New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-10
Is JT "1UE CALL OF Duty"

We desire to treat Mr. John +. Andrew, the
young person in Massachusetts now engaged
in the socmnity Of running for Governor on the
Democratic ticket with suitable respect His
father was a statesman. But it seems TO us in
reading the letter just published in which he ac-
cents the nomination that the young man s
views of himself and his immediate surround
ngs are Just trIflc distorted. lie stands lit
tic too close to himself to get his own personal
ity in the relations Of a just perspective. If he
could stand himself a little further olf-far
enough to get out of his own shadow, as it were
he would get diminished idea of his own
importance lie begins his letter by saying 4,
81 hoped that the choice of the convention
would fall upon some one other than myself,
but as the request comes to me freely and with
sucl unanimity, feel that it Is call Of duty
which, as a good citizen, ! cannot refuse
This young man will learn as he grows older
that when politician begins letter accepting
a nomination which he had never declined dur
ing the preliminary canvass by saying that he
had hoped ii would fall to some one else, it
does not go 20 his credit for modeSty. Every
body may lie very unchariabe, but nobody
will Lclieyc him. The thoughtful citizen reads
it with lifted eyebrows; the politician with
his tongue in his check. 1t is not a good be-
ginning Mr.. Andrew.
Moreover Mr.. Andrew, when You 90 on to
say that you feel it 20 bc call of duty which
you cannot refuse, what precisely do you mean ?
You put it with great solemnily; us though
YOU really believed the Commonwealth to be in
great straits and that you were necessary 20
her salvation. Is that your idea I Do you
honestly think there is anything in the nature
Of Il crisis impending in Massachusetts, And
that you are the man to whom the party Of
True patriols-thc only party that has at heart
the welfare of the country-f,s up lmplorng
hands praying you to lake the helm and bring
the good ship through And that YOU arc
ls,cning only to the voice Of duty and
performing an act Of sclf-sacriicc in responding
TO the call : Take heed, John Go slow. Is
il the voice Of duty sue May 1t not bc
The voice Of a sncn Test it iy It's breath
That will tell There is need of icing par
,icular anout This. The last person who recog-
nizcd the "call of duty when he was nom
mated for Governor 10y the same persons who
have Just decorated you was Mr. Benjamin f.
Butler. DO you think that was actually call
Of duty, John 1t came from lho same folks
IL is well TO remember in these matters that
"you can't most always sometimes tell"
You remark, also in your letter that the
Republican party was deprived Of It's power
by lhc deliberate action Of The people, because
il sought only lis own preservation and stood
for nothing but a political machine We
remember TO have heard something Of this kind
before. Won't You tell us, please. what you
mean 10y it3 Is il 50 Objectionable III political
party to seek il3 own preservation Pray,
what should it sccl, 7 lls own destruction
And what do you mean 10y It's being IA political
machine y Is IT thaL il has an organization
through which it works sys emaiically aud
cohc. emily for the accomplishment Of definite
purposes DO not all parties DO this ! Aic
we TO infer from finding these expressions in
a letter &C cptng a nomination from thc Dem
ociaIc parry that that party is no, a political
machine and docs not seek It's own preserve