New-York tribune., 1878-12-21
"REFORM" IN NEW-JERSEY.

THE LAST ELECllON, AND "hhi ms iHi
TO 1T sINCE--TwO REGULAR ORGANIZATIONS
BESIDES SOME MORE NOT so REGULAR
lFRoM An occ CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBUSE'i
JERSEY CITY, Dec. 19.-It sometimes hap
pens that campa gu is full Of politics that even
decisive election cannot dispose OF the entire supply
aud it Usually happens that what Is LETT over 10
hardly worth warming up. In hudson ooun's,
however, which the theatre OF one vi
tie most noteworthy among the revolutions OF 'ne
year, the fervOr of tine who wrought the ohanRe
did not cool of when the votes were counted but since
tne dav of election they have been aborng as earnestly
10 build up from the bottom organization OF their
party before that day they struggled to tear INC
old one.
When the Democratic Union OF Hudson County ," was
formed few months ago. 1t failed to create "ucn
alarm among the ward wIre-pullers or TO excite mueE
hope among reputable citizens. The Union embraced
many worthy gentlemen II is true, but worthy gentle
III II have rebelled before against the Democratic ma
chime. and have finally fallen meeky into hne' Anu
then, there gent emen in the Union not 20 worthy
gentlemen whose heads were sore; gentlemen aic'eu
wit organic moral diseases OF sort or anothr ana
gentlemen who wanted something. Nevertheless
the Union went quietly 10 work. The cap'al
grievance OF which they complained was the
IyraunOus domination OF the local Iamnany'
This General Committee had usurped one power oiter
until 1t mad complete and unquestioned conuo'
OF the parry Whom the committee would it nominated
elected this way Jersey City was bound and handed
over to he the Drey insOent and INSCRIPTIONS
ring OF peculatOrs cursed an American coinuu
nifty. The Union frat made stirring Appeals 70 tho
respectable remnant Of the party To TURN OUT
to the primaries in sufficient force TO secure
convention OF honest delegates OF course, they were
beaten Of sight. and the committee once more nom
mated men after their own heart Then the Union
protested but the committee only Knocked the KID
glove reformers" FUalIy after the campaign was
under full Roadway, the Union calico meet
ing Of Democrats who wished 10 make open
proclamation OF their hostility TO the ring. ana
the result was that over-6owng mass-rneeting
IN Keper Hall, gathering OF the choice men OF the
city, VINO a last mad teeth for serious business
II then evident that this was genuine rebellion OF
all the decency left in the Democratic party against E
ince incompetence corruption and insOence OF Of
flee. The earnestness OF these was still more appa-
rent during few davs left Of the campaign when they
declared meetings held all the county that tho
only way TO overthrow the committee wds to defeat
their ticket ana ne only way defeat their oket was
to vote for the Republ candidates. As result OF all
his IN Hudson County. which has a clear m Jorlty OF
Democratic voters by 500 5000, Mr.. Brigham was
sent TO Congress with 1000 votes 10 spare Colonel
Toney made sheriff by majority twice as great. and
of the eight Assenblymen elected six Republicans
and that too IN spite OF the fact that the county had
been gerrymandered in such q way as TO make every
District Democratic by a majority OF at least 800.
or course the Democratic Union does not deserve all
the credit OF this astonishing turnover The Republi
cans praise or making the best possible
nominations. There were hard money Democrats who
couldn't endure the ncy stradde OF their platform
There were personal objections TO the Demo
cratic caudil lates. But, after all, without the
Union the victory would have been achieved. and
the earnest and honest men wGo headed tne revolt de-
serve all praise for their singenss and sincerity OF pur
pose and for the persistent and courageous manner in
which they fought their way trough. They are not
men who hold office or who seek IT, They are not poll
ticans as the term ordinarily used but OF wealth
and social standing who espoused the matter
of principle, followed carefully as they attend
10 their private business Among them may De named
ex-MayOrs Van Reypen, Harrison and Romar, Dr.
yarick, Dr. Love- Colonel L. p. o. Lewis, Colonel Van
Buskirk the Hon John A. 0'N-il, George W. Helme,
John S. sutphen, Garrick S. Omstead John Frost
and Daniel Van Winkejr The Hon. Charles H. Winfield
too rendered signal service 10 the cause. not only
with mis- pen, with his voice. for no man was ever
more ready pugnacious with the oral IL is true that
Mr Winfield sometimes looked out OF place in his new
company because his virtue is OF that Roman stern
meas which compels admiration But, after all. his
amateur reformer are gratefully rec
ognzed.
But peace did not follow the battle. At the Kepler
Hall III citing Provisional Committee was appointed to
,eorRanize the party the Spring elections, and this
committee saw complete their work at once. 40
cordipgly call was issued for primaries to appoint del
egates TO general convention ana just at this unoture
new element consisting Of comprOmisers and pacih-
Gators flung itself between the combatants and
held ND both hands. crying, " For Heavens sake,
gentlemen, don't quarrel Let's all harmonic and DO
happy"
The barmoptzers were mainly goodish men, who dis
liked the methods OF the General Committee but who
lacked the nerve TO withstand them. The Hon. A. A
Uarlepberg Governor Bedle and Robert Glchrst
were of this class. And with them foxy Statesmen
ike Leon Albeit and Deos L. Culver. who
foresaw a break up and wanted to be
both sides. These people, known as the
"Parlor Democracy" from the in 1aylors Hotel
where they first met urged the Union to postpone
ton until they could persuade the General Committee,
or some of them, resign " What then," asked the
Union VINO hgnt this thing clear through TO the
end 2" Oh weu do II with our little compromise"
piled Parlor c. "Not IL are acquainted with our
selves" reoined the Union. And the primaries
held according original call the Union steadily
fuslng to confer recognize the committee the
harnonzers. bu inviting all 10 unto with them un-
tue delegates assembled what the most
srectahIe UemOcTalio convention, both as TO nen-
bersbIp and conduct, which ever held In tue
ate. lent plan OF organization was adopted
the by-aWs a strange undemocratic sound as for
example the one Wnon fOrDids tissne-paper ballots
ur colored ballots to be used at primaries; another
forbidding a member Of tho committee TO for
Office forDiddinR the assessment OF candidates,
and another forblddng OF n committee 10
nnd office longer than two successive years, after
whcu" interpOlated Mr. Wiuhed he read the cOnsti
tuition " he uiust back TO the people and get
virtue before he can serve again."
Altogethrr tile convention and Its work appro
pirate conclusion OF the first act OF the Reform drama.
But TIE Union shows no disposition To rest from ts
abors Already the curtain has lifted for the second
part OF the play and the action promises To he as RAPID
and vigorous rs ever Senator McPhers0l. Governor
co lected orn mt Of opinions supposed to be ncld
ny all the larrg actions, aUd stirred them together la
a mixture which they hope VIII bo accepted as
Bede, and irw other weak backed compromisers have
a new constitution by everybody In tho party.
But the Reformers are obduTae They claim
TO be the only regular, original, aud Simon
pure Democracy Last week they issued stirring ad-
dress inYIDg tue cooperation OF all Democrats but de-
danly AM steadf isy refusing 10 re.ede IN single
Nh INN NM a