New-York tribune., 1879-06-05
INDEPENDENT STATESMEN.

who as q former Republican, elected to
the Senate partly by Democratic votes
but having lust enough connection with
the Republicans, from not having openly
avowed his Democracy, to be exceedingly use
full to the Democrats, has become III reality
member of the party with which he
has been identified in everything but
the name ever since he entered the
Senate. He will doubtless have the honesty
as well as good sense to discontinue hence
forth masqueradng as either Republican or
Independent. In saying this we mean II"
disrespect to Senator Davis The truth IS,
that in the present constitution OF parties
and the sharp presentment OF clean
cut and well-defned issues there can
be no neutrality. 1t is no more possible
now than it was during the war, when some
of the border States undertook 1t
and the Federal Government would
have none of it, but bade them choose
which side to serve. That there have been
times when conscientious men have found 1t
necessary to raise the standard OF revolt
against the party with Which they have been
acting, and to undertake to effect reforms
bv asserting their independence of party
ties, and that such movements are often in
the highest degree useful, will not be denied.
The position of THE TRIBUNE i'll that regard
is perfectly well known.
When considerable numbers of men withdraw
from the political party with which they have
been associated, they may be said to be acting
independently as TO the special questions III dis
pute, and for lack of better name it is proper
enough 10 call them Independents" But so
far "a the term is used to distinguish them
from partisans of either side, IL retains Its
significance and appropriateness but very
briefly. For whether they cross over to the
side they have opposed, or become associated
i'm a third party, their independence runs INTO
partisanship very shortly and almost lnevita-
bIy II is n common mistake that pollt-
ical independence consists in voting in cold
bOoded way with q half protest, on one
side. and deciding all questions Of practical
politics that. may come up in favor OF the
other. Those persons are credited with inde-
pendence and freedom from partisaDShip, who
hang upon the fringe OF party and often
enough vote with it to be called by IT'S name
and reckOned of its membership, but VINO
have nothing but criticism and blame for
the party's acts, while they lose no OppOr-
tunity to point out for praise whatever Is
done by the opposition that IS not inexcusably
and Enthusiastically bad. This is said to be
non -partisanship. 1t is rather pleasing role
to fill. 1t gives the person playing it prom
inence he might not otherwise obtain for the
party which he mildly opposes with his vote,
and helps with his disinterested and non-par
tisan Judgment, finds it greatly to its advan-
tage to hold him UP as fine example
of weli-deyeloped conscience in poll
tics. There's a great temptation IN this
to small men, in politics and III news
papers. who like to be conspicuous and
TO be talked about. For a man whose judg-
ments coincide with those of his party is no
more than an ordinary partisan If he crticises
and finds fault, and does it habitually, the
other side is bound to take him up and make
the most OF him.
1t is to be remarked however that this con-
fusion of terms and meanings does not affect
the Democratic party. Independence and non
partisanship are terms that with them have
positive meaning and significance, though not
such as the lexcons convey. With them an
independent voter Is never Demo-
crat, but always Republican. who for
some reason is voting the Democratic
ticket; non-partisan is a Republican
who believes all Democratic charges against
Republican officials, and decides all disputed
questions in favor of the Democrats. Their
notion of non partisanshp was fully contained
in the stereotyped cry in 1875: Lay aside
"Dartisanship and vote for TIlden!' No one
ever heard of Democratic independent or
non-yirtisan. That is a party that tolerates
no nonsense about independent jud dsment nor
any fooling with the decrees. And they man
aye the Independent thinkers and nOn-parti-
suns of the other side with great sbrewd-
ness They never pull them entirely in,
for that would end their usefulness. The
newspaper statesman whom they
can quote as Republican authority for the
assertion that rildGn was Il -frauded Of the
election j. vastly more useful to them than any
Democrat could be. And both newspaper
and statesman find easy notoriety for opinions
which. as coming from Republican sources,
are eagerly snapped up by the opposition,
when, il credited 10 Democrats. they would
fall unnoticed. \ great deal is said about the
evil influence of plrtlsanslip upon public and
private morals, but it is by no means certain
that the effect OF the intellectual wrenching
to which men submit themselves TO gain
applause for independence is not worse. We
sometimes speak of mans standing up SO
straight, in his desire 10 be upright rs to lean
backward This is no novelty, but rather the
rule. with those who undertake the role of in =
dependent statesman The man who has once
tasted the applause of political opponents
for decision in their favor is never after
wards safe from the temptation " repeat the