New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-25
n0OD TEupER IN Politics.

There il one good effect OF holidays ana
celebrations which we do not often take into
account. Bringing public adyersaries into
social companionship, and impelling MS oil to
show for few hours the more CHEEKY ana
amiable side of our disposition, they serve as
corrective of that bitterness OF Thought ana
intemperance of speech which are the curse
of our political life. 1t is worth great deai
to be recalled. if only two or three tunes
wear, to our better selves, and reminded tDat
people who differ from us are not all ioois or
rogues; and that the schemes OF our parry
oppouents are not necessarily fraud ana
yillapy. The rancOr of political controversy
ia no more intense in this country than
if is elsewhere but it is more per-
sjstept. We are always wrangllng. ana
too many of MS are always abusive, save Old
those rare happy occasions when we declare
n truce of twenty four hours for the purpose
of celebrating a National anniversary, or eat
ing commemoration dinner, or keeping up
the great domestic festival of Christmas III
If were not for these occasional checks to the
Gathering current Of bad blood, one half OF
orr leading citizens would soon cease to be on
speaking terms with the other hall.
"a
lie questions on these days devoted to good
bumor: but we confess that we are always
clad when some dinner-table orator is bold
enough to introduce grave political topic, III
the lust, friendly, and cheerful tone when
BELTS gathering of genial companions
At the New-England dinner on Mon
day night there were many references to
the exciting topics which have lately filled
Congress with invective and newspapers with
Islander. and the manner in which they were
touched was invariably pleasant and apprO-
pirate. The most fanatical iniat0nist could
find no reasonable fault with the frank yet
entirely good natured illusions OF Secretary
Eyarts to honest money or to the remarks
of Secretary Sherman on resumption. Mr.
Sherman spoke of the currency without hnIl.
ing epithets at the Grecnback party; and
Mr.. Blaine carried the whole assemblage
with him when lac urged that wherever
"an honest dollar circulates, an hon
"est ballot should sustain and uphold
ait" These speakers are leading men
In the Republican party, and they professed
their faith on this occasion with freedom and
emphasis; they gave their views positively
though briefly on the most important sub
jects of current political co rtroversy. Yet
nobody will complain that they married the
pleasures Of the feast.
IL would be blessing il the kindly infu-
ences which temper discussion at New-Eng-
land dinner, and rule the disputes even OF
partisan newspapers on Christmas morning.
could be prolonged into the controversies
which are to ycX us as soon aS the hOl-
idays are over. Truth has nothing to lose
by moderation. The issue 10 which Mr..
Blaine made passing allusion in his plea
for an honest ballot cannot be over
looked, and 1t will hardly be treated without
a great deal of party evaporation. Yet 1t IL
not at all a party question, and it ought not
10 be debated with view to party advantage.
The purity of the ballot IL essential to the
prosperity, to the very safety. of an American
community. We refuse to believe that any fac
ton will defend the wrongs which are said to
have been committed upon Republican voters
In the South and while orr differences are
only about the existence OF certain alleged
facts, it ought to be possible to collect and
examine evidence without the assumption on
the one hand that every Democratic statesman
is feloni0us champion of fraud. and on the other
that the Republican party is determined upon
reyiying sectional antipathies aud forgotten
hatreds. The inquiry which has been insti-
tuted into the facts of this matter must be
prosecuted to the end, and the disclosure OF
the plain trutb-wbich we believe is what re-
spectacle men on the one side as well as the
other sincerely desire-wIll be promoted by
conducting the discussion in fair, calm tenn
per and decent language.