New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-22
INDIVIDUALITY IN POLITICS.
ADDRESS by CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, JR,, BEFoRI
THE INDEPENDENT REPUBLICANS.

ADDRESS by CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, JR, BEFORE
THE INDEPENDENT REPUBLICANS.
The announcement that Charles Francis
Adams f., was to deliver lecture DeIore inc inue'
pepdent Republican Association commonly known as
the Young soratchers"l last evening" drew an sul-
ence that half filed steinway Hail. Many OF the listen
ers were young men. Not few Of them had evidently
come throueht curiosity. for, after listening few
rn,nu,es and failing TO become interested. they went
avav Tic theme Of the discourse was Individuality
In Politics" Mr.. Adams was introduced by James u
Carter and was received cordially. He confined MINI
self closely 10 his manuscript which he read in monot
onous tone. He said in part:
II seem, me that the first duty OF the thinking cll'
zen is to cultivate among his fellowcitizens, both by
example and preCept the habit of independent political
action, BY Independent political action mean inc
faculty of standing TO sTeak on ones own inteec
tua legs all alone need be, and not feeling the whoe
time that it is necessary to be one OF crowd only Dy
doing that-by establishing his own identity In his own
mind TO that degree that he is bold enough to think Tor
himself on all political quesonscan any citizen OF
republic do bis full duty to his country. Especially IL
this true believe, of America Here more than almost
anywhere else the tendency is to merge the individual
I'm the mass. Tho American has q natural aptitude
for machinery and organization. He believes In
system and IN order and in combination. In doing so,
also he IA entirely right-that he has believed in aud
practsed these things is the secret Of his success In the
past aud IS its best guarantee for tho future Even
system order and combination may, however, be car
rIed TO excess; and there is such thing, IN politics
especially as too much Of the machine-and th's TOO
say while fully acknowledging that the machine in ITSELF
In politics as well elsewhere is most indispensable
md beneAcent institution. It does however, admit or
abuse and II every becomes part OF 1t We may feel
very sure that II will be abused Its abuse, however Is
matter OF time and circumstance.
What has been and now the crying need OF tho mo-
ment9 Is It discipline l-or is 1t reflection Ist deci-
nat ruff odu m
self distinct recollection of only nnc Presidential cleo
tiOns Looking back over those nine electons-those
distinct crises Of country fate am lain TO cones
necessary trouble, suffered much unoaedor patriotic
anguish. and generally eyneed deplGr49Ie NANNY
can plainly that ono only, so far as grann re-
sts were concerned, was rehlI2 ImpoIIahti Au1 nsa
Of events might have been decided DINER
wise than they were. The election was that OF 1861
when we were In the midst OF the Rebellion For tue
rest they now to me by their results merely 70
progress of development which had its origin in social
or Commercial conditions far beyond the reach OF any
The simple fact is and state It with all possible con-
dcucc, perfectly sure that IN GAMER moments no parry
do simple fact that aside from dangers due to excess
OF party spirit and the fierce desires Of polilca mere
does not lower single cloud the near future OF
country II senSeless disputes about Tue possession
Of and the conr" Of inc 1o @r bao So 70
say that it ia ~ the long run utterly imma,eria d
whether Republican OF o nT sSuF s yeaTs 'a dT
Il
which party IN Conrress in the minority aud which In
OppOsitUn IL We only have peace aud civil Ord"rj II
we only escape disputed SUGGESTIONS and transfers o.
mower ana strong theories. nnd scfnauguratcd
Presidents II only have fnith even as a grain of
mustprd s,ed In discussion and euuClilOn anu the ap
| peal again and ngan 10 more enlightened meter
educated public OpiniGnaOOYc all, II VIC can only ele
yntc ourselves into little reliance on Inc great TrmcdA
Influence Of time In these days Of tue free rOstrnm ami
chpap printing prCsB-f full play Is but given to these
inAucncee-aud they cannot be supprrasCd-whO cnn nc
foolish enough tLalt that temporary possession or
the offices yearO two, or even Pfesdfnlhl tefn
! Is going greatly to Hllt CT the general result
And thus we are brought directly back 10 indlvld
uIty in politics; individuality IN politics under the
present circumstances II this country means simply
disbelief IA tue necessity or any strict adherence 10
party Occa iOnPd by the abiding faith thar II conflict
or parties can only be uyetcd, every question tE can
now arise will certainly be settled properly soon or late
and that the country take care o. ITSELF We say 10
the parties and their leaders. plague ON both your
houses :" YOU do but record results in huukuR leg
is1tIon years after have arrived nc them, ana your
disputes and WrRnglinRs continually endan-cting
the prnce We do not which IL IN Uice and Which
In oppOsitiOn only ask that shall be In ofhce
and one ia opposItOn who manage the schools, tho
pvcso the shops tho railroads and the exchanges VII
take care of the rest. We, not you, are moving his
country: you the pOliutRl machine Tue hrst OBJ
feet the thinking citizen therefore now should bc not
to keep rarity the other In power but win eyes
steady fixed on the grand suit to insist on order ana
submission law. TINT secured, all else must follow