New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-16
LEGISLATION on PRINCIPLE.

IEGISL1IION On TRlNtfILE.
Is Republican asccndancy an accident! Are
This CITY and State naturally inclined to the kind
of government that the Tammany machine ana
the Hill machine have given them: 10 the
pcople know so little Of what they want that
they will rcpudatc those who obey 'heir CON-
monds and without reason 20 back to the
corrupt methods under which they groahen 80
long Some timid Republicans evidently uhhh
So They appeal to legislators ana l" parry
newspapers 10 remember that IL Is ONLY ~
chance that we are In power. ana urge 'ifi' 'n'
main duty of Republicans Is to use the oppor-
runi1y To perfect the organization ana prepare
il again for work as Il minority party Iiun'"'e
mindcdness is indeed Il cardinal virtue put S'h
disr,lst may give the invitation FOR seIHes'ruc-
ton party is supposed to nave some prli'-
cpcs. and to be intrlsted with power 1"r 'hc
nurpose Of CARRYING them into ei1ect. IL i ~
oasv to throw away the chance OF victory 10y
noljtical cowardicc as by deliberate wrongdolng'
4 noltical party has no right 10 exist Tor IL
so,f lis only OK use for being is to carry out
certain ideas of government and principles Oh
administration The minute il abandons that
mission and begins to arrange plots and counter
nIots for the advantage Of its members. ana
lceslatc for the pcrpctuation Of lis organization
I'm preference to the general welfare, 1t Invites
and deserves defeat.
The Republican party carried this city ana
STATE by an overwhelming majority last NO
vnmber on an issue Of principle. III there was
one thing the people sought 10 rid themselves
81 if was being governed by men whose sole
standard Of Judgment was expediency, who
worked only TO maintain their own supremacy
nprSouIl fortunes.
YET. strange TO say. as soon as the Republicans
ossuuo1 control # affairs some OF them were
seized with panic lest the reform legislation ne-
r,opdod hv the ropular voice should prove dis-
advantageous TO the party The Power OF ne
moval bill was opposed ana delayed P"''' WIN
Tho dishonest motive of cxtorting pledges from
,he Mayor but also honestly by some because
II ,vould give greater power to Tanmany
Navor should one be elected three years h'"'''
and those timid souls had neither faith enough
in their principle, their party or the people 10
warrant their belief in a continued lease vi
mower The same disposition has peeh mann.
tested toward other proposed measures u"'ii
impatient reformcrs without the party nave p''h
inclined to say that parties were alike ana 'i"'
| we were no better than our predecessors
The practical politician Will never believe 'na'
the best way 10 win success u 10 d'serN" H.
Pm, I, j. tr,le nevertheless. The history OF the
| Democratic machine in Ncw-Iork during Inc
last few wears ought To be suihcient PROOF OH
that noint 1t ought also 10 give confidence IA
| ,bosa who doubt the expectancy Of thorough
| ,,,,,, LEGISLATION on the lines laid down In the
| ante-election pledges Of the party. RepnDhcal
| ascendancy will not be temporary unless me
! neonle have reason to be disappointed with the
| Marry rulc There Is no better way or securing
| continued power than to give fearless obedience
| to the demands Of the people. and To perform
| faithfully the obligations undertaken III the
Marty nlatform There Is no slirer way 10 Drint
| ahor, d.foot than TO legislatc in the belief thai
| It is coming whether deserved OF not sum
helicf naturally leads - selfish scramble WHICH
| I'm tho end il sure TO make defeat deserved. AL
AGGRESSIVE course. so long as 1t Is aoie ai''
| honest will meet general approval ana III
Marty need fear fpr its future which has opeye'
| nrincinle rather than policy. II is Tor the Ike
| n,,blican Marty 10 show whether or not pop
MAR blunder placed it in power. II the victor!
| was an accident to be selhshy hseu' 'hc p'op''
were IN error that they allowed such an accidcn
IN hoppen. and IL they find they made DUN
dor they NAV be trusted to correct II. II, on 'h'
other hand they reposed just confidence III III
Marty we NAV safely trust that they VIII no
| withdraw II without reason. 1t Will be well 10
,ho 7 og,sIaturo TO act with these facts in nina
and do its duty with utter disregard OF 'he mex
election. If it does this, there Will DE no loud
about the result.