New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-23
LEADERS TAINTED.

The Republican party has too many bosses.
What it most needs is a leader. The difference
between the two articles is unreasonable.
The leader is man who makes himself master
of new questions as they arise, who always asks
first. What ought to be done ?" and after
ward 4" What can be done 7"-whO thinks of the
party always rs an agent through which the
people seek to reach better government. and
knows that it can be made strong permanently
only by getting for them better government,
who labOrs with patience and courage to prepare
public opinion for right and wise action on
each new question that arises affecting the gem
eral welfare, and who has the tact and charac-
ter and mental grasp to command the cOnli-
dence and sway the convictions OF men. Lin
coin WAS such man, and Garfield. But the
boss never asks what is right, for he does not
care. He never shapes public opinion, for his
business is to get along without it, He looks
upon party as a means o. getting Office and
other fat things, and seeks its success by
deals and patronage, by tricks OF manage
ment aud thOrOughnesS in the organization OF
y machine. The one means government for
the people and by the people. The other means
government for boss and by boss.
ident when Garfield died it lost a wise and
competent leader. 1t waits for a man to take
his place. Had it such leader, he would have
been laborng with courage and zeal to shape
public opinion on certain questions with which
the party must soon grappe, whether 1t Will
or no, and by which it must be either defeated
or strengthened for new lease of power
Some men lack opportunity. They see clearly,
but have not the public ear, or the public con e
fidence, or the position to make their influence
felt Some men lack health, some lack fear
less courage, many more lack the ability to
master new questions, and to make others
understand them. For want of real lead
eIship the Republican party has to meet grave
and difficult questions without adequate prep
aratiOu.
The tariff question, as it is now pre- sented
is new to this generation of voters and public
men. For it is not n question now whether
protection of American industry in some form
or by some process shall be the aim no party
can muster courage to make All open and direct
effort for free trade. But it is evident that
some revision and modification of the tariff is
desirable. Its opponents, working upon that
recognized fact, are trying to make such changes
as shall virtually destroy the system. Repub-
lican supporters of the tariff, seeing that great
reduction of the revenue is proper are con-
fused i'll regard to the mode. 1t may be that
the Tariff Commission will lead public opinion
on this question, but the party would have been
better prepared for the discussion if it had been
blessed with wise leadership.
Improvement OF rivers and harbors that are
really important to the commerce of the Nation
will amply repay all that the people are willing
to spend therein But it is sheer robbery TO
divert large part of this money, so much
needed for grea5 National purposes, TO ras-
caly Jobs devised for the benefit of hnnorv
candidates for Congress. The Republican partv
ought to be so led that broad and National
plan of Improvements could be advocated with
out seeming defence OF indcfensbe Jobs.
Civil Service reform Las been discussed Inv
theorists and adopted as "A hobby by political
aspiraDts until the public is half inclined TO
be disguised with the whole subject. Yet
there is real need of great improvem ent and
will be as long as it is possible for a + ederal
Administration to control State Convention
by the aid of patronage. Wise leadership
wonld have prepared the Republican party to
support a practical and reasonable measure
for the improvement OF the service, without
leaving Democrats to take advantage of all its
faults.
The relations between corporations and the
public have hAen discussed by mere dema-