New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-21
THE FUTURE.

There had been long and weary voyage
when Columbus saw at last the drifting sea-
weed that told him new continent was near.
Massachusetts, whose hasty blow fell more
heavily upon Charles Sumner than that of
Brooks, now speaks heartily for the policy
which Sumner urged. A Republican President
speaks to the people of Kentucky and Tonnes
see for peace under the Constitution, free
schools for all classes, and immieTatiOn-the
mother of prosperity-and Is welcomed with
enthusiasm by those who called for an army
of 1OO, 900 men to prevent his Inauguration,
and is followed with pledges of most cordial
support by Wade Hampton. A Democratic
machinery in New-Jersey, ruled by intense
Bourbonism and the blindest partisanship, is
tossed aside by the nomination of Mcclellan,
whose strength is that he was never pOliti-
clan nor hungry candidate, was once leader of
the Union armies, and is an honest and useful
man. SO both parties seem rising to higher
plane. After twelve years of weary strife
over sectional issues. do not these events be-
token that new continent is near7
Not that old parties are melting away. Mas
sachusetts is still Republican, and Tennessee is
still Democratic, but they shake hands. The
President does not become a Democrat, nor
Wade Hampton a Republican, but they seek
the peace of a common country. Gen. Nc
Clelan, though not in party strife, Is still a
Democrat. But the better men of both par
ties begin to see that the past is past, and
that the future has new issues, and new du-
ties. There will remain an intense and unfor-
getting Republicanism, and vindlctive and
Bourbonish Democracy, for millions of men do
.boir in Hov
But there are signs that the best elements in
both parties are gaining in. strength, and
drawing attention each week more clearly to
the needs of tlse future.
The truth is, that the practical and business
interests of the people are coming to the front.
Men are getting tired of weary disputes, which
only delay prosperity. They want something
better; something which will bring bread to
the hungry, wages to the workman, life to the
mills and mines. and profits to capital. Old
feeling0linger, but new needs press. In mem
cries and passions we are still two people. In
practical interests we are one. On either side
1t is realized that the issues of the past settled
while the issues of the present are vital and
urgent. Men say to each other: We can be
Republicans and Democrats, without being
fools. We all need more prosperity and less
politics, larger crops and smaller taxes, more
deeds aud fewer speeches, better government
and less fuss. The man who will stop stealing
hereafter, Is of more use than the man who
can tell how much was stolen ten years ago.
To stop starvation to-day is better than to ten
of starvation at Andersonville to prevent new
war between labor and capital is more needful
than TO rekindle war of races ; to create a
grand prosperity III which the negro shall share
is better than to groan and curse because he
ever was made free. These are the feelings
which are beginning to sway, not by any
means all, but large and growing number of
either party. AS they prevail, new political
future dawns.
The change is not in the names or constitu-