New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-10
THE REPUBLICAN OPPORTUNITY

What use will the Republican party make OF
It's opportunity That is question which is
on many lips. Four years ago Dem >H'aac
narusans. flushed with the excitement OF vic
tory. boosted that their party would remain In
power for twenty years Very many CONSERVE
tive Republicans forecasting tho unscrupuious
use of political patronage by the Admnistra-
ton could not help feeling that 1t would DO
long time before the country would have Re-
publican President. The Democratic party,
entrcnched IN the stron gholds Of power, could
not have been dislodged this year II 1T had not
wasted its opportunity and forfeited the con-
Hdence Of the country. Will the Republican
party repeat this disastrous experience VI
will ID continue to command the respect and
support of the American people by honest, con-
sisteut administration and wise and progressive
legislation
These are questions which Republicans oven
m their hour of citation and Joy should ponder
we'll. Yet, while conscious that their reseora-
tion TO power brings with It heavy responsible
ties. they have the inspiring lessons OF their po-
litical history to encourage them to hope Tor
prolonged career Of usefulness and popularity.
The responsibilities Of the future cannot be
craver than those which the party had to bear
when il won its first National victory In 1850.
For twenty-four years it remained In power
neither negleodng its opportunities nor oetray
ing the great interests intrusted to IL. Ireo
"a no political party in America had ever Deem
tried before IT was equal to every demand upon
It's patriotism and wisdom. If there remained
q Government TO be handed over 10 the Demo
cratic Administration In 1885, it was because
the Republican party had been true to Its
trusts and had delivered the country from dis
ruptton and bankruptcy. But there was more
there was Government with well-ordered
system Of administrations the best Civil Ser
vice the country had ever known tarh thae
had diversified labor and multiplied industries,
O banking system Mt once stable and eas'io
currency and a credit unrfvalled In the world
and above all, an indissoluble Union without
legalized traffic IN human souls. Ihao oon-
tinuous line Of Republican administration 1or
twenty-four eventful years fs-the surest guaran-'
tee that the party viii be equal in the future to
Its new obligations
II may be premature TO forecast The tendon
cies of Republican legislation and adminfstra-
ton, But there are some things which the
doubt that IL the party has secured working
majority in Congress there will BIO no assault
open or masked, upon American industries.
The tariff may be intelligently revised and the
surplus revenues reduced TO the level OF the
actual requirements of the country, but the
sources Of American prosperity viii not be
MANAGED. nor the interests Of foreigners pro-
NOTED at the expense Of homo interests.
As for the next Republican Administration,
the country knows in advance that 10 Will non be
a tumble of discrimination, hypocrisy ana broken
hedges. The next President will not be en-
poyed in vetoing petty pension bills and In
sulting the wives and daughters Of veterans,
nor in striking impressive attitudes for the
benefit Of credulous admirers and substituting
spurious pretences for practical reforms and
businesslike methods Of administration. HIS
fisheries policy will not be dictated by the
British Minister, but foreign affairs will be
conducted with frmness, dignity and command
ing force. Tho surplus revenues Will noe be
farmed out 20 candidate Of political bankers.
The rebel war flags Will not be returned, nor
wanton warfare declared ON women and chill
dren in the public service, The Navy Depart
ment will not exhaust its energies in dlscredit-
ing American designers, running American Ship
builders and traffoking in foreign ideas The
Department Of Justice will not be what Mr.
Randall has described 1t under the present Adj
ministration, "a sink of injustice" These
things the country already knows intahtively I,
and it awaits the coming Of new and better
political order with feeling of confidence and
hope inspired by the honorable record Of Re-
publican administration in the past.