The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-31
EASTERN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT,
RHODE ISLAND.

other name than that of Republican, or upon
other principles than those by which it is thus
distinguished. If we have belief worthy an
organization, such belief is entitled to an
avowal. If we have not enough confidence in
our opinions to proclaim them openly, we should
not waste time in organizations under other
Names looking to their success. We cannot
well ask others to believe what we hesitate
about supporting. While Slavery remains the
only issue, let us continue firmly to stand by
that name which represents the only fair solu-
ton to the trouble. Any other course must end
only in confusion and defeat
No better illustration can be given of this,
than correspondent furnishes us from the
Eastern Congressional district of Rhode Island.
There the Republicans met in convention, and,
after an announcement of their principles, put
in nomination Mr.. Thomas Davis, formerly q
Democratic Representative in Congress from
the same district but, since the repeal of the
Missouri compromise, an able and earnest ad-
vocate of Republican principles. Subsequent
to this, a convention, calling itselfthe american
Republican, met in the district and, after the
announcement of the same platform as that set
up by the former convention, placed in NOM
ination Mr.. Robinson. What, then, is meant
by the American Republican, we are at some
loss to understand we are assured on all sides
that nothing personally can be urged against
Mr.. Davis; we are sure that he will make an eff
Gent heightened, honest Representative, as he
has on a former occasion sufficiently proven.
Why, then, do these gentlemen, who have at
heart the overthrow of corrupt, unprinciped
Administration, seek to defeat, or at least en-
barrass, the return of Mr.. Davis? Is is because
he does not go through the idle ceremony OF
placing American-Republican before his name
This is difficult to understand, and we have
sought the columns of the Providence Journal in
the vain hope of finding a solution of the diff
Guilty. That very respectable journal supports
the return of Mr.. Robinson to Congress but
we cannot discover one good reason for so
strange a course. 1t says that the name of
the party we consider of little importance"
Then, why oppose Mr.. Davis? The name
under which the last election had been carried
was American Republican" the Journal goes on
to say, and had come very naturally from the
union of Americans and Republicans That
is not a union of principles, but of persons, the
Americans dropping their separate organiza-
ton, and voting with the Republicans. We can
well understand this; they had no other choice.
On the grave question of Freedom or Slavery
they could not bring thoughtful, conscientious
men to vote with the Democracy Why, then,
under the circumstances, persist in retaining a
name that has no significance?
We rejoiced over the selection of Govesnor
Anthony as Senator of the United States. he
came to Washington in that capacity as Re
publican. He voted and associated with the
eminent statesmen who adorn our organization.
Is it not strange that he would seek to have a
colleague in the House, bearing the unmeaning
name of American-Republican Or at the Ma
tional Convention does he propose to have del
egation from Rhode Island knocking at the door
under that very doubtful cognomen2 Yet if the
name is not to be recognised in Washington or
at the National Convention, why continue its cul-
tivation at home2
Perhaps, after all, we may find true mean
ing for the move in a paragraph farther along
in the article to which our attention has been
called. The Journal says, Mr.. Rob- nson is
Wing of the school of Henry Clay, and such a
man does not have to abandon any Of his old
principles or adopt any new ones in accepting
an American-Republican nomination. If this
is so-if this is the true meaning Of American
Republican-our Republican friends can well
take issue with the late Convention: for the
announcement gives us matter for grave reAec-
ton. What measure of the old Clay Wing
school is the Journal prepared to offer US? What
of them, now dead, does it propose to galvan-
ize, or of those living will it now support? Are
we to hear again, through Mr. Robinson, should
he be so unfortunate as to secure an election to
Congress, of internal improvements or a high
protective tariff, or will he join the ranks of
Toombs, Benjamin, and Stephens the surviving
Wings who were of the Henry Clay school, and
yet advocate the live measures known as the
odious compromises, of which the fugitive slave
act is the principal? Are we to understand,
too, from the Journal, that no man, unless of
Wing antecedents, is to be nominated for office {?
Are Anti-Slavery men of Democratic antece-
dents to be prescribed In other words, are we
to have revived Wing party in Rhode Island,
or Republican party? The two Senators from
that State were formerly Wings Is it fair to
those Republicans who have been Democrats
to insist that all the Representatives, too should
have been Wings? Such policy is illiberal, un-
just, and misehievous The Providence Journal
is grave family paper, devoted to serious
consideration of the proprieties of life, other
wise, we should believe the Journal to be irving
its hand at joke. A precious bad joke it
would be, but still better in that light than in
. any other.
We trust that the Republicans who have so
bravely announced themselves, and selected
their leader, will abide faithfully by their re.
solve. A defeat under such circumstances is
better than victory under any other Triumph
will come in good time and when it perches on
our standard, it viii adorn banners we are not
ashamed of
THE Use MADE OF HARPER's FERRY ARSE
SAL.-The following item of news shows that
in the hoPelessly Republican States, such as
Massachusetts,, the public works are to be par
alyzed, on the plea of the necessity of reducing
expenditures
+" Reduction Of Wages.-At the U. s. armory
in Springfield, Massachusetts, thirty-six work
men have been discharged, and the wages o
lo0 remaining at work are reduced FIVE, ten
and in few instances twenty per cent.-ths
consequence of the failure of the appropriation
bill"