New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-27
II THE LEAGUE AND ITS MISSION.

The great gathering Of Republican Clubs at
Cincinnati and the election of the Hon. }. 5.
CIarkson as its executive leader should be the
oDening OF a more earnest, sustained and Wig
orous campaign of education than the country
has ever seen since that which closed with the
first election of Abraham Lincoln. 1t is not
new idea to thoughtful Republicans that the
work of popular education and information has
for many years been far too much neglected.
The great army of Republican journals has done
what it could. but each with its own limitation
of circumstances, Of local and sectional feel
ing. and of individual interests and needs For
thorough enlightenment Of the public regarding
the principles and objects of the Republican
party another force altogether has been required
Leaders have too often occupied themselves
mainly with the distribution of offices, the COM
bination Of diverse elements and personal in
terests, or the direction and pelfecting of party
organization, all good things in their way, but
far from satisfactory substitutes for the en-
liehtenment of the people. When contests have
come such leaders have too often taken short
views. addressed themselves to the task Of
manipulating local interests or prejudices, and
hidden the glorious principles Of Republicansm
lest they should offend or frighten somebody.
Thirty years have been spent in this way in
some States with scarcely an effort to bring the
people to understand what Republicanism means.
Not. long ago. when a vigorous speaker had set
forth in a certain Western city the reasons for
Protection he was told by an intelligent and
experienced leader who had heard him: "That
is the first genuine Protective speech that has
been made in this State to my knowledge for
thirty years. 1t had been the fashion of local
politicians there to echo in every campaign the
empty and meaningless camor for reduction Of
duties, as if that were of necessity reducing the
burdens of the people. Straightforward advo-
cacy of the principles of Protection had been
almost unknown in that quarter. During al!
this time generation of new voters has grown
up. Millions of new voters have come hther
from foreign lands who have no conception of
genuine American policy. 1t is marvel that
in spite Of all this neglect in some quarters the
belief of the people has moved steadily toward
more uncompromising support of the Repub-
lican policy, and il is a striking proof of the
power of that policy to vindicate itself by re-
suits which men recognize in their own expert
ence.
The Nation must now be educated as thor
oughly and Systematically as it was in the
favor of Free Soil. Free Speech and Free Men
TO well-grounded and unqualified belief in the
protection OF American suffrage, and the protec-
ton of American industry. This is not work
to be done in a month or in year. 1t will re-
quire patience, earneStness, self-sacritice in a
thousand ways. 1t will require the zeal OF
youth united with the experience of age. No
other force is so well fitted for this great and
most necessary work as the League Of Repub-
lican Clubs, and if this directs itself to that
labor, rather than 10 the carrying of conyen-
lions and partition of Offices, it will become the
very life and soul of the Republican party.
It is unfortunately to- easy for clubs, as for
individuals, to seek local and temporary success
rather than the enduring triumph OF principles.
1t is easy for clubs, as for individuals, TO spend
more time in contonding about h0norS offices
and spois than in missionary work. But clubs
that suffer themselves to be thus degraded from
their truest and highest Office always have short
lives and limited influence. That great body OF
Republican voters which cares little about Offices
and spos, but much for the welfare and honor