New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-09
REprBIICAN RESPONSIBILITY.


The victory was won almost without organ
ization or plan and with so little money thdt
the Tammany hcelcrs jccred at the straitehed
circumstances of Republican committees ana
made merry over the cmbarrassments WITH
which an empty treasury oyerwheimed 'heni'
Still we won. Won grandly. what shali we
do with or victory and its results! Such Il
triumph as that of Tuesday suggests much more
of serious reflection upon the responsibility IL
brings than Of congratuation ana rejoicing
over the result The first thought OF serious
Republicans is of the danger to which the great
ness Of the victory under such unprolnising
conditions exposes the party. 1t offers t"np'a-
ton TO the Indulgence Of extreme par'isahship
In resentment Of the high-handcd lawlessncss
of the Democratic party since ii gained con-
tlol of the State 1t awakcns in the breasts
of earnest Rcpublicans-who remember with
bitterness the brutal methods by which 'hcir
opponcnts have been in the habit for the last
two years Of overriding all CONSIDERATIONS vi
honor and honesty. flying in the face oi Ill"
and precedent, trampling on public Order ana
dcfying honest public sentiment in order 10 IN
trench themselves imprcgnably in power-a
very natural desire for reyengc. But our repre-
scntatives at Albany if they are wise VIII wili-
stand such temptations and devote themselves
dispassionatcly and deliberately to the 'lsk'
first. Of undoing, so far as ii can De uhdohe'
the wicked work Of the last two years anu
then of enacting such legislation az VIII protect
the freedom of the ballot and insure the 1sht
of every citizen to cast an honest vote ana
have it honestly counted
There should not be in this any suspicion or
an ATTEMPT to gain partisan advantage by sharp
nracticc or questionable methods, or anything
TO which a far-minded reasonable opponent
can take exception. The fact must not be lost
sight of that we owe this sweeping victory in
very large measure to the revolt OF thousahus
Of honest Democrats in the State against the
rule Of Bosses who deludcd themselves Win the
fatal notion that they could perpcrate any out
rage enact any unjust and iniquitous law i"r
the advantage Of their political organization
and be sustained in it by an unqucstioning anu
subservient party following. Success had piihd-
ed them. They lost their heads. They FOUND
ont their mistake on Tuesday. And now the
question is whether Republicans are wise
enough, whether they have enough self-cohtroi
and enough foresight to avoid making siniiiar
blunder In the landslide Of Tuesday great
many lifelong Democrats voted for RepuDlicah
candidates upon the impulse or honest lhdig-
nation, who probably entertain no purpose Oh
permanently severing their old party conhec-
tiops Having administered n rebuke to bad
leaders. they are likely to consider that sulii-
Gent to teach the party lesson and conse-
Uucntly to return to their allegiance at the next
election. But there are thousands who broke
1,o- sn
oughy disguised with the party machine, It's
methods and its Bosses, that with little Gu
commemorative encouragement OF clean, non
est and aboveboard lesslation-will continue
to act with the Republicans.
Democrats Of this sort will take no offence
at the enactment Of laws at the earliest pos
sible moment 70 put an end 10 such ueViltries
as were on foot in this city and Brooklyn, NJ
Gravesend, and in Troy, Albany and Buffalo on
Tuesday They registered their protest against
such villany Mt the polls, and they expect that
n Republican Legislature will make that protest
permanently effective. They and all other good
citizens will be disappointed If it does not. But
Il is task not to be executed hurredly, with
any show of resentment or passiO-,, or with any
disposition to strain point for partisan adj
vantage We must have in all our cities an
honest vote and an honest count. And we must
have in all Of them the assurance OF police pro-
lection. even If it be necessary to upturn from
the bottom the existing police system What
the voters meant to say and did say on Tues
day was that they were determined to have
honesty in public life, honesty in administration
and honesty ip elections. 1t is the task OF
Republican Legislature to carry ont their Will
with discretion and judgment.