New-York tribune., 1896-10-20
THE PARTY or PRINCIPLE.

Charles Reade. in one of his most thrilling
romances. drew fine picture of Man of frn-
ciple. Through chapter after chapter the other
characters creatures of impulse. Of policy, or
what not. pursued their more or less devious
ways. Their motives were often admirable.
But the supreme quality Of truth was not IN
variably present and regnant. Some subierfuges
We're made Use Of rendering necessary others,
and yet others. "A tangled web,' indeed. was
woven. Then came the catastrophe, inevitable
and rcmorseless. Further deception was i'm
possible Tricks were futile PretCnccs We're
laid bare. All wore in a hopeless fuitcr OF
confusion. at cross purposes. ready for re-
elimination. All but the one Man of Principle.
He alone had nothing 10 conceal. nor To eN-
pan He alone remained serene and undis
mayed. master of himself and Of the scene.
His steadfastness and integrity of purpose and
of action redeemed them all from ruin. and
turned what scei. ed disaster into ultimate tr
umph.
\ striking reproduction Of this episode. mag
nificd into colossal dimensions is 10 he seen
in this present dav and land with parties in
stead of individuals for the actors. and with
the Nation for Il slage. For years the play has
been going on: farce, molOdrama. tragedy. or
what YOU will. All characters but one have
been moved by impulse. passion. policy They
have turned now this way and now that. as
temporary advantage seemed to offer. Intent
up0n tricking Others. they have trickcd them
selves and enmcshed themselves i'm hopeless.
tangle Of prcvaricatiOns and false prcteDces.
Now comes the climax of the plot. and they
stand abashed and panic-sircken. each one $
hand turned against his neghbor. their voices
n Babel OF counter examinations. 1t Is Il scene
for some pity. for much contempt. and for utter
despair FOL those who should have none bu
these TO depend upon for righting of affairs.
But these. happily for the Republic. ar" not
all Secure serene and undisturbcd stands the
one great Party Of Principle 1t has no record
to conceal. no apologies to make. no rctraciion
to offer. 1t does not have 10 repudia'e In au-
tumn the platform it adopted in summer. 1t
does not have to split itself TO save itself. II
"- never sold the truth 10 serve the hOur.
Nor paltered with Eternal God for power
To-day II has only to stand just where II has
always stood. stcadfast for the right; true to
itself and. therefore. true 10 the Nation. 1t
came into existence as a protest against east"
and classes and scctonalsm. II did its first
great work in saving thr life of the Nation. ~
supplemented that by grandly saving and vim
dicating the Nations honor. To-day II has the
same old foes under new names 10 fight. class
hatreds and scc,ionalism and deadly assaults
upon the Nations honor and very life. IL has
only 10 meet them in the same old way. to win
the same old victory that it WOE In 1SG' and
1879. Amid all the mad confusion Of the hour
il is the one fixed quantity. the certain factor:
master Of itself and Of the situation, and tle
hope Of the Republic There has beer no nobler
moment in the whole noble history of the Re-
publican party than this, in which It once moro
leads the forces of The Nation in this latest
and not least fatcfu battle for the Nations $
lifc