New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-09-06
THE CONTR3ST.

cans il has not been denied that the opposi-
tion 10 Mr. Cornell has been bitter, personal,
and persistent He was vigorously OPP
posed before the Convention and up TO
his nomination by many who preferred
other candidates, and by some who added
personal dislike to the grounds of their hos
fifty. And. as was frankly pointed out by
The TRIBUNE during the proceedings III the
heat of the canvass there were hasty and BIT
ter words spoken by Some of his opponents
which might be construed - indications that
tins feeling was so deep-seated that IT
would not be eradicated by his nom
nation. But there was very little oil
this, after all, and we do not near
of single instance of Republicans
threatening to holt the ticket or refusing 10
support il heartily and earnestly. Not that
Mr.. Corneli's opponents were so insmcere ms
to throw up their hats and JON IN the
applause that followed his success, or that
:he mere fact of his success mas changed
their feeling toward him. Tho same
freedom with which the Republican press dis
cussed the candidates before the nomination
WAS made has been exercised in cr1tlcialng the
ticket since. But with this free cntlclsm-in
some of which we must say there seems TO Dc
q little more disposition to scrntlnlZe ana con-
denim the motives of others than Is necessary
or i'm GOOD taste-there is also the frank
avowal that the ticket WILL rs it ought, COM
mapd the support of every Republican in the
State. This not because party discipline ce-
onires II. for the party VIGOROUSLY has none
If anything would make the average ke-
pubican bolt. il would be the argument adj
dressed to him that party discipline and not
principle should dictate his action. 1t Is
rather because Of the universal feeling that
this is prominently a time when the pup
lie welfare calls for the laying aside OF all
| personal considerations, and for hearty ana
united effort not TO promote individual am
btion but to ward OIL an impending public
peril. To this end all Republicans are ready
t. sacrifice personal feeling, and subordinate
their individual preferences and views.
On the other hand the Democratic party is
threatened with holland from present ap-
pearances the rupture cannot be avoided
merely on grounds of friendship for or hos
tihty to certain candidates, growing out of
0nar1els for Office and public plumber When,
| next week. Lucius Robinson or some
other man is nominated for Governor al
Syracuse, who shall say TO the opponents OF the
successful candidate that the public interests
demand the laying aside Of personal feeling
and the union Of all Democrats in behalf of
| the ticket for the sake of the principles in
VOWED VIGOROUSLY the whole contest IS
personal, and nothing else. 1t contains
actually nothing of political principle,
and scarcely anything of party policy
IN the higher sense of the term. quarrel
over the spoils Of Office is the cause and
/ ~ Inai coll
II touches the larger field o. National politics.
but this only in a personal sense, so far as
! the result may affect III one way or another
| the fortunes of Mr.. Tilden rs Il Presidential
candidate When those gentlemen have
| fought ont their contest over candidates
they have finished their work. There Is
nothing beyond upon which can rest an appeal
for union and harmony, except the official
suoils which caused the wrangle, and that
could hardly be q very inspiring call under
the circumstances. II Is no misrepresentation
! of the Democratic party of New-fOrk to say
| that its ruling motive and controlling pur-
pose are the love of Office and the
ACQUISITION of power for personal and
selfish ends. There is no question of
principle dividing these cOntending factions
between Tammany and Anti-Tammany, Iilden
| and Kelly, Robinson and anti-RODinSon, there is
| no difference, except as to who shall have the
offices. When that il settled among them
selves. or rather when they shall have settled
upOn the candidates to be defeated in the
larger contention, there will be nothing left for
! Them The larger issue has been exhausted. They
cannot be exhorted to forget it or sink it i'll be-
half of something which they esteem of in-
| fnitely less importance. or what use would
| Democratic victory over Republicans be to
| q Tammany man II il gave Antl-Tammany
| fine spoils. or gice rersd? One of these factions
must win, and whichever it Is, the motive of
,be other TO work for the ticket will be re-
moved.
The contrast between the two parties in this
regard is marked and significant. II goes to
fundamentals; it defines the character, points
out the objects and reveals the yitalizing
forces by which each lives and makes Its
WAY. II is not claimed that the Rcpub-
Hcau organization is free entirely of self
ish and ambitious men, or that its con-
duet has been invariably governed by the
highest principle, aud never by low and nm
worthy motives. Of no party that ever ex-
listed could this be truly said. WHAT we de-
sire TO point out is the fact that it does
possess such devotion TO principle and
such an intelligent appreciation of the
course of political events and the logi-
cal operation of political causes, and is
withal so loyal to the public good as distin-
guished from individual ambitions, that it can
be trusted always in crisis like the present
to sink personal feeling, put by its resent
ments and Its rivalries, its prejudces and its
preferences. and unite cordially aud heartily
| in the common cause. The people know that
in the long run they can trust the