The Placer herald., 1866-08-11
From the New York Herald. June 3Oth.
The National Convention and the Issue at
the next Election.

|
ven,ion itself. The decentralization of the
republican party is now so evident that no.
body can affect ignorance Of the fact. This
call has torn away the veil of sophs,rv bv
which the republican politicians have sought
10 conceal their dissensions from the people.
and everybody can now see what a rotten
disorganzed and mor,buDd body the once
powerful republican party really is. 1t will
be impossible to 90 before the people at the
next elections with any of the old prelences
OF harmony after this remarkable revelation
OF discord and antagonism. The republican
party. like huge monopoly, is falling to
pieces from its own corruption. 1t has no
strength outside of Congress. In no State
election since the war has it dared to meet
The questions at issue boldly and sincerely
Durng The war it lodged all responsibility
and paia'ed all offences by pleading The
military necessity for its continuance in pow
er. Since The war it has still aked wildly
of "copperheads," "loyaIty," TRAITORS" and
other calchwords to deceive and deude the
voters. But at last it has been broken up
by its own members, and the coming eec
tions will probably seal its fate
When We look at the present Congress we
behold the republican party as it exits in its
moral and political degeneracy. A more
corrupt body than this Congress never dis
grared any country. 1t is one immense,
concentrated, delesable job from beginning
to end. 1t is composed Of men who made
dishonest fortunes during the war; of bogus
generals who killed only their own men; of
knav'sh contractors, who purchased their
seats in order TO continue their rotheries OF
The Treasury; Of raving fanatics. who ought
TO be in Bedlam; of small politicians, whose
only ambition is to steal enough money to
tuld n house; Of foolish philosophers who
love TO air their theories, but who have not
single practical idea; and of weak,ninded
members, who are en- irey under the control
of the jobbers and are paid accordingly. The
very few good men in it are but exceptions
that prove the rule, and their purity makes
the immortality Of the maj rly all the black
er by the contrast. Legislation in this Con
vain for any measure based upon true princi
pies Of public policy; they are all instigated
by private cIiqoes from the meanest motives
of political or personal aggrand'zement.-
The Jay Cooke scheme, the Montana bilT,
the educational JOB, the Freedmen's Bureau
swindle, the Mexican loans, the tremendous
frauds of the National Bank s,slem, and the
extortions of a~tar'ff designed to impoversh
The rrst of the country for The benefit of
New England and Pennsy vania, are inslan,
ces of this kind of legislation. Over two
be squandeled in these m measures alone, and
the suffering tax payers are compelled to en-
dure such enormous expenditures, which are
Of 10 possible service to the nation. Thus
the national debt is constantly increased, in
spite of The representations of the Secretary
of the Treasury, and before long it will be-
come, not "national bessing," but na
lionaI curse.
Yet this Congress, such as it lie, comprises
the republican party Of the present day
With the members we have described, with
legislation completely controlled by jobbing
or political scbemers, with debates that SELL
dom rise above backguardism. and with
policy which simply consists in The cowardly
and unconstitutional exclusion of the South
ern States for partisan objects, it continues
to defy public sentiment and is only anxious
to prolong lis existence as much as possible
1t has few apol"gists and no friends. Even
the radical office holders dsirust its power
to project them and are ready 10 turn upon
it at any moment. The people are disguised
with it. The tax collectors are presenting
the very strongest arguments against it.
When it dies, the republican party, which
has become identified with it, must die also.
This party, organized upon platform which
pr missed economy, has been more ex'rava'
giant and corrupt than the party which il
superseded. Once loyal to the Union, t'bas
originated new breed of disunionsts, led
by Messrs. Stevens and Sumner. The SO
called party of reform, it now needs thor
ough reformation. 1t professed to be imbued
with moral ideas, but has become notorious
for disrepulabe practices. During the war
it cloaked its crimes with loyalty; but now
that the war is over it stands exposed in all
its d+pravty to the eyes OF the people. In
word, its mission is accomplished and 1t
must give place to another and better party.
Whether the party of the future is to be
built up under the auspices of the Philadel'
pha National Convention is, however, diff
ferent question. That Convention seems to
be rather an attempt to frigh'en the radicals
by making a formidable diversion than
genuine spontaneous popular movement
The politicians concerned may at any time
back out of it, as Wade and Greeley gave
up their idea of Cleveland Convention
against Lincoln. Still, it is too soon to PREF
diet precisely what will happen. The re'
publican party itself started from a much
more insignificant beginning. If all conser
va,ive men. irrespective of party, will unite
at the Congressional elections, make opposi'
ion to the present Congress the sole issue,
and elect candidates pedg ged to thorough
reform, something may be done in the way
of new party before the Presidential can
vass, especially if President johnson plays
bis trump cards of dismissal of bis Cabi-
net and demand for Canada or the Ala
bama claims. Under this Congress, or an
other Ike it. we should be forced TO general