New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-13
PARTY DUTY.

PARTY DtIl.
That is curious conception OF party uu''
which leads a man to support ana Wo'N ~,
precisely the thing that he himself dccl'~es VIII
hr;r, tho marty 10 ruin and defeat An agent
+, any nrivate concern who managed business
an that nrinciplc would he thought Il fool OF
something worse \ general VINO cohuuc'cu
campaign for which he was responsive IN "'-
cordance with outside advice which he khe"
would lead to disaster would be called Traitor
and be lucky to escape with his He. \ 'n'o
Logan who taught as true what ne IN MS hc''i
believed to be false would lose the respect Vi
honorable men and pass as hypocri'e III"
coward The sea captain who scuttled HIS snip
for the profit Of the owner OF the cargo Woulu
be a scoundre whom pirate might hoiu III
contempt The law is universal that he WIN
holds trust must follow his conscience III"
his Judgment to guard the interests IN his h'h"S'
There is no exception to this RUE III los'o'
There is only one tolerated in practice lha'
exception is in the conduct OF the snip Oh S'a'c
and the performance of trust duty owe" 10 'ie
members of a political party
Tho nroceedincs in the State Senate at the
massage of the Greater Ncw-iork bill oHer an
instructive illustration Of the notion heid ID!
some intelligent and honorable men OF their re-
lation to party duty and public welfare he"
tho vote was taken on that bill three Senators
nrofessing devotion to the principles OF the Re-
nuh)ican party-two Of them of acknowledged
regularity and present influence in that organ
ization-gave their support to ard helped I"
crowd through with indecent haste what theS
themselves declared to be an iniqutouS meas
ure and political blunder. one OF these seh'le
mon was Mr. George Il. Maby. He has been
Sneaker of the Assembly, and is now in Albany
70 represent the people Of ST Lawrence ana
Franklin counties and TO legSla,c for the good
of tho whole state Mr.. Joseph Mulln is there
for the same purpose by the grace Of the voters
of owls and Jefferson counties. They are pom
nlclced TO support the broad principles OF the
RenuhlicaD platform and to labor for the hlGh-
est welfare of the party. which is the highest
welfare of the people but they are pledged To
no blind obedience TO the dictation Of any man
ar sct az mon in or out Of the Legislature. They
are intrustcd with power TO use 1t with as
erection AS free agents and thinking men. not 10
take orders and do what their consciences con-
denim. Yet Senator Maby publicly declared: i
edo not believe city Of that size can he wei
governed. nor 10 believe this is a bill In the
Interest OF the Republican party. 1t
Seems to me that we Republicans are com
uniting the greatest political blunder OF the
"ace After this bill shall become law
/ II never expect again to see a Republican State
"oiicer elected" Then he voted In favor Of the
hill Did the Republicans Of st. Lawrence and
Franklin elect him Senator to make il impos-
sble for Republican State officer ever again
to no elected: And Senator Mulin. He said
that "if this bill is passed a great injury Will
obe done to the good government which now
exists in Brooklyn and | also fear that the
"Republican party will suffer harm there. v
Then he. too. voted aye" Did the people Of
Jefferson and Lewis send him TO Albany to
overthrow the good government enjoyed by their
fellow citizens OF the county Of Kings!
Thus did these two Senators deliberately by
their own confession stab the party to which
they owe allegiance and do what they believe
"a he an injury to the cause Of good government
and the interests Of the people in all parties
Yet they are men Of good reputation. They hold
high rank among their Neutrality-suspicious.. For
character and independence they are far above
the average politician We are not disposed 10
! think OF them as consciously doing wrong. we
regard them rather as the victims Of a perncious
notion of party duty which has been diligently
fostered by all the rascals in politics, who have
TO dominate the actions Of honest men. They
have led people who ought to know better to
think that the control of Il primary. however
gained. the possession Of party machinery. by
Whatsoever means secured. gives them right
TO dictate legislation, to give II or sell it, to use
il for personal ends. to party disadvantage, tC
public harm. for anything and in any way they
please And they have fostered this idea so per
sistently that even the legislators themselves
have come to look upon obedience to their owl
consciences as treason, not to the state. not t1
the party but to the men who assume to say
what the party must do regardless OF its owr
future or the general good. How deeply this
poison has eaten its way into the body polite Il
made sadly evident by the astounding position
taken on a great question by men Of such stand
Ing as Messrs. Malby and Mullin. They are no
the only ones. They are simply the men wh'
have made their betrayal Of their own ideal o
right and wrong most conspicuous.