New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-16
THE DUTY OF NEV-YORK REPUBLICANS.

THE DUTY OF NETWORK REPUBLICANS.
The new General Committee of the Repub-
lcan party in this county will meet to organ
ize this week Between now and Thursday
evening. when the organization will be per-
fcctcd, it will be well for the leaders, the
members and those interested in the welfare
Of New-York Rcpubcanism, to consider one
or two features of the present political situa-
ton in the city and State.
For the first time since the war the Repub-
lcan party of New-Yoll finds itself diveSted
entirely of patronage. Almost every municipal
office is in the hands OF the Democracy. On
the city's seventecn-nllion-d dollar payroll
there is not a corporals guard of men whose
Republicanism cannot be questioned, and the
few whose loyalty is undoubted are so handl-
capped by the tyrannous methods of Tammany
that they can do little. if any effective service
for their party. The State patronage, since
the loss of the Legislature, is also in Demo
cratic hands, and used in The most arrogant
partisan manner No consideration is shown
the minority, any more than is shown to the
interests of the taxpayers that have no pull
with the triumphant sposmen. All The Fed
cral offices will pass from under Republican
control in a few weeks and while these are
not likely to be filled with Tammany heelcr>
or followers of the HillMurphy machine, they
will, nevertheless, be given to Democrats and
experience teaches that who the Mugwump
out of Office has good deal ID say about non
partisan government, no sooner is he clothed
with a little authority than he Out-Cr0kcI>
Croker in his hostility to Republicans under
him.
Without patronage thea. and withou. tho
prospect of any Immediately, what is the Re
publican duty of the hour? Shall the cOunts
organization exist in mere formal way shall
it lapse into morbid inactivity allowing the
dominant forces to have then own way here,
and throughout the state, or shall it assert
itself as a party of principle and honest en-
deavor? Surely there can be no debate on
this point The Republican party is nothing
if it is not progressive and aggressive. The
emphatic protest OF righteous, indignant
minority against the proud, heartleSS DONNA
ton Of the slave power gave 1t birth, and all
its glorious victories have been gained III
espousing the right. even when the way I"
success was apparently blocked by unSuI-
mountablc obstacles. For the present the Re
publican party in this city and State can be
little more than a protesting power; but as such
it can exert a tremendous Influence. BY yig-
lance, intelligent criticism and uncompromising
hostility by keeping in touch with healthy
public sentiment and responding to every i'm
pulse in the direction of Ieformatory effort 1t
can crystalline the honest elements of opposl-
ton to the machine within and without the
Democratic party and thus ultimately sweep
from power the existing corrupt municipal and
State governments.
Now is the time for Republicans, who are
Republicans from principle and not for gain,
to assert themselves in the interests of their
party, and by asserting themselves in the in
terests of their party they will render the best
service as good citizens for it must be remem
bered tnat the sole object of all true political
activity is to secure good government.