New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-15
TILE DETY OE REEORMERS.

The sincere seeker for Temperance or Civil
Service reform has an opportunity this year
which may not present itself again for gen.
| Grafton. He is not man who desires notoriety
so much that he Is willing to sacrifice the well
| fare of the country in that quest, nor will he
sell his vote or influence, nor will he suffer an
nfamed pride of opinion to make him the
worst enemy of the cause he wishes to serve.
thinking coo-headed and practical man,
honestly believing that the end he seeks is OF
paramount importance, he has before him
choice of two courses. One will directly or
indirectly help toward success the very party
which has for fifty years been most hostile both
to Civil Service and to Temperance reform.
But he is told that it will also kill the Repub-
lican party, set free from obligations to that
organization millions Of voters who will nat
urally join reform party, and thus bring about
the direct issue which he thinks ought to have
precedence.
This philosophy, an intelligent man will see
presupposes that the Republican party is bound
together by desire for the spoils 1t may be
unhestatingy admitted that in the Repub-
lican, as in every other party. there are active
men who are influenced by the desire of per-
sonal advantage. But General Fisk, who acted
with Republicans long enough to know the Gle
ments which compose the party, is perfectly
aware that very large majority of Republican
voters are conscientious and earnest men, who
mean &c do their duty. In his heart he knows
that nine tenths of them are thoroughly and
profoundly attached, either to the principles OF
protection or else to the cause OF Unonlsm
against government by resurrected Con-
federacy. Let it he called prejudice or let it
be called conscientious conviction Of duty it
does not matter; General Fisk knows and Mr..
Curtis knows that these voters hold it their
first and most sacred duty in politics to resist
the aggressive force of Southern disoyalty or
the warfare of free trade upon the protective
tariff,
These two motives will influence nearly half
the voters of this country, whether after vic
tory or after defeat. General Fisk, If he
ventures to speak the truth that he knows,
will admit it. Mr. Curtis admitted it in the
very last speech he uttered, at the Chicago
Convention four years ago. before he ceased to
speak the truth that he knows. Every other
intelligent Temperance or Civil Service re-
former will admit it. If the Republican party
were out of existence at this moment another
would be organized with these precise objects
and convictions within month.
The Democratic party has been seeking for
an issue on which it can carry the country.
With great hesitation it has at last openly COM
mitted itself on the tariff question. Victory
will make that party confident OF success for
many years to come on that issue and it will
hold together and fight desperately. Demo-
cratic victory and change of duties will force
thousands Of manufacturers, miners, wool
growers and other farmers to take position
with the Republican party, and so the tariff
issue will become the controlling one for years,
buryng out of sight all Temperance or Civil
Service reform. That is the only possible re-
suit of the Democratic victory which General
Fisk and Mr. Curtis propose this year to aid.
Hence it is that these men and those who follow
them are doing their utmost to bury for gen.
Grafton the reforms they profess to desire.
Republican victory this year would put an
end to Democratic hopes of carrying the coun-
try on the tariff issue. 1t would intrust to
friends of protection the work Of adjusting the
tariff to the needs of the country. 1t would
settle for a generation at Least the policy of the
Government in that respect, and thus leave
voters and parties free to act with regard to
other questions. If Civil Service reform or
Temperance reform is to have any chance
whatever, for years to come, it can only be
through the defeat of the Democratic party
and the settlement of the tariff question. Gen
eral Fisk and Mr.. Curtis are in duty bound to
tell their supporters this truth. If they refuse,
what are their personal motives?