New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-22

| be change for the better but for the worse.
For years the Democratic patty has been show
| ing what it wants to do. Its conduct has not
satisfied conservative, conscientious, and inde-
pendent voters that II desires or will try to do
better than the Republican party has done
already. On the other hand, Mr.. Schurz claims
with truth that the Republican party gives evil
dence, not Of deterioration, but of gradual
Improvement. 1t may be expected to do not
only as well rs 1t has DONE but better still.
The voters to whom this reasoning is addressed
hold the balance of power in every Northern
| State. They do not care much for mere par
tisanship. The division Of the spoils interests
them but little. They want decent govern
ment and national prosperity, and the RepuD-
| lcan party has been securing both in gradually
increasing measure. The Democratic party
Judged 10y Its conduct, cannot be expected TO
secure either.
Democracy, for instance, would crowd new
set of men into Office all over the country; men
| inexpe renced selected in hot haste, and with
| almost exclusive regard to their services as
partisans. The Republican party has been
| gradually improving the character or the
| public services of this, candid Democrats
themselves bear witness Most of the men IN
| Office have experience. and have been selected
with some regard for their qualifications. Inc
| sweeping and wholesale change which Demo
| cratic victory would involve would result IN
| great decentralization of the service, and I'D
| serious cost to the taxpayers. No matter now
GOOD the intentions of Democratic President,
ho would be compelled to distribute the
spoils to the victors," and would therefore
necessarily displace thousands of experienced
to make room for inexperienced men; thou
sands of tried public servants to make room Tor
untried partisan workers. Sober men know
that this would not be an imaginary but most
real and serious evil. What is to be gained by
it2
Democracy, again, is intensely hostile TO he
publican systems of finance, banking, ana
taxation. No one can say what changes might
result from the advent of that party to power.
1 he one thing certain is that the changes would
be very great. The party has persistentiy
voted against resumption and the methods nee
essary TO maintain it, against National banking
and honest treatment OF the National banks,
against duties on imports which have encour-
aged a remarkable development of important
industries. The party would unquestiOnably
| make radical and almost revolutionary changes
if it could and if it should elect President
| it would have the power. But the Republican
policy has given the country great prosperity
Everybody realizes the fact. Worlln9men
know 1t when they receive their wages. Busl-
ness men realize it when they make up their
accounts. No doubt the Republican policy
has been mar. ed by many errors. But its ten
dency has been steadily toward maintenance
| of tho nuhlic faith toward the use of q sound
currency, and toward reasonable encouragement
of all our industries Is there any reason
whatever to hope that change would be for
| the better? Radical change would certainly in
volve great loss and disturbance at first Is
the country prepared to court that loss, upon
the bare chance that better results than the Re
publicans would secure might he attained here
| after under different policy!