The New York herald., 1866-06-30
NEW YoRK HERALp, SATURDAY, JUNE 30 1865


The Nationsl Convention and the Issue
at tho Next Elections.
The call for National Convention, to meet
at Philadelphia In August has already done
some good, no matter what NAV be the fate Of
the Convention itself The demoralization Of
the republican party Is now 30 evident that mo-
body can Affect ignorance Of the fact This call
has torn away the veil OF sophistry BY which
the republican politicians have sought to con-
ceal their dIssensions from the people, and
everybody can now see what rotten, disor-
ganized and morihund body the once powerful
republican party really Is 1t will be impossi-
bio 10 60 before the people ct the next cleo
tions with any Of the old pretences of harmony
after this remarkable revelation Of disoord and
antagonism. The republican party, like huge
monopoly. Is falling to pieces from its own cor
ruption. II has no strength outside Of Con-
gress. In no State election since the war has
it dared to meet the questions at issue boldly
and sincerely. During the war It lodged oil
responsibility and palliated all offences by
pleading the military necessity for Its continu-
ance In power. Since the war II has still talked
wildly Of "oopperheads." '1oyalty." "traitors"
and other catohwords to deceive and delude the
voters. But at last It has been broken up by
It's own members, and the coming elections
will probably seal It's fate.
When we look at the present Congress we
behold the republican party a. it exists
in It's moral and political degeneracy.
A more corrupt body than this Con-
gress never disgraced any country. It
Is one immense, concentrated, detestable
Job from beginning to end. It Is composed Of
men who made dishonest fortunes during the
war Of bogus generals, who killed only their
own men Of knavish contractors, who pur-
chased their seats In order to continue their
robberies of the Treasury; Of ravinp fanatics,
who ought to be in Bsdlem Of small politi-
clans, whose only ambition is to steal enough
money to build house; of foolish philoso-
pliers, who love to air their theories, but who
have not single practical idea and Of weak
minded members who are entirely under the
control Of the jobbers in the lobby and are
paid accordingly. The very few good men in it
are but the exceptions that prove the rnlc, and
their purity makes the immortality OF the ma
jority all the blacker bv the contrast. Legis-
lation in this Congress Is a great sms ofgrab.
We seek In vain for INV mn 'snra based npon
true principles Of public policy; they are all
instigated by private cliancs from the meanest
motives Of political or personal aggrandizc-
ment. Tho Jay Cooke scheme, the Montana
bill, the educational job, the Freedmen's Bu-
reau swindle, tho Mexican loans the tremsn-
dols frauds of the National Bank system, and
the extortions OF . tariff designed to impover-
fish the rest Of tho country for the benefit Of
New England and Pennsylvania, are instances
Of this kind OF legislation. Over two hundred
millions OF dollars are intended to be sqnan-
dered In these measures alone, and the suffer-
ing taxpayers are compelled to endure such
enormous expenditures, which are of no pos
siblc service to the nation. Thus the national
dpbt Is constantly increased in spite OF the
representations Of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury, and before long it will become, not
anational blessing" but national curse.
Yet this Congress, such as II is. comprises
the republican party Of the present day. With
the members we have described, with legisla-
tion completely controlled by jobbing or po-
li.ical schemers, with debates that seldom rise
above blackguardism, and with policy which
simply consists in the cowardly and unconsti-
tutional exclusion OF the Southern States for
partisan objects, It continues to defy public
sentiment and is only anxious to prolong It's
existence. as much as possible. II has few
apologists and no friends Even the radical
officeholders distrust ik power to protect
them and are ready to turn upon 1t at any mo-
ment. The people are discusted with 1t. The
tax collectors are presenting the very strong-
est arguments against il. When il dies the re-
publican party, which has become identified
with it, must die also. This party, organized
upon platform which promised economy, has
been more extravagant and corrupt than the
party which 1t superseded. Once loyal to the
Union, II has originated q new breed Of dis
unionists, led by Mcssrs Stevens and Sumner.
The so called party OF reform, II now needs
thorough reformation. II professcd to be i'm
bu ID with moral ideas, but has become noto-
rious for disreputable practices Daring tho
war It cloaked its crimes with loyalty but
now that tho war Is over II stands exposed in
all lis depravity TO the eyes Of the people.
In . word, Its mission Il accomplished and
Il must give place to another and better
party. Whether the party Of the future Is to
be built up under the auspices Of the Phila-
delphia National Convention "a, however, .
different question. That Convention seems to
be rather an attempt to frighten the radicals BY
making formidable diversion than genuine
and spontaneous popular movement The poll
ucans concerned may at any time back out Of
II, as Wade and Greeley gave up their idea Of
Cleveland Convention against Lincoln. SIN,
II Is too soon to predict precisely what viii
happen. The republican party itself started
from much more insignificant beginning. II