New-York tribune., 1886-06-09
CONGRESSIONAL NOMINATIONS.

Nominations for Congress have begun. The
Importance of wise selection is not
sufficiently considered in many districts. The
personal intrgues of individuals and the
shrleks of locality, by which the exclusion OF
experienced and worthy men is demanded to
make room for untrIed aspirants from this or
that county or town, have far too much to do
with the nominations made The consequences
can be read in the disgraceful failure of the
Democratic party in the House, and its collapse
in the very first year of its return to power.
1t is good time for Republicans in every
part of the country to consider what they
ought to do and to put their heads together to
resist all claims of individuals or localities that
do not consist with the best interests OF the
party and the country. The nomination of men
who can be elected is good. But it is far more
important, in most Northern districts, to NOM
mate men whose election will be of some use.
The exclusion of men who damage the party,
who fight against its principles, who seek
selfish ends regardless of public interests, is
especially important at this time. If the Re-
publican party returns majority of the House,
and that majority behaves badly or proves
incompetent, it will be a heavy blow to the
party, and the consequences in the next Presi-
dental election will be serious.
1t is needful, first, to put up genuine Repub-
licans, and no others, as candidates for Repub-
lican voters to support. The tendency to
nominate men who are trying to ride two or
three horses at time has done great mischief.
If a man wants to be called Greenbacker,
that is his right, but he has no business to be a
Republican candidate. Either he means some
4 hv oh IF a
If he does, he means that he is not in harmony
with Republican opinions on vital point, and
ought to be kept out of Congress so that the
union and harmony of the party there may not
be disturbed by his presence. SO if man
wants to call himself a labor candidate, or a
temperance candidate, or by various other
names which imply reliance upon a different
support than that which fidelity to Republican
principles gives, it is his right to do so. Bu, it
is moi his right, in that case, to be considered in
a Republican convention as possible candi-
date of party which has National principles,
and can Justly claim the confidence and support
of the people because of those principles.
Republicans ought to determine to elect this
year as many genuine Republicans as they
can, and not to vote for any other kind of man
where the election of Republican is possible.
One other thing is impOrtant-tO retain good
men who have proved their worth and whose
experience is therefore of incalcOlable value.
1t foil ows that it is equally important to get
rid of men who seek their private and per-
sonal advantage, contrary to the principles of
the party or the public interest, for their
experience makes them the more mschievOus.
With good selections of candidates. there Is a
bright prospect of elec.ing a majority of
Republicans to the next House. But it would
be an injury to the party to elect a majority,
and then to be unable to unite it in any action
consistent with Republican principles and
hedges