The sun., 1893-07-04

Well. they may bo sure. but don't they
wish they were The western New York
Republicans may be sure. II they like. that
the Hon. GEORGE ZERUBBABEI ERWIN Is
more beautiful than the Hon. APOLLO BEL
vEDERE. 1t Is easy enough to live in the
world where nothing is but what Is not;
still this Is marshy ground for political
searchers.
The general feeling seems to be that we
have much to gain and nothing to lose by
an early Convention and q long campaign"
Why, this Is the very quintessence and
pemmican OF truth. The New York Re-
publicans can't lose anything, because they
haven't anything to lose. The same con-
siderations would seem to apply to a late
Convention; but Republicans. rank and
file, are conscious that the more the Repub-
lican record is examined. either on its own
independent merits or in competition with
the Democratic record. the better will be
the prospect for Republican success at the
November ballot box" 1t may be 80,
but there Is saying Of HEs1oD OF
Ascra or GEORGE STEARNs of Chicopee,
or some other gnomic poet: Fish and Re-
publican records will not stand keeping too
long" 1t Is none OF our business, perhaps.
but 1t has often seemed to us that IL the
New York Republican party could go into a
campaign with its record. travelling incog-
nito like a Serene Highness. its chances
OF success would be increased by many per
cents. The Republican record made it pos
sible for the Democrats to get control Of
the State and put an end to the long In
justice Of minority rule; and the record has
not been forgotten. But let us observe the
Tribune. following its very mild dose OF
soothing syrup with this abominably strong
drink Of wormwood
AN aggressive light ID the sort of nght which the
Republicans will be compeled to wage II thsy expect
to mako the necessary headway against the Democ-
racy. Aperfunctory canvass . canvass which runs
ITSELF hafhearted CANVASS will be useless We can
only win by resou;e persistent tight in every school
district would bo absurd folly to underrato the
strength of our opponents They arc strongly in.
trenched at Albany and throu ghout the State They
are in possession Of all the State offices which arc to be
filled this fall. They control both branches of the
Legislature and to help them to retain their power
they have the benefit Of tho gerrymandsr which was
lately put through tho Legislature. In the crcum-
stances tho task of beating them Is necessarily big
contract not big to discourage Rep ublcans but
big enough to convince them that they cannot afford
to make any mistakes in organization or in choice Of
candidates: that they cannot afford to be other than
earnest and united in any distSict"
The contract ls large. since the gerry
mander" has given the Democrats some
thing n little like the representation in the
Legislature to which their numbers entitle
them. The Tribune can find no ground for
more optimistic view Of Republican pros
poets than that If the candidates and or
ganization are perfect. the management OF
the campaign faultless. and the party as
harmonious as harmony and as earnest as
dynamite. the Republicans need not be dis
couraged. But they are discouraged. II
there was not other reason enough for
their depression, the cold and cruel words.
I'VE can only win by resolute. per-
sistent fight In every school district"
would be deadly dampener Of Republican
hope This is sort Of formula for letting
the Republicans down easily. When notice
is served that the fight must be carried into
every school district. the Republican in
Sullivan county begins to think more about |
the time when the bears are going to hole |
in" than Of the election: and the Repub- |
lican below Fourteenth street" whistles |
wearily and wearily vets his whistle. He |
knows that the Republican crop next fall |
will be small potatoes.
It is interesting to notice that the 1rib- |
une's plan of campaign leaves out the ter |
rible approach against the Tammany cita-
del threatened by the Rochester warriors.