New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-04
4 PARTY NTH THREE PLAINS.

conference to meet in this city in May 20 nom-
nate candidates for the Presidency and vice.
Presidency upon platform OF Civil Service
Reform, reduction of the rates OF revenue and
a cessation of silver coinage. 1t IA a little curl
GUS that two out of the three planks laid down
for this rather narrow platform are, for all
practical purposes Republican doctrines, while
the third is one upon which there will be proba-
bly, difficulty in getting any considerable num-
Der of men to stand who are ready TO stand
upon the other two. Such a movement as that
indicated by the Massachusetts Reform Club
would expect to find its principal support
among Republicans, and so long as The Repubh-
can party continues TO push that reform "a
.apidly as it has done during the past year,
there is surely no necessity of forming new
party to help it along. The Republican party
has abolished the patronage system OF clerical
appointments in all tho Departments at Wash
ington, and in all tie principal public Offices
throughout the country. It's example IN
this respect has stimulated similar move
ments in several States and many cities.
With all due respect to the high character Of
the gentlemen composing the Reform Club, 1t
seems very like hypclcriticsm to form new
party to advance Civil Service Reform when
one of the great existing pa.ties is already deal
ing with the subject in PRACTICAL, sincere lash
ion.
As for the reduction Of the rates Of rev.
cnuc," il is not possible to determine what the
new movement means. There are many Repnb-
leans who favor such q reduction, aud the last
Congress, which was Republican in both
branches and tho Republican President, made
a law embodying II reduction, and no doubt
there will be little opposition 90 further reduc-
tons, if they are found to be practicable when
the operation of the law is fully understood
But if the movement means n reduction of
duties which would be practically hostile 10
Protection, the Reform Club could not hope to
draw many Republicans into thoir rev National
marty. They could hardly induce many
Democrats to come in on that ground alone,
because the latter have already plank some
thing like the one IN their own platform. 1t is
really hard in these days. if the Democratic
PARTY is Judged by its official utterances, to tell
what it does think on tho tariff, but there can
be no question that It's real sentiment i one of
deep hostility to the Protective system. But
on the other hand, the Democrats who might DO
able to stand Oh the Club 3 tariff plank might
not care to join with it i'll favor OF Civil Service
Reform and IA cessation of silver coinage. Many
excellent Democrats are 10 doubt theoretically
in favor of Civil Service Reform, but the party
as a body is bitterly opposed to it, and the
same may be said of suspension Of the coin
age Of silver dollars The Republican party Is
not wholly without Sin in this last matter, and
there are Democrats who favor suspension
but the bulk of The opposition has dsregardcd
the recommendations both of Presidents
HAYES and Arthur for a repeal OF the provision
requiring coinage OF at least two million dol
lars month. On the passage OF the bill over
the Presidents veto i'll 1873, the Republican
party was almost exactly equally divided while
the Democratic party voted almost bodily fOr
silver; and the two parties have continued to
occupy about that relation to the question ever
since, except that probably the silver sentiment
in the Republican party is not so strong as it
was But in Massachusetts, and the East gem
orally, where the new movement would have
influence, if at all, the Republican party is as
good party as the Reform Club can have, ex-
cept perhaps upon the subject of "a reduction
of the rates of revenue" tho bcalin's" of
which remark remain to be seen.
There is one peculiarly about the movement
which ought not to pass unnoticcd. 1t is pro-
posed to nominate candidates for President and
Vice President before either Of the great con-
ventions meets. A moro natural course would
seem to be to wait until the two parties have
put themselves upon record, and then decide
which of them is worthy of support Begging
the Clubs pardon, this has almost the appear
ance of an effort to help along some nomination
in which these gentlemen feel "a special interest.
Is it an Edmunds boomP If so, ought not they
to take pains to find out beforehand whether it
is or is not true that Mr.. Edmunds is as much
in favor of President Arthurs nomination rs he
was in favor Of that of General Grant in 1850.
and whether the special friends of each arc pre-
pared. if the emergency arises TO turn over all
the votes they can control to tho othcrP
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DEMOCRACY ~ 4 DISGRICEFLL EOLE. |
Last winter Democracy in the Legislature mado