New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-09
RIGHT AND WROyG PARTISANsHIP.


Partisanship has from time mmemorial been
considered dangerous to a self-govcnlng con-
try. Yet all reasonable men have come to
recognize that partisanship is to self govern
ing country absolutely necessary. so there
must be two sorts of partisanship. one which
leads TO treason, and another which is the prac-
teal expression of patriotism. The person
whose boast is that he has no party and no
principles everybody now knows is useless
and worthless barnacle on the ships bottom,
capable of no good thing unless the sheer in
ertia which ignorance and SelfShneSS album
dainty supply is a good thing. The cultured
citizen who boasts that he has no patriotic
preference for either party differs less than
he imagines in value to the State or in moral
worth, from the brute who has not sense enough
to choose between parties. But if there is a
partisanShip which is dangerous and also
partisanship which is a duty, what are the linn
It's of the two?
Within the last week there has been chorus
of shrells about the partisanship of various
persons at Washington and AT Albany. Ac-
cording TO some it was Infamous partiSanShip
for Speaker Reed TO deprive a minority OF
power to stop public business by violating
fundamental law of all legislative bodies. Ac-
cOrding TO others, il was partSanshp Of the
worst sort for Democrats at Washington TO in
sist upon retaining and exercising that power.
Some have declared il shameful for men
to object, when il was proposed 10 ntrust en-
tire management of the Worlds Fair to body
controlled by Tammany and Mugwump>.
Others have declared that the shame and wrong
no bp 4
partisan purposes a list of men selected for the
management of great public enterprise. Some
where blame lies, and possibly these tests may
help TO show what sort of partiSanShip doe,
mischief.
Mr.. Reeds decision was that the power 10
transact the peoples business belongs to the
majority and that the constitutional power 10
compel attendance of "A quorum necessarily in
wolves the power 10 count the quorum when
present, whether voting or silent in violation
of rules His opponents declare that this con
stitutional provision can 10 rightly nullitcd
by members refusing 70 vote. Which is the
patriotic party here, that which seeks 10 do
the peoples business and TO enforce the Con
stitutiOn or that which seeks 10 stop the bust
ness and nuify the Constitution One is Ger
tainly wrongful and the other patriotic. Must
it not be held patriotic duty TO discharge the
public business and to carry ont the supreme
law of the land? Must not the partSanshp
which strives TO defeat both the Constitution
and the will Of the people for the sake Of re-
tanning some partisan advantage, be pronounced
dangerous and offensive?
Mayor Grants selection OF persons - man
age the Worlds Fair was either free from par
tisan bias or it was not. The power 10
intrust any body of men with the management
and with control of public money rested by de-
ciSon of the people with a Legislature Rcpub-
| can in both branches, and with a Congress,
! Republican in both branches. Was il the right
way to promote public enterprise, to declare
( that the Fair must have a Democratic manage
ment or there should be no Fair?
Through these illustrations there runs this
! principle. Partsanshp is wrong and danger
Gus when it insists that the decision Of the
people in favor Of this or chat political body
shall be defeated and deprived Of its natural
effect or else public interest shall be sacri-
feed. When the people have placed the Gov
eminent in charge of those Of one political
! faith the right 10 determine what ought 10 be
done, to discharge business without unreasOn-
able delay, and to prefer men Of their own
faith in the conduct Of affairs, belongs 10 that
party, and cannot be reasonably resisted until
another election brings opportunity to ask
another verdict by the people. The logical
outcome Of such resistance was the Rebellion
OF 1861.