New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-03
MISTAKEN INTRRFERENCE.

MISTAKEN INTERFERENCE
Tho so-called harmony of the Democratic
| party of New-York, the dissatisfaction ex-
! pressed by some Republicans at the conduct
of their State Convention, and the revolt
against Cameron and bOssism in Pennsylvania,
| all are traceable to one cause. The Federal
| Administration has interfered in the politics
| of these States, and has interfered not wisely,
using its patronage to overcome the will OF the
voters. In consequence, many Republicans are
dissatisfied and Democrats see chance OF sue
cess and have united. The spectacle presented
| in some Southern States is not more satisfac-
| tory, There the influence of the Federal Ad-
| ministration is being used particularly through
| the notorious GOrham as a mOuthpiece, to put
down those Republicans who think that the
| party should MAINTAIN separate Republican
| organization and manifest unceasing fidelity to
| its principles. Between the condition Of the
| party in those Eastern and Southern States and
its condition in Ohio, Indiana and other Western
| States where the Administration has either
| had or used no influence, the contrast
is very great. Wherever the Administration
has let the party alone, it Is contendlnS
for Republican principles with zeal, unity,
sturdy fidelity, and well-grounded hope of sue
cess. The splendid victories of Vermont and
Maine are likely to be matched in States
| where the Republican voters have been left
| free to manage their affairs for themselves.
| But there is disbursement wherever the
| course of the party has been dictated by Fed
eral patronage or Administration influence.
Yet it would have seemed clear, but for these
| events. that the Administration had very
strong interest in promoting the harmony and
success of the party. 1t is Republican Ad-
mnistration, and has not the ghost OF chance
| of securing the favor of any other party. 1t
was received at the outset with strong ex-
| pressons of kindness and hopeiulness by Re-
publcans Of every shade of opinion. What
ever it has done well, the Republican party
throughout the country has made haste to
commend There has been neither haste nor
harshness in criticising its errors indeed it is
possible that the President may have been mis-
guided by the patient and kindly spirit almost
invariably adopted in speaking of him per-
sonally, at least so far as to infer that there
was behind it no earnestness OF postiveness
of censure for his acts. There has been no de-
sire to make his path more difficult, partly
because there has been lingering hope that
he would not altogether abuse his power III
the interests of factious minority, and partly
because Of q firm belief that the purpose of
the party could not be changed or misunder-
stood, but would find full expression in the
next selection of Presidential candidate.
" 1t is only about two years to wait" men say,
"and then we will try once more to have a
Republican President who will respect the
wishes and convictions of the Republican
party" Because there have been patience
moderation, and kindness of speech, the Presi-
| dent seems to have concluded that the Repub-
| lican party could be degraded into a mere
| machine, moved hither and thither by patron
age and used to do the will of a political boss
or two.
Ii is hardly necessary to say that this i'm
preston, if really entertained, is a very great
| mistake. The tide of public opinion clearly is
not moving in that direction. On the contrary,
each and every effort to sway the party or to
defeat its will by the force of patronage has
| engendered resentment, and more earnest and
| determined resistance. Mr. Cameron is not as
strong in Pennsylvania tot day as he was before
| this Administration began to make changes in
the Federal Offices in that State. Mr.. Malone has
less influence in Virginia than he had before Fed
| eral appointments were used to suppress those
| Republicans who have dissented from him. In
New York, the Presidents own State, where
the direct influence of his patronage might be
expected to be great if anywhere in the
| Union, il is the naked fact that he and his
| associates have less influence TO-DAY than they
had before he entered the White House. A
part of the Presidents most earnest and eff
Gent supporters in former contests, having
acted with Governor Cornell in the recent con-
vention, will never again look to this Admin
| istratiOn for direction. The feeling of the Re-
publican voters with respect to the nomina-
| ton of Mr.. FOlger, though he is not person
ally disliked, is stronger than the selection of
| a most unsuitable candidate could have aroused
| two years ago.
| The tide is setting with overwhelming force
against the attempt TO maintain or reinstate
political bosses by means of Federal patronage.
1t is 80 strong, moreover, that Republican
voters do not even feel it necessary to defeat
| their party, as in other years some have held
| it q duty to do, In order to check pernicious
| influence. They know that the viii Of the ma