The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-23
SPIRIT or THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JouREALs
UPON CUBREET ToPics-coMPuED EvERT
DAY PoR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
-, R.pubIIoan Party-its Greatest
Pertls

wN. RspubIioRn Party-its Greatest
Pertls
from ne ~ y Times.
The warning of the Maine election came not
q moment too soon for the welfare of the Re-
nublican party. The West furnishes abun-
don, indications of the danger it encounters
90 consequence of the determination of
o1;ores and factions 20 fost upon it issues
Orite foreign to the recognized objects OF its
accumulation. Senator Crimes vigorous pro-
test against the attempt to make tae prohiDi-
torv tariff test of party orthodoxy, receives
the endorsement of the leading Republicans o.
his state. General Baker, Adjutant-lSeneral,
and one of its most influential men, Wrltes
stbatif the tariff lobby succeed in interpo-
lating into the creed of the Republican party
nrobibitory tariff plank, and making that the
issue. the Republican party of the Northwest
will be smashed to atoms." Strong as the
statement is, we are persuaded that 1t does
not transcend the truth. Throughout the
Northwest the Republican press is unanimous
in its denuncatiOn OF the combinations which
try to manipulate the action of Congress on
the tariff question; admitting the necessity OF
high duties in existing circumstances, but re-
sisting any assertion OF the prohlbltory prln-
cipe in the interest of classes.
The temperance question in its prOhibitory
ASPECT is another source of party weakness
elsewhere than in Maine or Massachusetts. In
Michigan the recent Convention proposed to
eng1aft the doctrine upon the State Constitu-
ton, wisely consenting, however, to submit 1T
to a separate vote. In Illinois and adjacent
States zealots seek to invest prohibition with
legislative and ultimately with constitutional
sanction, and the intolerant spirit in which
they promulgate their views threatens to
ALLEVIATE from the Republican party large
proportion of the German vote. The earnest
ness with which General Carl Schurz remon-
strates against "atte mpts to use the Republi-
can organization to infiot on the community
arbitrary legislation, encroaching on individual
rights in connection with temperance and Sun
day questions" shows the depth to which
popular feeling has been stirred on the sub
ject and the folly of those who would en-
barrass the party with eXtraneOus questions
General Leib, leader among the Germans Of
Illinois, in published letter alleges 'that so
much harm has already been done, that moth
ing but an earnest protest of the whole Repub-
Hcan press of the State" against the course
pursued, and an explicit expression of this
view in the next State platform of the party
twill secure to the Republican party the
future political support of the radical German
element"
These signs of the times should not be dis
regarded by those who would preserve the
unity and power of the Republican party.
The period is not one in which it can afford to
assume the responsibility of every cry which
individuals raise in the Republican name, or
by intolerance in any form to furnish provo
catives to division. The great work of restor-
ing the nation and guaranteeing permanence
to the results achieved by the war remains to be
completed, and until this be done no new issue
should be entertained. The future has i'm
portant questions in reserve, and the tariff is
one of them. But it were criminal to antici-
pate causes Of party difference or to divert
public attention, however slightly from the
momentous task with which it has been en-
trusted by the country. Forbearance, mode
ration, and hberaHty in Interpreting the
motives and aims of others are qualities which
the Republican party cannot too sedulously
cultivate in the present critical condition of
national affairs.