Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-24
THE FIELD OF POLITICS.
TnE INDKrEvpENT MEETING.


The Times says During the reading th'
approval OF the sentiments Of the address
especially in SIS references 10 Governor
Cleveland, was most earnest. Dir. Curti
said
The paramount issue Of the prcsidentia
election OF this year is moral rather thai
political. IL concerns the national honoI
snd character and hoDosty OF admlnistra
ton rather than general policies OF Govern
mcn,, upon which the platforms OF the
two parties do not essentially differ. Nc
position taken by ono platform Is seriously
travcrscd BY the other. Both evidently
contemplate q general agreement 81 pub.
lie opinion upOn subjects which have
been long IN controversy. and indi-
cate an Willingness 10 declare upon
other and cardinal questions views
which, in the present condition Of
opinion, might seriously disturb the par
ties within themselves. Parties, indeed,
now cohcrc mainly by habit and tradition,
and since the great ISSUES which have d.
vidcd them have been largely settled, the
most vital political activity has been the
cndoav0r OF good citizens in both parties 10
adjust them 60 living issues and 20 make
them effective agencies OF political progress
ana reform.
The indispensable necessity OF this course
has been long apparent, for in time o. pro-
found peace ut home and abroad the most
threatening national peril is an insidious po-
btlcal corruption. a mercenary and democrat
izing spirit and tendency. the result OF
which is well described by Senator Hoar,
Of Massachusetts, rs 1.-the shameless doc
trine that TIE true way by which power
should be gained in the republic is to
bribe the people with the offices created
for their service, and tao true end for
which il should be used when gained is
The promotion OF selfish ambition and the
qualification OF personal revenge"
But this doctrine naturally has produced
results which are s,ill more alarming. The
corrupt spirit and tendency have so rapidly
developed that they seek political power
not only to crafty ambition and revenge
but 20 promote private gain. They decids
appeals 10 the public conscience, defend
the Soilcd repu atoms OF public men by the
hold assertion that all pubic men are equally
guilty, declare that success in obtaining
eminent position disposes Of every imputa-
ton and suspicion Of wrongdoing, and
despisiug all practical measures to reform
the system OF official patronage which fos-
tiers dishonest politics. make great
party nomlnally responsible for prolonged
and monstrOuS fraud, and proclaim
that II is the duty Of every citizen
who for great and benc6cent ends has ha-
bitually supported q party to regard the
success Of the party at an election, without
regard TO the character Of those whom 1t
selects rs it, executive agents, to be a SUI
prcme national necessity. A tendency more
fatal to the public welfare cannot be con.
ceived. and when by public indifference or
misunderstanding this corrupt spirit is able
10 demand that the country snall approve 1t
by according TO II the highest honor in its
giit, every patriotic citizen must perceive
that no duty could be more pressing, vital,
and imperative than that Of battling and de-
fe5ting the demand.
II the Republican Convention had pre-
scented a candidate whose character and
career were the pledge OF aresolute contest
with the tendencies that we have described
if they had forctOld q stern dealing with
political corruption and vigorous cOrrec-
ton Of tie vast abuses which the long and
undisturbed tenure Of power by any party
is sure TO breed il the success OF the cam
didatc had promised inlleXible hon.
csty Of administration, publication OF
The Government, ana elevation OF The
party standard. every Republican voter
would baye gladly supported the
authorizations which the nomination for
bids. Ii offers a candidate who Is an unfit
leader, and who has been shown by his
own words ard his acknowledged acts,
which are Of official record, TO be unworthy
OF respect and confidence; who has traded
upon bis official trust for his pecuniary
gain; representative Of men, methods,
and conduct which the pubic conscience
condemns, and which Illustrate the very
evils which honest men would reform.
such q nomination does not promise in
the Executive chair inheXble official in
tecrily. sober and wise judgment, sole
regard for the public welfare, and an I'M
shrinking determination to promote Te-
form in the civil service, and ceaseless-
ly TO pursue and punish public rob
bers of every kind and degree. In
dependent voters have generally sup
ported Republican nominations as more
surely promising reform than those
OF the Democratic party. Independ-
ents, however, cannot support a nomina-
ton which is the elimination Of the ten
dency hat they would correct. Republl-
cans cannot nope that under such leader
ship As we have mentioned the abuses OF
the past can be corrected or the party re-
formed. We are very proud Of the great
record and services OF the Republican
party, but not with our consent or conri-
vance shall that record be diSgraced.
Every party must he constantly renewed !
by the intelligent independence OF is own |
members, or it win sink from an agercy 10 |
secure good government into remOrseleSs !
despotism. The Republican party spTang
ffOln moral sentiment, Ii was the party !
Of political morality and Of personal lib |
eTty. IL appealed directly to the con-
science OF the citizen. But, like all parties, |
It was political agency not 10 be wOr-
shipped, hut TO be carefully held TO the spirit
and pITpOSeS on which and for which
il was organized. 81 do not know" said
Nr. Seward thirty years ago, when he left
the Wing party 10 join the Republican, Il
do not know that il will always or even
long preserve its courage, It's moderation,
and its consistency. II il shall do so, it
will secure and save the country. II 1t,
too, shall become unfaithfu, as all prece-
ding parties have done, II will, without
sorrow or regret on my part, perish as they
are perishing, and will give rise to another,
truer, and better one"
This reasoning must not be forgotten. Ii
j. WITHIN profound conviction OF its wis
dom that Republicans faithful TO their
party, but holding, with the great Repub-
mean lulDtIS, ludi pOlltlclt IuOIdlitl anu
purity Of administration are more precious
than party. arc now constrained to oppose
the Repu )licau presidential nomination in
the interest OF what they bclieyeto be pure
Republcanism. OF the public welfare, and
Of the honor Of the American name.
The Republican nomination has for the
time superseded all other issues by raising
the question OF official honesty. This ques-
tion cannot be avoided except upon the
plea that the official character OF candidates
need not be considered, and that in order
Ia secure party President the members OF
party ought 10 vote for any candidate
who has been regularly nominated. This
Is a plea beyond which party madness cam
not 20. Acquieseence in it would require
the surrender OF the self-Tespect OF every
voter. There could be no candidate so I'M
iii that this plea would not demand his sup
port, and Republican saccess. justified by
an argument which deties the public con-
science, would be the overthrow OF the
vital principle OF the party and show that
the spirit and character which created its
great traditions are rapidly perishing.
Upon the practical questions OF tariff
and finance, and other questions upon
which both parties are divided within
themselves, we also are divided in opinion.
We shall vote, therefore, In the choice OF
representatives and other officers, ac-
cOrding 10 our individual opinions OF
their political views and their per-
sona1 character divided ON other ouas.