New-York tribune., 1895-09-19
FACING THE MUSIC.

FACING THE Music
The Republicans Of the State Of New orK
have new reason to be proud of their party. II
has It's little domestic infelicties; its machinery
does not always run to the entire satisfaction oi
the vast majority Of It's voters. who are kepuD-
ncans only because they want honest admnistra-
ton and good government and who care nothing
for offices or spos: and 1t is never free from the
inharmonies arising from the largest liberty OF
opinion and the fullest freedom OF expression
When It's representatives, went up to saratoga
on Tuesday TO nominate a State ticket ana pass
resolutions and take the nitiatory steps In the
fall campaign. 1t was not supposed that the!
would do more than transact In Il perfunctory
and rather languid way the formal ana neceS
sary business and adjourn There was no trou
bic about the ticket. but there was just shadc
Of possibility OF II about the platform. And as
10 this most men said. knowing whose hand
was at the helm and the shifty impulses by
which il was guided. that the convention wouid
doubtless evade questions that seemed trouble
some. and contentIng itself with the enumeration
Of general principles and the reiteration OF an
un0ucstioned political creed. slide smoothly over
into the fall campaign. And that evidently WAS
the plan Under a management and control
which would be impossible except for the censur
able Indifference and apathy of Republicans VINO
neclec, the first duty of citizens In leaving the
primaries at the mercy of political parasites IL
was understood that the platform should De
simply retrospective and rhetorical.
Thank God. IT isn't. Two lines Of it redeem
II. and redeem the party. For, excellent as the
whole platform is in its comprehensive sweep OF
tho nolitjcal field National and State in It's ar
ralcnment Of Democratic administration and
legislation and It's clear settngforth Of what
has already been accomplished by Republican
control Of the State and what may be expected
from Republican legislation In Congress, it
would all have been empty and meaningless had
the party deliberately lodged the issue in state
politcs which all men knew II was It's duty to
meet. There were many things about the con-
venton It's composition and the influences which
| controlled its membership and seemed to direct
ifs action that were not calculated TO excite
pride or inspire hope in the breasts of honest
Republicans But there is cause for pride, ana
even for 1ubilatlon, in the circumstance that
after the game had been deliberately and care
fully fixed and the little fellows had all learned
their lesson: after the gag which had been agreed
upon had in fact been applied, and the business
ringing voice Of one man called the convention
to It's senses and upon his appeal 1t ceased 10
sneak and became courageous. No praise is too
great for the man who took such convention
rs that at Saratoga ont Of the hands OF the man
who. to all outward seeming, owned and con-
trollcl It. and faced II about from a cowardy
retreat TO firm, determined and unanimous
stand for principle. Ex-senator Warner Miller
NAV have made mistakes in the course OF long
political career, but he redeemed them all when
he took a tmid time-serving and Bossgoverned
convention by the head and faced 1t 10 It's duty
So now the Republican party OF this State
stands today-for what? For "blue law?
Not at all. Democrats enacted II. Republicans
offer no apology for enforcing 1t. 1t was their
sworn duty. Does II stand for 'bigotryF Not
at all There is no bgotry In law which one
party passes and another, accepting It's duty ana
It's responsibility, rigidly enforces The issue
presented to the Republican State Conven-
ton was absolutely simple 1t was whether
a statute law should be enforced, and whether
II dared say so. 1t did say so, and II said more
II said that the Sunday closing law was In the
interest Of labor and morality and should be
maintained 1t makes n clean-cut and distinct
Issue with those who advocate for the saloon IN
ttests privileges which no other class either ASK
or desire 1t is now a question, not between
rich and poor; not between the religious ana
jrreligous; not as 10 the observance Of the Chris
tian Sabbath, about which there are differences
of opinion among Republicans; but simply
onestion. in the first place economic In char
acter, as to whether the labor employed In bar
rooms and saloons should have one days rest In
seven. and second, as TO the morality Of granting
special privileges to "A business which, beyond
all question. engenders immortality licenious
ness and crime
And the Republicans Of the State have cause
for pride in their party that, in convention
deliberately set and fixed 10 dodge question
like this the voice Of one man was sufficient to
take It ont Of the hands Of its controlling spirit
and force II 10 its duty.