New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-13
"DJSSEVSION9.~

So the Republican party is torn by dis
sessions, distracted by fights for the leader
ship and for Office, aud on the point of cutting
its own throat-acco to the Democratic
journals. In The New-York Times of Mon
day. for instance, the tanning headlines for
three out Of seven columns proclaim TO rej0ic-
ing Democrats the moribund condition Of the
Republican party in Iowa. Ohio and COnnecti-
cut, and that sort Of thing has been going on
50 long and so constantly that the readers Of
THE Tines must perfore believe in easy
and certain Democratic victory over the dis
lupted fragments Of Repub licaniSm.
Still the attentive reader if he has a decent
memory. is likely To recall the fact that the
dissenSion. disruption and collapse Of the Re-
publican palty-in the columns Of Democratic
paperS--have been going on for twenty years
or more. This state Of collapse never
more extensively advertised than in the spring
and summer Of 1888. aud for that reason the
Democrats looked for an easy victory over
General Harrison. The election returns We're
ineXpIeSSiby astonishing and disgusting to the
readers Of Democratic newspapers because they
proved that the political information given by
their journals had for years been mSlnforma-
ton. Yet most Of them are to-day relying
upon the same papers for enlightenment. and
are getting what they ought to expect another
food. not Of light, but OF thick darkness.
Any political party is about dead when there
is no longer any strife or honorable rivalry
among It's leaders. If onc-man power has 50
completely suppressed all individual ambition
and zeal that dispute and strifes are unknown.
the party may be accounted on the high road
TO destruction and defeat. 30 long a. a parry
is full Of life and power and is gaining in
numbers and strength. il represent, the free
wishes Of . great body Of voters who neces-
sarily have different preferences rs t. leader
ship, aud who settle those preferences by sharp
contests in conventions. IL takes more than
one strong man TO do the work. the manage
ment and the planning for >nrcessiuI party.
II is the good fortune OF the Republican
party 10 have III many states lbeai supply
f mes, earnest capable and influential lead
ers. who join ctunsel.. effort. and hard bIow'
when in the presence OF the common enemy.
but who get themselves into training, 50 to
speak by lively contests with themselves. In
these contests the mass OF Republican voters
are the umpIcs. often the suile i for per
,ona precedence or honor. and it would be a
poor set If leaders il there We're moi among
them enough Of ambition aud rivalry 30 mako
frequent and sharp contests. which do no
harm so long a' all are seeking the success Of
Republican principles. submit TO the decision
Of Republican voters, and join forces in earnest
for the common cause.
This rivalry among earnest and strong lead
ers il has been the pleasure Of Democratic
journals for many years to represent as a sue
cesson If fights OF the Kilkenny cat variety.
Every bit Of strife in n State convention, or
prior to a State convention, moves them TO
shout that the Republican party is going to
pieces at last. They are entitled TO profound
thanklulncSs, these Democratic journals, for
their misleading shouts of Anticipated triumph !.