New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-04
THE CHANGE.

Four years ago there were men VINO Saiu'
"The last Republican President we shall ever
see gees out Of Office to-day. The Demo-
Gratis. taking power today, will retain 1t for
quarter of a century" There were others
who read more accurately the disposition oil
the American people, and understood more
correctly the character Of the Democratic party
Not to their surprise that party Is required TO
surrender to-day the great trust which 1t has
entirely failed to use TO the public welfare or
to the satisfaction Of the country. 1t has not
RETAINED from any of the expected efforts to
int cnch itself in power. In part, it's defeat
is due to the unscrupulouS desperation Of those
efforts. But it goes into political outer dark
ness again, mainly because it was conspiracy
without principle to gain Office for the sake Of
self and not for the sake Of well-deined ana
patriotic convictions. Charged with grave re-
sponsibility. it played by turns the clown tho
thmblc-nggcr ard the shullling coward until
events forced it to take one side or the other
Then it took the mpatrotic and false side. and
mel richly earned defeat.
Recital Of these facts to-day has better
motive than a patry desire to gloat over the
fallen. TO the Republican party, which re-
turns to power to-day there ought to he Il
most useful and wholesome lesson in the events
Of the last four years. 1t has been tempted
also to seek Office by some sacrifice Of principle.
Indeed, il would not be difficult to trace -
defeat in 1884 to unworthy compromises to
which it was induced 10 assent in the tariff
revision Of 1888. For the sake Of saving IL
measure which was partly good. but also partly
bad for the sake Of eyading the rugged path
Of protection in some Western States which
were sup oScd to be leaning toward free trade;
for the sake Of pleasing some interests whether
others received justice or not, provisions Wero
suffered to PASS which miavorably affected
great industries. The anger Of unwiSe wool
growers gave Ohio to the Democrats that fall
the depression e some industries and the panic
The next year inclined many voters ia try a
change; and but for these things ii is more
than probable that the election Of 1894 would
not have ended in Mr.. ClevelandS success
So the Republican party was tempted to
palter with its convictions with respect to pub
lie expenditures. Its excessive and ill-con-
Sdered appropriations in 1888 prepared many
voters TO think it needed the discipline of de-
feat. Some of its representatives and public
duty of every American citzen toward the
cnfranchiSed voters Of the South, and cheap
snecrs about @ the bloody shirt" actually had
more force than convictions of right and wrong
with many Republicans. When party gets
into such state that il is half ashamed Of its
beliefs and cares nearly as much for Office as
fer its convictions. it is ripe for a beating, and
if the Republican party As a whole had not
reached that state in 1891, some Of its Nom
hers had
1t is fer the Republican party. which assumes
power again to-day, to show itself worthy Of
public confidence. Its glorious past will not
hc recognized as emitting it to perpetual power
if it falls short in the present performance Of
duty. Practical common-ScnSc Americans, who
look Straight al parties and politicians without
any binding reverence COY glamour, have trl,i-
cd the Republican party to serve the public in
forests with courage and fidelity. and they will
look to Rave their expectations mot. The man
who is half afraid q Republican principles
if there be such man left in the ranks after
the educating experiences Of the past, is not
the man for the work that is to be done. The
man who wants chiefly to please Democrats
and Mugwumps and the SittcN-on- thc-1cncc,
whose political capital is their freedom from
political convictions will find it easier ID please
them out Of place and Office for the present
For the country has innu>tcd power to Bcpub-
leans because Of their Republican principles
and in the confidence that brave and manly
and faithful application Of those principles 10
the problems of thc day Will bring he ".7'..
! better government and larger prosperity. The
! Prcsidenl-eiec'. unless the country j. 10 s'1een
in him. is the right ran 70 lead in thai wort.
and upon the wisdom and earcs' pa'ro.e
which Rcpulli caI, bIirg to- bis supper Aorn
/ VIII depend the future of the party.