New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-02
"pRISCERPLES.''

The Hon. William Barnes. jr., returns
from Europe refreshed in spirit and full
Of devotion TO what Lowell's pious edi
tor called 'princerpie." Men are nothing
principle is everything" said Daniel
Webster Barnes agrees with him. There
fore be is Indifferent who is picked by
the Republicans for Governor. but he is
interested in defeating direct nonlina-
tons That isn't a moral principle,
says Mr.. Barnes. and consequently he
will have none of it. On the contrary. the
real "princerple" involved is the preserva-
ton of a representative form of govern
ment. Direct nominations are false in
principle and Subversive Of a represen-
'tative system of government" And the
question is. says the Albany leader.
whether we are going to preserve such a
system or to have mob government in
its place.
1t is not recorded what waters Mr..
Barnes took in Europe-what waters
are good for a statesman jaded and Gym
zeal after such a session as the recent
one at Albany-but whatever they were
they have completely changed Mr..
harness views on -'princerples.
Not long ago he let his attitude tow
ard them be known. 1t WAS at that cor
respondents dinner in Albany whose
proceedings. supposed 10 be secret. were
published with sufficient accuracy for all
practical purposes in many of the news
paperS-not in The Tribune. The Gov
ernor made a speech which by its white
hot moral indignation thrilled all who
heard it, And according to the sufficient
" yeraciouS accounts OF our contem-
roraries it was Mr.. Barnes's remarks
which reused the indignant eloquence.
On that occasion the Albany leader. talk
ing all in the family as it were and
not for publication, had said substa ntial-
Iy that principles in politics were an
moonshine. The question was simply, he
said. who was lit" He was interested
not in ceneralities, but in whether or not
he was going 10 be moved 'off the check
erhoard' And much more, according to
reports at the time, in a similar vein of
cynicism.
OF course "princerples" are not all
moonSbine. No politician can get on with
out them Mr.. Barnes cannot dispense
with them. His frank ayOwal of his
faith al the Belshazzar's feast in Albany
who would dispute: Outside the fam
ily' il would be the Sheerest idea lism.
Who could oppose popular movement
on the ground that the question was
whether the opponent was lit" and
whether be could stay on the checker
board: Nothing but ''princerples' excuse
resistance 10 the :peoplc. Principles
moonshne: Why. what would any
man III Mr.. Barnes's position do with
out the Constitution to defend? Suppose
al unsayory alliance is 10 be made with
Tammany Hall: how shall 1t he done I'M
less TO protect the Legislature from
outside interference" and 10 preserve the
spirit of orr institutions: Is a party
caucus TO be holted by An inceSsant
preacher of regularity? "rrincerples.
man. -'princerples." Is u party to be led
To defeat? "Princerples. again: in poll
tics there is no such word as eXpediency.
Is party leader making ready TO
throw the ticket? What has he need
Of then more than "princerples" The
Constitution, our representative form of
government. the spirit of our institu-
tons. they must and shall he preserved.