New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-14
A CONTR


Men of sense Judge parties not by what they
promise. but by what they do. What are We
to think, then, of the party composed of Demo-
Gratis and Dependencies
A reform within the Republican party has
been i'm progress for some years. Starting with
resistance 10 dctation by official machines
and Interested rings it accomplished reform
of the Civil Service, cmancipated the party in
many States from the control of cliques, ana
has eliminated in the nomination of Nj. Blaine
by the people, at the fairest and most thor
oughly representative convention ever held by
that party. He was peculiarly the favorIte Dl
the plain people, who have no office nor any
pecuniary interest in the choice of the party
He had been from the first one OF the boldeSt
and the most conspicuous opponents OF the
machine He was nominated without the sup
port of the Federal officials generally with the
Official power in twenty-slX States IN the hands
of the Democrats, and with the Government of
most Of the remaining States favorng other
Republican candidates. So little was done by
his own State that it was a common charge
against him that Maine was indiilcrent New
Hampshire Vermont, Massachusetts and
Rhode Island favored other candidates and so
did the State officials of Illinois, Indiana and
Wisconsin In fact, it may be doubted whether
another nomination was ever made by either
party that had behind il so little of official inilu-
ence. No ring of any sort favored him, and his
forces were so destitute of organization that 1t
was the common belief that they could not be
held together for three ballots. 1t WAS the
peoples choice that prevailed, in the most free
and popular convention for many years.
In this great reform against abuses of official
power Mr. Curtis, Mr.. Schurz and a few other
persons had made themselves conspicuous. and
they bolted the choice of the people. They now
support the Democratic candidate. But how
was he nominated
The official machinery in most OF the Demo
cratic States had been employed, to the full cx-
tent of its influence for weeks before the Con-
vention, in behalf of Grover Cleveland.
Officials from all the Democratic States
thronged the convention, nearly all helping the
Cleveland ring BY dishonest trick, Mr..
Tilden's letter of declnation had been kept
back for weeks after it was written, so that
delegates nominally for him, but secretly for
the unknown Mr.. Cleveland. were secured iii
most of the States. There could hardly be a
convention held with less expression of the will
of the people, or more completely under the
COntlOi Oh Jic llnpS.
An influential Democrat writes TO The Sun
that the gravcst objection TO Mr.. Cleveland is
that he was put mp by the nOtOrOGsiy corrupt
rings of York. The State House and all
the departments of the State Government were
practically abandoned for a week, that officials
of all sorts might work for the Governor at Chi
cago. The Albany ring, headed 10y Mr.. Man
ming, managed his canvass with rare maulpua-
ton. The Brooklyn ring, controlled by Boss
Mclaughlin, had just been secured by the APP
pontmcnts of Toohill and Ferguson. The
Irving Hall ring was worked TO the utmost,
Sheriff Davidson having halter round his
neck. so TO speak, in the power OF the Governor
TO remove him for misconduct-a power which
be refused TO exercise because that ring worked
for his nomination. The most potent and the
most corrupt ring of them all, that of the
County Democracy. had been secured by the
shameful veto of tho Tenure of Office bill,
June Ia The notorious Hubert o. Thompson,
of the 5000 orders who had been denounced
bv all reformers rs the chief in pillage second
only TO that of Tweed, was at the head of Mr.
Cleveand's workers ut Chicago, aud is now
conspicuous in managing the National cam
paign.
This state Of facts, revolving to all honest
Democrats gives the lie To the pretcnce that
= good government" is desired by the Democratic
party or the Pharisces. They have selfish mo-
tives for supporting Mr.. Cleveland. They are
utterly shameless in pretending that his election
means reform"