New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-24
.r,pvutvDEPIyG DOES NOT PAY.

crpRYU1NDERTNG DOES NOT fd''
Tho decision of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
nv which the Democratic gerrymander Vi ,"o
gc,,.o and Assembly districts IN that otd'o "''
49,, do.l,,od unconstitutional and therefore
,.o;J contains 4 Lesson for the sharp polltlciahS
e Lo.h narties who undertake by doubtful eN-
Incidents and the prostitution Of power '"'po
rorily placed in their hands to 1ortIiy
in permanent positions. Inc W l>cohSin NI
crafts thought, Of course that they WERE ii''"'"7
tbcnsolyc. impegnable when they cut up ''0
State info Senate and Assembly districts ~ dr.
ranged Is to give them control OF the LeSis'a'u'I
,boro,fter. So utterly regardless were they OF
tho n,irciples of Justice and right, and even VI
ordinary conmon-sensc that they oyerrode inc
Constitution. paving no heed to county or to"h
limos or any ether consideration except that OF
- carving I'D the State as to make their own
pary supremacy secure. They overdId IL. Inc
decision Of the supreme Court. consisting OF thiee
Democrats and two Republicans, has deiea'eu
.boir cunninc Sheme and brought all their
smartncSs 70 naught II is settled that though
= poIitical party coming suddenly into control
and dosirou> above all things to make its pos
session of power permanent may do pretty much
ANYTHING it peaScs 10 intrcnch ana ioruly nSeI'
if must have ut least some slight regard Tor the
limitations and requirements OF the organic ac''
Il i, not pretended that Democrats are alone
in the disposition to make an unfair use OF power
in this way. 1t is doubtless the selfish instinct
of all parties to reach out for such advantages
when opportunities occur. But experience GER
tainly proves this that no party ever eXhiolted
such indecent precpitancy, such oveIpowerlng
greed and such absolute disregard OF even the
appealance Of justice and right on such occasions
as the Democratic. 1t is always their first bust
nes,. when by accident or fraud or honest votes
they arrive at power, TO devise some legislative
trick by which they can maintain their hold.
The history of the party shows this to be their
invarable rule. If self-prc'crvaton is tho iirst
law of nature, sclf-perpctuaton Is the first law
the governing principle, the absorbing, ALIEN
blacing thought and aspiration Of the Democratic
party In no State where it has had the oppOr-
unty 10 carry a gcrrymandcr has 1t failed to
make that its first business and to do it prompt
": sometimes with halfway pletence of fair
ness but usually with brazen shameleSSncss and
no attempt to conceal the purpose.
Mr. David b. Hill is the latest and most il
hl,trious exponent of this view Of the functions
Of parties and the proper Use of political power
His efforts to establish his party permanently m
control in this State are all that give him any
prominence or significance. His success in this
direction is his only claim for propotlOn. That
WIS all his theme on hs recent tour his open
boast being that by his means tho Democrats
were 50 firmly established that the Republicans
would never again carry the State OF Now \ ork.
By this he meant that the stolen Legislature, by
4 dishonest census. false appOt0nmont and
communicating division into Senate and Assem-
bly, districts would make it impossible for the
Republicans TO carry the Legislature forever
hereafter And il may be that his assumption
that the masses Of the Democratic party are AT
hear, as dishonest rs himself, aS anxious for
party success and as ready TO override law and
Justice and dcccncy to obtain it, is correct. We
DO not believe il, though. Indeed, We have an
abiding confidence that this man has oyerreached
himself by his own smartness, and brought de-
fca; 10 his party by the very measures he has
taken 10 insure it's success.
Tho people are in the main honest and square.
They don't believe in gcrrymanders or in trick
cry and sharp practices. In tho end that sort
Of bushes, does not pay, whoever undertakes
it, The Wisconsin gcrrymandcr has undoubted-
~ hur, the Democratic party instead of helping
IT, and We believe Mr.. Hills smartneSs in this
state. about which he boasts so constantly, will
have the same effect in the end.