Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-15
TIE POLITICAL OUTLOOK IN THE EMPIRE
STATE

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK IN THE EMPIRE
Is not altogether cheerful one. 1t looks
altogether too much as If the Republican
quarrel would fairly match the Democratic
one in bitterness and more than overbalance
any help to the Republican cause arising from
the Tammany feud. This condition of az
fairs, among the New York Republicans, is
as wrong us it is needless. A month ago the
harmonious denomination and the reelection
his nomination is doubtful, and his election
II nominated perhaps equally so, while it is
pretty certain that no other Republican can
be elected governor OF New York this time.
There was every reason why he should be
renominatcd and reelected. Gov. Cornell is
not great man; hut he has made an excel
lent governor he has had no sympathy with
jobs and jobbcrs, and by his fearless exer-
else of the veto power he has saved the State
great many thousand dollars that would
otherwise have been proiligatey spent. He
has had a scrupulous regard to the rights of
nc people, as against monopolists. He has
refused to be diverted or bribcd
from the path of duty to the public. His
several messages to the Legislature have
been exceedingly sensible documents. His
general course has been marked by discretion
and wisdom, and has largely secured for him
the favor and confidence of the people of the
State of New York. There is no denying the SC
facts. The Republican masses Of the En-
pire State were expecting and intending to
accord him ia second nomination, and did not
doubt their power to re-elect him. Why.
then, Is there doubt OF the result Of the con-
vention, or of the election The New York
independent tells why, thus "a clique of
politicians, headed by Gould and Conkling,
both OF whom recognize the popularity of the
Governor and are determined TO destroy him,
has undertaken the job of his destruction.
This is the whole of it. Mr.. Conkling is
full of wrath because he has not been able
to use Governor Cornell for his own selfish
purposes and Jay Gould is in the same pre-
dicsment and for the same reason. Had the
governor worked for Mr.. Conkling's return
to the Senate, against the overwhelming
voice of the Republicans of this State had
he signed the Manhattan Tax Exemption
Bill, in which Conkling and Gould had a
large private interest had his course in the
past been such that these pure-mindcd pa
triots could trust him to grind their
axes in the future-yes, if these things had
been SO, then, in their judgment, he would
have been just the man to be nominated
What they want is governor whom they
can control, and Governor Cornell docs not
happen to be that"
This is the simple and apparently cor
rect explanation Of the case. OF course
combination like this is formidable one !;
for Mr.. Conkling is understood to be about Us
Influential as ever with the President, and re-
chine" in his State and Mr.. Gould can fur
nish the sinews of war almost to an unlmit-
ed amount. 1t will be one thing, however. to
defeat Governor Cornell in the convention
anu u'te ahothci " ccCt tuc lllhH WHO llluN Dt
put by Mr.. Conkling and Mr.. Gould at the
head of the ticket in hi, place. Undoubtedly
Dr. Howard Crosby speaks for good many
New York Republicans when he says, in a
note 10 the Tribune,
SIR: The attempt to set Governor Cornell aside
seems TO me not simply q personal assault, but a
blow aimed at the Republican party. Here is a
man no by his frmness and integrity has won.the
respect even OF his political enemies. TO deny him
the nomination, after so Exceptionally pure an Adj
mlhlstratlon Is TO declare the Republican party
disanectcd toward honesty. No matter how vlrtu-
Gus man you put ln.his stead (and the other names
best Administrations as inconsistent with the prin-
ciples OF the party, and tell his successor 10 be
more docile and yielding to Interested solicitations.
Are we ready TO label the Republican party with
the epithet OF "crooked?" Are we ready 10 have
| u name Identified with great moral reforms so de-
graded that the political rilf-ran Will toss up their
caps ana cry, "At last this mighty one has become
| as one OF us?" 1t strikes me that this must be the
result, II we now meet the direct issue brought
fore US by forsakng faithful AMI steadfast stand
ard'hearer. II Is not Governor Cornell, but 1t is
he Republican party, that Will be stabbed.
Neither Mr.. Conkling nor Mr.. Gould care
anything for the Republican party, except as
1t can be made to serve their personal inter.
es's They have stabbed it before now,
and would as soon stab it again as any ohcr
party. But it will be a deep disgrace to the
Republicans of New York if they permit tho
selfish interests and animosities of these men
to work the serious damage to the Rcpubli.
| can cause, which must follow the delivery OF
the great Empire State over to the Democra-
| cy in the coming election.