have
laid aside partsanship to say they approved
the policy of the Administration. Whew
How that altered the case. The Democratic
| editor sees nothing in that but disloyalty,
trcachery weakness and reprehensible hank
eiing for office.
And now the Connecticut Democracy, which
| seems specially endowed with the most striking
characteristics of the party, is giving us fine
illustration of the meaning of Democratic
rhetoric about burying the past. and letting
bvgones be bygones, and all that by the
death of the late incumbent the office OF State
Attorney for New-Haven County has fallen va
cant and the choice of n successor devolves upon
the Judges of The Superior Court. The most
prominent candidate Tor the place Is the Hon.
Oryile ii. Platt of Meriden, gentleman OF
the highest personal character, whose lDteg-
rity, ability, and fitness are unquestonod.
But in the year 1861 Mr. Plat, being mem
Der of the Connecticut Senate, introduced
resolution, which was carried, ordering the
removal of the portrait of ex-Gov. 1hos. II.
Seymour from its place on the walls OF the
chamber. that gentleman having gwen grave
oiicnse to the loyal and patriotic sentiment OF
the people of the State by his openly ayowcd
sympathy with the South and hostility to all the
war measures of the Government. 10 he sure
il was a good while ago, and the people OF
Connecticut and of the whole country have
forgiven and forgotten a great many things
almost as bad as that since then, but the Con-
necticut Democracy, as represented by Its
mouthpicce The Ne,r- Hdren Register, cannot
forget or forgive so enormous crime as tins.
That is asking too much. Tile register, speak
inc of Mr.. Platt's candidacy, says: "The
" Democratic party should never forget his
insult to the memory of the Hon. Thomas
H. Seymour during the late unpleasahinC -
and if he gets this appointment 1t VIII be by
q" the vote of a Democratic judge, which we VIII
:" not believe until it is 80 recorded. NO mere
PARTISAN should occupy such position, ana
the defamcr of tom Seymour has no claim
/" on Democratic sIipp0rtn How edifying this
is as an illustration of the real significance OF
letting bygones be bygones from Demo
cratic point OF view. There was disposition
manifested in certain quar,ers year or two
ago, when Mr.. VIM ". Eaton was an uncom-
nonly anxious candidate FOR United states
Senator, 10 hold that gentleman responsible
fOi some of the many udlculouSly dlsloyal
and Sly performances with which he pep
percd What might be called his career during
the war. but The Rcqister and all the rest rose
ND and said, "Oh, that's mean; don't do that;
this is an era o. good feeling we must for
&" ret the past, ana let bygoncs be bygones."
And 50 the Liberal Republicans and those Dem
ocrats whom Mr. Eaton had more than inSulted
inaugrrated the era and elected Mr.. Eaton
Senator
It's one of the funniest cras ever opened.
The GOOD {. cling seems to be al on one side,
and the laying aside partisanship on the other.
And The only purpose served is TO illustrate
the sincerity Of Democratic professions and the
consistency of their performances. In this
case 1t would be hard TO match the
gross indcccncy of any such part-
san interference with Judicial appoint
ment by bench of judges. TO thrust
under the noses of the judges such partisan
ship AS this, and boast that it must be an
effective argument because there's Democratic
majority on tho bench, is-well, it can't be
characterized so well Ivy any other words
Democratic Connecticut Democracy does nave
its uses-as horrible example.