New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-04
nothing to what we shall have to endure in
the four troubled years which are to come.
THE DUTY or THE EGLSLArnRE

The Legislature of this State meets to-day.
In the shadow of a great National affection.
II they arc not absolutely unteachable, the
solemnity of the passing hour should have its
elect upon them. They have too long evaded,
In spirit of reckless faction, the plain duty
devOlving upon them. If there is any spark of
public virtue left in the men who have for two
months been wasting their votes in Albany, it
would seem that an occasion like the present
should call it forth. They cannot better honor
the day than by sacrificing some petty spite or
selt-mterest to the public good. They cannot
show any deeper respect to the stricken ruler,
sMtten by the devilish hand of faction, than
by discharging their constitutional task, and
freeing this State from tho contemplation of q
demoralizing wrangle which has lasted far too
long.
certain number of tho members of the
Legislature have thus far shown themselves to
be insensibe to the strongest currents of pub
lie opinion in the State. They have voted in
defiance and contempt of their constituents 1t
remains to be seen whether they can hold
themselves aoOf with equal success from that
immense emotion of mingled sorrow and dread
which has possessed this State for two DAYS.
We speak in the interest of no candidate. We
shall name no names of those prominently be-
fore the joint convention, whose election would
be received with satisfaction by the people. But
II, for any reason, real or fancied, they cam
not vote for any OF these, the State has
other names of equal value and honor There
are Evarts and Morgan and White and Davis
and score of Others equally worthy, whose
election would brighten no interest and do
nothing but credit to the State. There is, in
snort only one man of prominence In the
former councils of the party whom the Lcgis-
lators are not free, in the interest of the Re-
publican party and the country, to choose
and that is our late Senator, to whose unjusti-
ilable act we owe the present struggle at Al
bany. There have been words said during the
last Iorty-eight hours among the baser sort of
his adherents in this city which we forbear to
repeat or comment upon. We take it for
granted that he IL now, as he was last week,
the one impossible candidate in all circum-
stances. Nothing has changed in his favor.
The pistol of Guiteau has not slain all honor
and self-respect in Albany.
What is there, then, to wait fOr7 There has
been already too much waiting, too much
managing, too much scandal, too much dodg-
ing and skulking Every Republican should
he III his place to-day voting. The gloom of
the hour is but additional reason for ac-
ton. Abram Davenport gained Immortality i'm
the verse of Whittier by rising in his place in
the Colonial Legislature on the Dark Day and
saying, I" If it be indeed the Day of the Lord
| wish that He shall find me doing my duty.
Let candles be brought in" In this day of
real sorrow and well-founded fear, let us have
what consolation we may find in one act of
duty fearlessly performed by tho Legislature
of New York.