New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-15
SINCERITY IN POLITICS.

Mr.. George William Curtis secs fit to char
actcrize Mr.. Blane's letter rs insincerc He
SAYS that il is evidently "thc carefully con-
sidered product of shrewd political manager"
eff Mr. Blaine doesn't want to rum he asks,
"why does he not say sou Almost every man
has enough command of English to say that"
To this the Obvious reply would be that almost
every man has enough command of silence to
say nothing when anything he wants is coming
TO him without effort on his part 1t i'll be-
comes Mr.. Curtis, however, to raise the qucs-
zion of sincerity after his own crooked per-
formances in 1884. when he advocated Mr.
Clevcland's election after making in the Ma
tional Republican Convention this striking
comparison between the two parties
We are confronted with the Democratic party. very
hungry, and as you may well believe. very thirsty !;
a party without a single definite Principe: party
without any distinct National policy which It darcs 10
present to the country: party which fell from power
as q conspiracy against human rights and now at
tempts to sneak back to power as Q conspiracy for
plumber and spells.
shall not repeat to you ths splendid story OF tho
Republican party-a story that never tire OF tell
Ing and that our children will tire Of hearing
story which is written upon the hearts OF all Amer
citizens because 1t recouns greater services for
liberty, for tho country for mankind. than those OF
any party In any other Nation and at any other period
OF time What is the secret Of this unparalleled his
tory, 1t Is simply that tho Republican party has
been always the party the best instincts OF the high
est desires OF the American people This Is It's specA
glory. 1t has represented tho American distinct Oh
Nationality, American patriotism and Christian devo-
ton TO liberty. ,..,.
respecting the two great parties. and then de-
L Lot fhc &C
plundcr and spoils," ought to be prudent and
retioent during the remainder OF his career
Above all things. let him say nothing about
sincerity in politics. He exhausted the re-
sources Of the mother tongue in declaring the
yilencss and worthlcssness OF the Democratic
party and the virtue and patriotism of the
Republican party; yet he worked and voted
with the corrupt organization which he had
denounced and against the principles OF Rc-
pnblicanism which with fervid cloquencc he
had extolled. His avowcd excuse for That cX-
hbitiOn of canting hypocrisy was that the he
publican party had made an improper cholco
for the Presidency. That was why he deserted
the best party that had ever existed in any
country, age or cline. and Joined the vilcst
and worst. Very we'll If the Objectionable
glad to part company with the conspirators for
plumber and spoils and renew his allegiance to
the party Of Lincoln, Chase and Sumner. But
no: read what he says in yesterdays World":
There have been many efforts made to find ont what
Republican candidate wond no satisfactory to tho In
dependent voters who left the party five years ago
ths so-called Mugwumps. But they have met with
little success The Independents do not want a eau
ddate who IS the result among this faction
and that faction and dozen other factions to aSccr
tain what their wishes While Mr.. Cleve-
land has not como up to the expectations OF all who
supported him, yet his general conduct has been at
tracive the Independents, who are not men OF QUO
idea no judge by averages. As regards tho tah
question, think Mr.. Cleveland's message to Congress
will not ALLEVIATE from him more than small fragment
of his party. while rendering his canvass all tho more
attractive to many Independents
Mr.. Curtis has the stark naked cand0r TO
admit that it does not matter TO him or his
associates whom the Republicans may put in
nomination this year. lie is not interested in
the choice of a candidate by that party. lie
prefers Mr. Cleveland against any Republican
who may be nominated, especially since the
Cree-tradc message was sent TO Congress. This
is tho only inference that can be drawn from
bis indifference to the Republican nomination
and his ELUSIVE loyalty to the President. lie
has condoned the conspiracy against liberty.
As for the conspiracy for spoils, If you please
il is Civil Service reform. TO him who IN
1854 denounced Democracy as all that was
evil and extolcd Republicanism as all that was
good, the evil is now moro reputable than the
good. This is Mr.. Curtis, who prcsumes TO
question Mr. Blaines sincerity.