The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-26

rnhcorous party spirit, or "fanaticism,-
than those succeeding the war. Families
were split mp by IL and friendships sacri-
feed. Nothing in tho bitterness and vio-
lence Of party hostility thathas come under
the observation Of this young man APP
proaches the violence Of the party strife
during the anti-slavery agitation. So far
from exasperating that feeling Of partisan
hostility, the war did much to mollify IL.
At the South, whom actual war came on asa
consequence Of the i~rreconcilable conflict be-
tween two radically opposed systems OF
civilization and distinct political theories,
all the old party divisions were obliterated,
and there was substituted complete politi-
cal accord. At the North, sheer patriotism
carried a great part Of the Democracy over
20 stout and loyal support Of the Republic
can pSrty, and the Democrats remaining In
their old partisanship destroyed their
chance Of attaining political power NJ
Washington by conducting q disgraceful
peace campaign In 1864, when victory for
the Union was already within reach.
Thereafter loyal sentiment replaced the
old bitterness Of purely partisan feeling and
kept the Republican party In power until
1885. The Democratic record In the politi.
cal campaign Of 1854 excluded it naturally
from the Government. The contests be-
tween the two parties in that period
were not marked by special rancor. Nor
when the Democrats came into power,
nominally, with Mr.. CLEvRLAND, was the
contest conducted with an approach to the
ferocity OF the earlier days Of the republic;
and 90 It has been since that time. The
last campaign was vigorously contested,
but 1t was a campaign Of serious discussion
rather han violent temper.
Mr.. CHAPMAN's assumption, accordingly,
Is so completely groundless that It was
In impertinence In him to venture to dis
cuss grave questions Of politics; and the
Atlantic Monthly IL open to the same 90
cusation for publishing his immature
essay as IL it were q commanding contribu-
ton to q serious discussion.
OF course, The. "misgovernment" he
writes about with so much assurance h
attributed by him to =" bossism;" but what
where exactly Is IT. Actually this country
has grown enormously in material wealth
and political strength under this "misgov-
ernment." so hat the period a~ntecedent 10
put far in the shade relatively. 1t has got
rid of slavery it has settled and removed
the dangerous and descriptive theory Of the
right of secession. heretofore ceaselessly
q cause OF discord; 1t has substituted q
SOUND and safe national currency system
for a rotten State bank system; 1t has
multiplied and extended its manufactures
and other industries. and its systems Of
transportation. Life is far more agreeable
and business is far safer than before the
war. Where, then. has been the mis-
government
Mr.. CHAPMAN, being a Goo Goo Mug
wump, naturally devotes most of his space
to describing as peculiarly awful the politi-
cal and general condition Of the city OF
New York, and %attributing it to
"bossism." II he were old enough to
remember the conditions here before
the war he would think differently,
for he would recognize in every direction
the marvellous progress made since that
time. Since then New York has passed
from q low to a high stage Of development.
Almost everything here that Mr.. CHAP
MANS generation deems requisite to toler-
able civilization has been accomplished
and added during the period Of mis-
government" AS to "bosses," they ex-
listed during that time as they exist now.
The system of party organization and man.
agement has not changed since the days Of
the Albany Regency, Of THURLow WEED,
and of SAMUEL J. TILDKN, and coinci-
dentally with this "bossing," there has
been steady political and material growth.
TI4 g ofo,~.v .vItoL
to be most requisite Is some school to teach
these young fellows the first principles Of
politics and of government.