New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-19
THE CONFESSION or AR. CrGTIS.

TIE CONFESSION or Mr.. CURTIS.
Though il is tardy, the declaration Of Mr.
Curtis respecting the course of the sO-calcd
Independents who agree with him has the merit
Of candor. 1t casts aside the prctcncc that the
Republican party was opposed in 1881
because Of personal objections to the
candidate. Foremost among the real
grounds Of opposition which arc now ayowcd
appears the very one which in oSi Republicans
believed the chief motive of {" Independent hos
tity. The "Indcpcndcnts'' are first Of all
free traders in principle; as Mr.. Curtis cX-
presses it, they do not believe in high pro-
tcctiOn"-a phrase which, with due allowance
for ignorance or want of sincerity on the part
Of those who use it, means that they do not be
licvc in any protection at all For any measure
which is not nigh enough TO protect Is not
protection at all, but simply stupid and mean
inglcss taxation. The Republicans believe in
duties that protect. Mr. Curtis does not and
now finds the candor to admit that this differ
cncc will lead the voters to agree with him TO
oppose The Republican party. though its cand-
date is unobjcctonablc. 1t may be added that
Che same difference also sulliccs TO induce them
to support Mr.. Cleveland again. in spite Of the
fact that his conduct has been Objectionable,
that he has brOl on his pledges with scarcely an
excuse or prctcxt, and that he has deliberately
organized the Civil Service as partisan
machine.
Mr.. Curtis names another reason for Oppo-
sitiOn. The Republicans he says, are in favor Of
National supervision Of National elections at the
South while he docs not think interference
in elections in the Southern States 4 wise or
effective policy" 1t will occur to genuine
Republicans that Mr.. Curtis does not state the
issue with candor or fairness The Republican
party has never been in favor Of any inter
florence with elections in Southern States as
such, and has enacted no law on the subject
which was not equally applicable to any North
crn State where the right Of suffrage was
threatened by violence or fraud. 1t wa
solcmnly promised by Mr.. CurtiSs present
political associates that, if attempts TO enforce
the law by aid Of the military were entirely
withdrawn, honorable Southern gentlemen
would then take care TO have it enforced faith
fully. President Hayes withdrew troops. and
honorable Southern gentlemen have since
elected Democratic candidates without any re-
gard whatever for the will Of the ma jorty in
every Southern State and almost every district
where the majority was adverse to the Demo
cratic party Mr.. Curtis will not recover The
respect Of the public or his own respect unless
he canddly admits the magnitude. the fire.
qucncy and the infamous character Of tho
crimes by which the honorable Southern gentle
men have suppressed freedom Of elections in
Southern States, and adds to the statement
that he is in favor Of allowing these crimes to
90 on unchecked and UNPUBLISHED, while the
Republican party believes that The laws of the
United States should be faithfully enforced,
and that the right OF suffrage should be de-
Tended and maintained in every part of the
country.
AS to Civil Service reform, Mr.. Curtis no
longer processes a belief that President C'cvc-
land is honestly in favor of it or faithfully
supports it. The course OF Mr.. Cleveland is
virtually admitted to be ndcfcnsiblc. and =" tho
wrongs committed by him" arc expected to
produce in Republican minds feeling Of hos
tility to the sham "reform " by which parti-
san machine has been substituted for public
service. Nothing can be more pitiful than this
halfunconscous confession that sham reform
under Mr.. Curtis's Reform President has so
disguised the great party by which the Civil
Service act was passed. and for years was with
Increasing fidelity enforced, that nothing but
partisanship in the public service could now be
expected from that same party. il il should re-