New-York tribune., 1881-07-19
EXIT. A BOSS; ENTER. THE PEOPLE.


that the Republican party will emerge from the
contest at Albany stronger than it has been for
many years. Ever since President Garfield
took the oath of Office it has seemed good to
many Democrats to count upon an explosion
of the Republican party. No doubt it would
have exploded, we may frankly say, had it
been held together by 10 other bond than that
hunger Tor Office which keeps the most antago-
nlstic supporting the same Democratic ticket.
knowing only their own party, and its notions
OF public duty, Democrats were excusable for
fancylng that final rupture must follow Rcpub-
lican strife.
The strength Of the Republican party is in the
convictions which unite its voters. Because of
those convictions, they tolerate great many
things which do not please thcm Disagree
ment upon minor questions of public policy
does not divide them. Bad leadership they
endure, even with too much patience rs they
| have done in this State, rather than risk the
| defeat of their principles. But where the
| voters of the party can make their will felt
| they strive earnestly to get more faithful and
conscientious leaders, and, in the long run, that
| effort does not fail. General Butler we dimly
remember, was once a Republican leader in
[ Massachusetts,. Other illustrations by the dozen
| will occur to every person familiar with public
publican voters have been getting rid of leaders
| who cared more for themselves than for public
| interests, more for patronage than for princi-
| pies. Every such change costs a struggle
! From every such change the party energies
! stronger than it was before, because it repre-
sentS more truly the will of those voters who
are moved by convictions of duty. Now and
| then, leader who has failed to keep pace with
| their sincerity and earnestness, takes the path
| trOdden by Andrew johnson. The Democrats
| shout for him, hail him as a deliverer, get
soundly beaten with his aid, and discover that
he failed to take the Republican voters with him
because he cared more for self than for princi-
pie. Even when there is serious difference of
| opinion on vital questions, as there was in
1872, the great body of Republicans prefer to
seek patriotic ends through the agency of their
| own party. They have not found that the
| Democratic party is capable of anything better
| than a scramble for spoils
Because the Republican party is what it is,
every change that makes it represent more
| closely the highest and best aspirations of ITS
! voters gives it greater strength. The Republi-
| cans of NewYOrk are accomplishing such a
change. Under Mr.. COnbling's leadership thew
have had too little voice in the direction of the
party. The machine" proper and necessary
instrument for carrying out the will of the
! voters, has been turned into cOntrivance for
imposing upon the party tie will of one man.
| Thus it came to pass that the wishes and con-
| victiOns of Republican voters were more and
more dlsrcgarded Instead of its best men the
| party was too often required to choose the men
| who were most faithful to Mr.. Conkling. In
stead of eliciting and expressing the will of its
| voters, the primary and the convention were
used to suppress the wishes of a majority of
| the party. Not because they liked such lea Ter
| ship, but because they cared greatly for Repub-
| llcan principles, the Republican voters of this
| State continued to support the party. But they
| did not cease to hope for better things Their
| patience and fidelity are to be rewarded The
| change made at Albany will once more place the
direction of the party in the hands of its voters
| Hereafter it will be in their power to see that
it faithfully represents their wishes and CON
| victions. "The machine" will become their
instrument and not their master.
| 1t is not possible that such Il revolution
should fail to make the party stronger. For if
makes the party once more an ombodiment of
the most earnest desires, the loftiest aspiratons
and the deepest convictions of the pcOple Them
selves. Once more it is their party, and they
VIII take care of it. Work will be done for il.
with fiery zeal, by thousands who have thought
ii duty, and yet not always pleasant duty.
to vote for its candidates. Men wiIl be nomi-
mated, not because they serve this or that per
son, but because The people trust and prefer
them, and such candidates will carry the ticket
instead of being carried 10y it. The trained and
Jealous workers. who have made the organza-
ton so powerful under Mr.. Conklings leader
snip, VIII quickly learn to look 10 tAc people
lor guidance, and Will find ill the majority of