New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-11
BEGTNNING REf0RM At BONE.

II il one of the most encouraging signs OF
the good effect Of the late Democratic defeat,
mon ID mocrats themselves, that wherever
they have vitality enough left to discuss any
thing thew are directing their attention 10 the
causes existing IN their own ranks that led to
the disaster. In New-York and Brooklyn
espec,aly the defeat has had a wonderful
cve-opening effect. In these two cities II
begins TO dawn upon the Democratic con-
scIousness that the party has been mlNerapiy
managed and unwiseIy led that It's nomIna-
tiouS have not been such "a to commend
thcms Ives to honest and decent cijizens;
that the reign of Bosses has become unendur-
able; and that there Is great need oil reform
at home and within the party. This Is
precisely what THE TRIBUNE has been trying
TO convince them Of for a long time that
The greatest need of reform Is right here, III
The Democratic strongholds of Newly Ork and
Brooklyn; and that in nothing could the
Democrats who are processing so great soliG-
rude for the purity of the public service,
show their sincerity so well as III deyislng
and carrying ont some plan for The pnrliica-
ton of the particular politics III which they
are immedIat .lv engaged. Their late reverses
have opened their eyes to the fact that upon
tEe whole it will be better hereafter TO defer
70 the manifest popular desire for decent
and reputable nominations and the increasing
aversion to Boss rule. Still the lesson they
have learned is easily forgotten, and it must
be borne in mind that it is great deal easier
to talk in large and earnest way about
what sort of men ought to be nominated Wheh
there's no election pending, than to nominate
them when the time comes.
A Young Mems Democratic Club in Brook
lyn has lately given signs of the christening
influence of adversely in the publication OF an
address which undertakes to reclte the causes
of defeat and set forth measures to prevent
similar disasters hereafter. These Young Men
attribute the result chiefly to the Democratic
losses III New-York and Brooklyn, and those
losses to the bad management OF the
Bosses and the unworthy character OF many
of the candidates for local offices. This is ii
somewhat narrow view OF it, but SO far as 1t
goes it is undoubtedly correct. Aud now they
say: "Relorm, like charity, begins at home.
"Our first movement, therefore, to help re-
"trace our country's further step III sec
tional hatred, economic ignorance and
"corTuptng Capitalization, is to reform our
own local administration" There's little
foo here about retIacing" " further step;
and one cannot help wondering if economic
ignorance is to be enlightened by means
of this kind of syntax; but the main point is
that the first thing to be done is TO reform
their own local administration, and that all
good citizens will commend. The address
expresses the opinion that the party has
always desired to nominate upright, honor
able and able men for Office, but that its
voice has been stuffed. THAT voice." they
say. "should now be heard and Obeyed." Ii
the voice of the party has heretofore been
srifled in its own councils we do not quite see
how the Young Men are going to make it
heard and obeyed hereafter; but II they mean
seriously to undertake it, and the voice " is
what they think it is, they have our best
wishes.
There is of course actually no reason for
partisan nominations for municipal offices ex-
cent az they bind together and strengthen
q political organization which has or pretends
TO have some belief, doctrine or creed upon
National issues. The purpose OF these Young
Men, we take it, is to improve the character
of the nominations for local offices. Not so
much because the municipal interests in
yolyed are entitled to consideration, and cltl-
Gems have a right to be honestly md faith