New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-14
THE POLITICAL .SITUATION.

| No truthful person with ordinary powers OF
observation will deny that the Republican
party in many of the States-perhaps through
out the entire country-is rent with internal
dssensions, disorganized and divided to an ex-
| tent never before known IN its history. The
most ardent Republican partisan will not pre-
tend that the present outlook, a short month
only before the State and Congressional cleo
lions. is hopeful or encouraging. 1t would be
neither useful nor profitable to attempt to
disguise the truth. The part of wisdom
| rather is to look the facts calmly in the face,
| trace the widespread discomfort to its sources,
| rive heed to the lessons to be drawn from the
present aspect Of affairs, and he ready for the
duties and responsibilities which new political
| conditions may entail. The causes of the exist
ing state of things are not far to seek. Two
years ago the party, United, earnest and en-
tbusiastic, full of courage and hope, rejoicing
| at the failure of the Bosses" to get posses
sion of the National Convention, and deter
mined to ratify the Conventions choice,
emerged in triumph from hard-fought
struggle. The peoples President was lnau-
| gurated, q Republican Congress was ready to
| carry out his measures and support bis policy,
| and the party behind them was strong, united,
| hopeful. The contrast between that time and
| the present is too obvious to need pointing out
| Nor is there any mystery as to the causes OF
| the change. The crime which deprived the
country Of the President of its choice set on its
feet once more the baleful conspiracy which
| had been put down at Chicago and reused
again into mischievous activity the forces
| which had for the moment been checked
| Bossisynn resumed its sway. To-day we
| lnay behold its perfect work. The Bosses
are at the head, and in the ranks are disaflec-
| ton, indifference, apathy, sullenness and
| open revolt.
| But the Republican party lives and must live.
| Not because of what 1t has already done OF
the gorles of its past, though by these it is
| fairly entitled TO the gratitude, the admiration
| and the confidence of the country. 1t must live
| and direct the Government, because, i'll the
| fist place. it contains the brains and the con-
science of the country; because it has been
educated by experience to proper sense OF the
responsibilities of power; because 1T is saga
| cious, tractable, thoughtful, and has the rare
faculty of being able to submit itself to dlscl-
| pline and listen apprecatively to popular re-
| proof. And it must live and rule, above all,
| because the alternative is the rule of party
| which has never yet touched the reins of
government without producing always disturb
ance and often disaster. 1t is one Of the note
worthy feaures of the present Republican dis
content and apathy that however dissatisfied
any Republican may be, however Disguised
| with nominations or indignant at the methods
| by which they were brought about, he does not
think Of going over to the Democracy. Re-
| publican Gisafiecton brings to the Democrats
no recruits. There is plenty of indignation
and disgust and discomfort, but there are no
| desertions. Those Republicans who vote for
| Den ocratic candidates-as no doubt many will
| will do it not because they have become
! Democrats or have ceased to be Republicans
but because they conceive that to be the best
way to administer positive and unmistakaLle
rcbuke to the persons who by questionable
methods have secured possession OF the Re-
| publican party machinery. Their action is
intended as a notice to the machine men that
| the party will not submit to their dictatiOn or
obey their rule that the party distinctly pre-
! fers defeat to success with unworthy leaders or
| by questionable means.
| The hopeful feature OF the situation is that,
whatever may happen in November, the party
will he as strong thereafter, If not stronger,
| than ever, and it will certainly be better for the
lesson it seems likely to learn. The
Bosses y themselves will no doubt learn some
| thing from their own discontinue and be wise
enough hereafter not TO attempt foolhardy
| experiments upon the intelligence and con-
science of the party With their abdication
| the party becomes at once harmonious enthu-
| siastic, victorious. Only one chance exists for