New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-18
I TRIUMPH OF MORALS.

Not long ago it was quite the fashion TO sneer
ot religion in politics" and the God ana mo-
rality party was the choicest theme for scoHlhg
| hefore certain audiences When the churcnes
If NewJerscy took up arms against the saloon
| and gamblers legislation. the practical poll
ticans. not of one party exclusively. Knocked al
| thcm and predicted the blowing of rams horns
without any disturbance of the walls of Jericn0.
II WIS SO when the churches Of Brooklyn began
to have an opinion about municipal corruption.
Still LATER the crusade Of Mr. Parkhurst was
derdcd and denounced, even by some clergy
mon. But Il great lesson has been taught. that
the people are not careless or Indifferent when
their government is made the tool Of fraud, vice
and crime.
The New-Jcrscy lesson is in some respects
pecuarly instructive. because there was not in
that State as in NcwYork, a protesting Demo
cratic organization. and a second ticket for III
dlgnant Democrats 10 vote. The wrath OF non
est and decent men Of that party found full cx-
preston nevertheless. Instead Of 15.OOO Demo
cratic plnrality AT the Presidential election two
years ago there is about 10000 Republican pl'l-
rality The full vote, not in all counties oticiai'
was ~, 300 for Republican candidates for Con-
grcss against l13,l15 for Democratic candl-
dates At the fr,SlilcntlHl cIc'iloH inc
lcan vote was 15G.O6s, and the Democratic
171O4o About - 900 Democrats. over third
Of the entire number in the state, either voted
Republican tickets or refused 10 vote ut all.
The Republican vote at state election was
larger than at the last Presidential election,
clearly Indicating that thousands Of Democrats
had voted directly for Republicans. while many
thousands more left the party u fraud and race
|, .,lI ,x-ftl IN
out them.
Rarely has there been more impressive
manifestation OF public opinion Without doubt
in Ncw-Jcrscy, as in other Northern States not
equally cursed and disgraced by Democratic rot
tenness. there were multtndes who refused 10
support the party because II had Frustrated their
industries How large part of the Democratic
revolt was due 10 the tariff issue cannot be ac-
curatcly stated. but no one attributes the whoie
Of II TO that cause Enough Democrats. beyond
doubt. 10 have overwhelmed their party broke
from /; mainly and solely because of IFS viola
ions Of moral and Divine law 1t had been dis
honest. indecent. criminal defying right ana
God and they refused 10 follow II.
This lesson will have its curative influence
with the practical politicians Of both parties IL
will teach Republican rs well as Democratic
managers and legislators that The moral and
religious sentiment of the people cannot be dis
regarded with irapunity. II j. but the truth
that the people of New Jersey themselves, 10y so
long tolcrating and UNFOLDING the lowest ana
bascst methods and influences. have done much
10 dcmoralizc active men In i. Oh parties. lf
the Republican party has suffered least. and has
kept lis hands more clean. II i because that
party embraced fewer If the voters who are
Indifferent 10 all moral or religious obligations.
80 that itS active men w"r" thus held more
strictly To- accountability in party rolnsclS. But
f. j. not the les true thlt men Of both parties
had been made 10 feel. 10y the long AMI nsolcnt
triumph of vice and crime in that state. that
the people had lost all regard for higher obliga
lions in their partisan zeal grand lesson II
j. for all of them. when more than "A third Of
the Democratic voters refuse 10 support the
party ~ organized knavcry.