New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-16
4 DANGEROUS FALLACY.

It Is not uncommon to hear. generally from
the mouths of Republicans, the expression OF
indifference conveyed in the remark. " Well,
I've shall have good President In
I" either cas-" This falacy, Is mis-
conception OF the issue fraught with danger
to the party. Eminent responsibility does not
count for much IN high political stations. 1t
is not tho man who brings honor to the office
of President of these United States and 1t IS
not the officer, but the party, which rules. 1t
has always been the case. from the beginning
of our Government, that party and not personal
principles have guided all successful Admins
tratIons. From the very nature of our Gov
ernment. the personal predictions of every
Executive must give way 10 the guiding prln-
ciples of the party which elects him. No
President in the past has successfully antag-
onized bis party. On the other hand, the
Executive has in more than one Instance
bowed to the dictates of his party. even
against his own convictions.
There is not the slightest known reason why
General Hancock, if elected, may be expected
to revolt against the dictates OF the Demo-
cratic party. Though he fought its organized
armies for four years, 1t does not follow that
ne is going to fight its political policy the
moment it gets into power and demonstrates
its strength. He has given in his adherence
TO its princlples-what few there are left. He
has taken pains to make public his cOnsO-
nance with Democratic views with such per-
slstence as to justify the belief that he sought
the Office and it was only because he sub
scribed abjectly and fully to them that he OBJ
tanned his nomination. he is IN the hands OF
his party absolutely, and if elected will per-
form his duty according as they see it.
We can see nothing in the record or the
professions of that party to lead to desire to
see it represented in the White House, even
by so respectable fgurchead as General
Hancock. 1t has repeatedly pronounced the
war which he was helping to conduct fail
ure and within a year after the victory In
which he did his most distinguished service
and won his brightest laurels, its National
Convention so asserted in the most positive
terms. 1t has on more than one occasion as
serted the folly OF the financial policy, which
is even now such a success as to arouse the
amoze,nept and command the confidence of
the oldest and richest nations Of tho world
1t has repudiatcd in Congress as impossible
and fallacious the Resumption scheme, whose
full success has within the year brought pros
perity to our doors and in many of those
States of the South under the most absolute
control of the party it has either repudated
or proposed to repudate State debts and
| obligations. 1t proposes to change the tariff
| policy by which our manufactures were main
tanned during Il long war, and under which
they prospcred during longer period of de-
preston consequent upon that war. General
Hancock may personally differ with his party
on these vital issues but of what consequence
is it if his party is dominant in House and
Senate, even if he be in the chair of the
Executive The tail does not wag the dog ;
aud General Hancock, in for one term and
itching for another, would 10 pOwerlass TO oD-