New-York tribune., 1895-10-18
COVRAGE ALWAYS PAYS.

else But il always pays, in politics as IN every
thing else. 10 speak the truth, act honestly ana
stand up for principle When the RepuDlcan
State Convention met at Saratoga there was, as
all the world knew, but one question upon which
IFS formal utterance as n party was awaited with
either interest or curiosity. The position OF the
party upon National questions was well under
stood. SO far as these were concerned Its reso-
lutons could only be reiterative of what had been
said already scores and hundreds Of times On
the tariff or finance. or any other question OF
National politics. no one expected it to say any
thing new or even interesting. The issues be-
fore 1t were State and local. and chief OF these
indeed the only one Of absorbing interest-was
the one raised by the opponents OF the enforce
ment Of the Sunday laws That issue could not
be deccntly avoided Managing politicians who
mistook cowardice for cunning undertook TO
dodge the issue. and have ever since been talk
ing about the mistake that was made in stand
ing up and meeting it squarely. But suppose the
convention had accepted their leadership ana
said not word in the platform about the only
burning question of the campaign, which was ana
is whether all laws should be enforced, and Sun
day laws no less than any other. who could com
pute the number of conscientious Republicans In
shameful cowardicc would have stayed at home
on Election Day. they did on a famous occa-
sion in 1882. when the ticket was showed under
by nearly 100000 majority:
| The convention rose above the cowardce Of
| its leaders and met the issue In presence of
wild and unreasoning clamor for the abrogation
| of the day of weekly rest and the establishment
| Of n Saloon Sunday what could the Republican
| party-or any honest party which recognized
| the binding force Of law and respected the pub
lie sentiment which from time immemorlal had
| retained Sunday laws upon the statutebook-
what could it do in all honesty and fair dealing
except say, distinctly and positively, that it
| favored the maintenance of the Sunday laws III
the interest Of labor and morality? Does any
| intelligent person who knows anything OF the
history Of the Republican party or Of the ele-
| ments of which il is constituted, doubt for
single instant that the party is in favor Of the
maintenance of Sunday laws! Does any one
suppose that If il had not the moral courage TO
say so it would poll votes enough to carry ms
| or auy election? Or does any one suppose
If II should go further under the stress OF us
fears OF losing the votes Of numerous
class of voters and say II favored the aDro-
/ cation Of Sunday laws and the establishment OF
"A IL
70 save il from falling into absolute contempt
as a political factor: There is no question, there
can be none. as to the attitude Of the party
toward laws which have behind them the sane
ton of immemorial usage as well as the interests
OF labor and morality. That being so, II wcuid
have been the moral suicide which results from
| cowardce for the State Convention 10 nave saiu
| less or other than 1t did.
A. nnl q
nbenomcnal political period that the Rev. Dr.
parkmrst who. we nay be permitted to say, Is
somebody. and Of some political consequence
| only because he has shown the courage OF DIS
| convictions in making magnificent fight ana
| at times a mighty lonesome one against 1orms
Of vice and immortality which seemed to have
| the same countenance and support that are De-
hind the Saloon Sundays now reported to have
| grave doubts as to the expedlency or the action
Of the Republican State Convention relative to
| the Sunday laws He has begun TO be timid, ana
10 consult considerations of expediency instead
| of high principle He would have all the ener-
| pies Of the Reform movement devoted to the
| obliteraton Of Tammany without permitting
them to be diverted or divided by the Saloon
Sunday issue. Why, bless his philanthropic SOUL
the Saloon Sunday Is the very essence OF ram
, many 1t is its vital element, the source OF l's
| strength. the very coil in which 1t couches for
| Its spring upon law and morals. and the pubic
| peace. and order, and all that pertains TO honest
administration and good government This Is
no time to hesitate or bubble or criticise. The
forces are arrayed. The Republican party stands
for that venerable social institution known as
the Weekly Rest" for "the maintenance OF
1.-The Sunday laws In the interest OF labor and
morality" Against 1t stand Tammany and It's
allies for the Saloon Sunday, with all that it I'M
niles The choice Is between them, and between
them alone And II II should so happen that out
Of the chaos of divided counsels and the self
assertion of men who mean well but don't know
how 10 subordinate their preconceptions and
preiudces to the deliberately expressed will Of
the majority there should come disappointment
for the friends Of good government and reform,
hetter SO than a meaningless temporary success
achieved by dOuble-dealing and dishonor
The Republican party never gained anything
nv shutting, and never lost anything by mani
festing the courage Of its convictions Thirty
five wears ago, in its second National conven-
ton under the lead Of men who mstook coward
ice for cunning, 1t voted down almost unanl-
mously a resolution asserting its belief In the
fundamental doctrine OF the Declaration OF In
denendence But George William Curtis In
three minutes speech recalled the convention to
ifs senses and by an absolutely unanimous vote
| Il shook off its fears and It's tlmidity and as
serted itself Upon no part OF It's record does
the honest and courageous Republican dwell
with sncercr pride than on that. 1t will some
time happen that a similar episode in the Sara
toga State Convention will be similarly remem-
bered For the Republican party without ths