The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-10

for the sake of reinstating these men in
place as the guardians of the revenue and
the public morals.
What other motive can they have' Are
they to come together again for the sake
of revenging the wrongs of the expelled
ofice-holders, with which the metropoli-
tan organ Of the Opposition has groaned
dismally for SO many weeks This is
very inadequate motive. The masses care
very little about this. The Office holders
feel it, but the people generally are quite
Indifferent on this subject. The best ad-
vised and the most influential of the De-
mocratic journals--such as the Albany
.Argus and the New York Evening Post
hold very moderate language in this be-
half. Twenty years. exclusion from pub
lie employment gives the WING party too
obvious a right to an equalization Of the
Offices to be resisted by friend or foe.
These motives for reunion disposed Of,
and what remains to rebuild the Demo-
cratic party uponl We mean, what re-
mains for an OPPOSITION that can claim
to be Democratic? With regard to every
thing that can be the subject of legisla-
ton, the PRESIDENT says that it will be
his object merely to give satisfaction to
the American people and carry out their
will. He is pledged to no whims Or dog
mas. He believes in the Improvement of
harbors and rivers-and will 60 just as
far in that policy as the people, through
their representatives, may desire. The
PEOPLE have expressed their wants on this
subject in past years-we do not suppose
that they will go much farther in their de-
mands for the next four than they have for
the last four years. We believe they are
not generally of the opinion that it is ne
cessary to go on and finish the world in
the lifetime of the present generation.
They are willing to leave something for
posterity to do-besides paying bills. We
certainly are in favor of a liberal system
of harbor and river improvements-and
a majority of the American people have
always been in favor of them. On this
question the Wines have always been on
the popular side-and there are many,
very many, among the Democratic party
who will be much more likely to come
over to the Administration on this issue,
than they will be to aid in the recon-
struction of the Democratic party on any
other. We have no doubt that Mr.. WEB
sTER will see that accomplished which he
predicted in his letter of June, 1847, to
the Chicago convention, when he said:
I" shall see, am sure, the cause of In
+" ternal Improvement triumph by decided
!" majorities. | shall see the lake harbors
" improved, and new ones constructed; /
" shall see the noble rivers of the West
/" cleared of their distractions; | shall see
I" the great internal interests of the coun-
" try protected and advanced by wise,
" liberal, and constitutional exercise of the
powersof the government.
1t will be with the Tariff and the Sub
treasury, and with all the questions that
have been brought into the vortex of party
discussion, just as the majority of the peo-
pie desire. If they think that there is a
little too much absurdity in using day to
transact, with the Government, business
which you can transact with your neigh
Dor in minute-that il is little too mon
strous in this stage of civilization to send
men from Washington to New York or st.
Louis, or Cincinnati, to transport money
in boxes and barrels Of specie, which
might better be transmitted in currency
that will pass along the telegraph wires,
as subtle and as potent as its own cleo
tricity-they will no doubt lay so through
their representatives. Public opinion was
at one time settling down into a sort
of acquiescence in the Sub-treasury
act, under the belief that it was answer
ing useful purpose. But its practical
working, we believe, is fast bringing the
people around to the belief that what the
Globe, and Richmond Enquirer, and Mr..
Polk, and Mr.. WOODBURY. said of it in
1884 was about correct. If the people say
repeal, the Sub-treasury will be repealed.
II they say modify only, it will be modi-
fed. What true Democrat is prepared to
go into a crusade against the Administra-
ton, for the sake of keeping the Sub-trea-
sury as it is, if the people wish it to be
otherwise }
So, too, with the Tariff We believe
that majority of the people are opposed
to many provisions Of the tariff of 1916.
We believe they want it, in several partic
ulars, modified and amended. If they en-
terrain and express that desire, they ought
to be gratifed, so long as they ask no.
thing but what is constitutional. As far as
it lies with the present Administration,