New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-10

TIE DEMONSTRATIONS IND THE PEOPLE.
There is a disposition to quarrel with the
Administration. Men say that they will either
openly assail It in State Convention, or ignore
it. The platforms of State Conventions do
not seem to Us to have great weight, but
there are voters who do not understand the
philosophy OF platform If Re
publcans see fit to ignore their own Adj
minstIatiOn in their State platforms,
that is matter chiefly interesting
to them, and we do not know why 1t
should be interesting to anybody else. AS
for assailnG the Administration, that is a diff
ferent matter. Republican members Of Con-
gress and managing politicians may as well
under stand that they cannot get rid OF response
biity for this Administration. Whether they
like it or not, it was elected by their votes;
it shapes its action in accordance with the
formal pledges Of the party; and it stands,
and evidently means to stand, rs a Republic
can Administration to the end. To get lid of
it is not easy. People think that those who
elected an Administration are fairly response
bic for it, whether it pleases them or not.
Still there is a strong desire on the part of
some members Of Congress, to get rid Of
]
owning or grossly assailing it, Each member
can judge for himself how far he can gain by
tins course. Bat it may fairly be doubted
whether much viii be gained on the whole.
Members of Congress are likely to deceive them
selves. They see the blunders OF the Admins
mtion, and none have criticized them more
sharply than ourselves. But the people have a
strong disposition to see the Administration
fairly tested. They, too, see It's bunders but
they also recognize its sincere and worthy
purpose. They say, not unreasonaby, that
the Administration may have failed in much,
and vet may deserve their support. When
members OF Congress assail it, the people ale
particularly anxious to know whether failure
IN getting desired appointments is the cause
of Congressional unhappiness.
Apart from its relation to individuals and
the party the Administration has done much
that the people approve. II has cut OFF some
| frauds. 1t has made the public service more
honest and honorable. We have said that its
loud-voiccd pretensiOns were very diSad-
vantagcous to it, and if it had not
promised or proposed so much, the
! Administration would probably be con-
! sidcrcd one of much merit. Ia the Treasury
! Department, in particular, where a weakness
of opinion or of execution was most sure to
be seen, the conduct of the Administration
! has been, not always what we desired, but
ALWAYS such that the friends of public faith
and n sound currency could look upon it with
satisfaction. If Mr.. Sherman has not always
done the best thing, he has never done
wrong thing.
| In this and in all other respects, the people
/ nistv tyin
If does not seem to them fair to assail it be-
cause its work is incomplete. Criticism is
welcomed. but not warfare. Men who point
out the faults of the Administration may be
sustained, but not men who make those faults
an excuse for trying to undermine and defeat
both the Administration and the Republican
marty which elected it. Members of Congress
ought 20 remember that they are not entirely
beyond the reach of suspicion. There is a
feeling that they have been in the habit of
asking too much of previous Administrations,
and relying too much upon patronage and Ex-
| ecutiye favor for their reflections 1t does
not seem altogether bad thing to
the people that there is less chance for
| members to get elected without merit, and
much of the carping and barking which is
heard at Washington is attributed, in some
cases Justly, to the bad temper of members
with regard to the offices.
| 1t will not pay for Republicans to make war
upon their Administration. 1t needs criticism
in some things and Republicans should not
be slow to speak as they think. But it is in
comparably preferable to any Administration
which the Democratic party would give us, If
| Il could control the Government
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urIRT,I ENS HENnRKCEC