National Republican., 1881-08-05
Work for the Future.


will Mr.. Conkling do" Without any
knowledge whatever upon the subject,
we venture the suggestion that, as he has
always been governed by broad and
hearty patriotism in the past, the future
will see no change. As to his political
opinions, no one has any cause to suppose
that they have undergone any revolu-
ton. His Republicanism is Of the Stall
wart kind, and any great public purposes
of the Republican party of the Nation
will undoubtedly have that earnest
sympathy and support from him
which the people have long been
accustomed to expect, and which ex-
pectation has never been disappointed.
1t was Mr. Conkling's privilege to retire
from the Senate, as it was also his right
to permit his friends TO participate in the
election which followed. There can be
no humiliation in the defeat of such a
man in canvass conducted rs was that
which recently closed at Albany. The
final nomination Of Judge Lapham in q
full party caucus and his election by a
party vote concluded miserable chap
ter of party history.
We think if Mr. Conkling should speak
he would say that the duty of Republi-
cans now is to unite against the common
enemy. with honest candidates, and to
command success by convincing the peo-
pie that, although political corruption
may sometimes affect, il cannot control,
party action. We should hope also to
hear him warn the people against the
usurpaton of their power by the great
railroad corporations. The Republican
party of New York will either become
the mere convenience of the New York
Central Railroad Company or it will
place its heel upon the men who, under
the guise of Republicanism, seek to de-
bauch its organization. We have no
knowledge, we repeat as TO Mr.. Conk-
ling's opinions or purposes. We do not
believe the subject of the control of rail
roads by Government has yet been sufIi-
ciently considered by the people, or even
the most thoughtful of them, to be
made the basis of political action
but we do believe the subject of THE
CONTROL OF GovERNNIENT BY RAILROADS
is one with which the people are ready
to deal. The insolent determination
of certain great railroad companies to
control both political party organizations
within the States traverscd by them has
become too apparent of late years to es.
cape the dullest comprehension. Well
will it be for that party which shall first
make successful resistance to this politi.
cal piracy. How grand spectacle il
would be for the half million ol
Republican voters in New York
State to purge their party of the
banefui influence of the small nest
of railroad lobbyists who seek to
control it, or at least to teach them that
no Republican convention can be used as
an instrument for delivering the State
over to the control of a business corpora
ton like the New York Central Railroad
Company. This would be severe on Ses-
sions, Barber & Co., but it would have an
exceedingly healthy influence on the Re-
publican party and on the cause of politi-
cal decency and good government
lnTOupuOul lHt Oulltu CltittS.
In what nobler work could any man be
engaged than in arousing the people to
the danger they are in of losing theil
right to govern? They do not govern il
they only choose between two sets Of
corporation tools, set up by two political
organizations, differing only in appear
ances, while really they are two friendly
wings of great railroad corporation or
ganization. We do not admit that the
Republican party of New York is yet in
this servile position but the signs of the
times indicate that il will soon be called
upon to resist or be subjected to railroad
corporation control.
If such a struggle should be precipitated
"a struggle against political dictation in
the interest of corporate rapacity-there
could be no doubt rs to what Mr. Conk-
ling's position would be, nor would the
result be uncertain. The people of this
country do not yet believe in. the divine
right Of railroad kings.