New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-28
ENTTSDOu AT ALBANY.

II remains TO be seen whether the Rcpubcan
politicians at Albany who are fumbling with
1 important matters which they think they are
handling are capable of learning anything from
history or experience. In the two great affairs
which they have i'm hand the Excise and Greater
York bills they are directing all their efforts
10 4 single purposo and that is. to strengthen
the hold of the Republican party upon power
or rather Of a faction Of the plrty-by smart
politics and cunning devices. However it may
he concealed in their public dcivcrances, the de-
sign Of the socalled leaders is perfectly patent.
Indeed they make no secret OF il in priva'" con
vcrsation II is 10 build up on the basis of this
legislation a system Of patronage which, ny IN
crcasing the number of Republican placc-hold-
crs will add 10 the party's working force. ana
So strengthen It for future conflicts. This in IT.
self is not Il high aim II Is hardly consistent
with the prctensions Of great party that SETS
out with proclamation that lis sole mission IS
10 promote the general good. regardless of all
considerations of personal advantage But then.
they say. political parties habtually do II: the
Tammany Democracy always used similarly the
opportunities Of power. and why shouldn't We
Well. there IS one very good reason why we
should not aside from the general consideration
that common honesty and common honor mr." az
stake In a pariy's fulfilling It's Obligations I"
the people who have rcposcd in 1t their conf
dcnce and trust That i. that Il never paws To
prlcti>c sharp politics FOR partisan ends. That
IS not a mere moralizins abstraction. hGt III"
teaching Of practical experience ana observation
The party that takes advantage of temporary
aSccndancy II pcrpciua'c itscf in power never
succeeds in It's purpose. Voters ar" not easily
f,ol.I They very quickly discern The in
tent II that sort ~ legislation. and AZ III" hrSt
opportunity set upon II the seal Of their d.s1p
prevail There j not a single instance ~ ouF
political history where a GcrrymandrT has a'-
cornplShcd any other result than t. bring about
the overthrow of the party which engineered u.
Nor do we recall an instanc" in which any party
taking the advantage Of power set ont 70 c"niihr'
It's asccndancy 10y sharp practice In l"gisiaiI"-
where the ultimate effect was not disastrous.
Short Sightc! politicians are forever attempting
the experiment. and the results are recorded IN
the successive defeat II The party In whose De-
half they played their little gam.
We commend 10 the consideration 4 The Re
publican politicians u; Albany who are schcm IL
for future marty successes this rather pregnant
lesson from the history Of politics and parties.
II has very rarely happened that polli al party
in this country has achieved 4 triumph or con
tnucd successful on account Of anything II has
itself done in the line OF legislation. II j. not
hy lis own wisdom that political party gains
or retains supremacy. but always 10y IN" mis-
takes Of the opposition. The party III power is
always al n disadvantage Whatever II does X
open 10 criticism. The party out OF power has
only To lie in wait for the mistakes which the
l. ia 10
most common mistake Of party which seems To
be imprcgnablC j. 10 Ovcruse lis opportunities
and undertake too much. The Tammany 'omoc-
rarv was never So strong as when II thought H.
self strong enough 10 experiment with popular
crcdulity in the Maynard business II did ac-
compsh temporary purpose But what hap
pcncd aftcrward:
No party can afford To trifc with the people.
And almost any party is liable, if given rope
enough TO hang itself