Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-11-07
POLITIC.S OF TIE DA Y-iSIGNS
DE THE TIMES
GF-om the Cincinnati Gazette. I


The Republican party has met Win a
check. which,lf well used, will secure them
in power. and il not, will be fatal to all sue
cess. This is the sleepy and careless year,
i'm which success on either side is not very
important but next gear (lS6S) is the one
which must settle tue politics of the coun-
try for long period. No experienced pol
itician is in the least doubt as 10 the cause
of the falling off in Ohio; and 1t is not
therefore, by way of excuse (for there is no
excuse) but for instruction for future ben
eft, that We shall comment a little on the
state of affairs, both in Ohio and the coun
try. Before we proceed, however, let US
say, for those whom q little check discour-
ages, that in 1862 the whole Democratic
State ticket was elected by 5000 majority,
and fourteen ont of nineteen Congressman
elected, Notwithstanding the Democratic
7 ticket was beaten in 1868, 10y 100000 ma
jority. Now we have not done half SO bad
as i'm 1862, and if there is any prudence or
good sense left in the Republican party We
shall carry the Presidential ticket, in lS6s,
by nearly as large majority. as in 1853.
But, that is the question. Will good men
ever learn that they cannot turn the current
of human nature by law and logic? Will
they ever learn still greater truth, that
there are many things which ought not to
be turned by law or logic ? Many things
on which the people have right to oRsuit
their interests and their prejudices We
never saw the particular advanlsge of run
ming our head against 8 stone wall in order
to test the existence OF matter. We know
it beforehand. But, let us take the partic
ular facts before us. The falling off OF the
Republican majority in Ohio, is caused
solely, ~ it was in 1862, by the disaffection
(tor time) of Republicans. There are no
changes of opinion among the people worth
counting Nay, so far from it, that if Con
srcss had taken more decisive measures in
regard to the South. and crushed the rebel
element there entirely, it would have been
more popular than the dilatory measures
they have all -pled. If there are any Dem
ocrais or Conservatives who believe that
the Ohio election had anything TO do With
the military reconstruction OF the South,
they are preparing for themselves a bitter
disappointment. The proof on this head
is positive. hIessrS. Ashley and Shellabar-
ger are the two most radical members OF
the Ohio delegation, and the former the
most abused man in Congress, and strongly
in favor OF impeachment; yet these men
are the very ones which are the best SUI
tanned by their constituents, ir the election
was any test on that score. But wef all
know the question of reconstruction twas
not in the canvass. Many Of the RcpISii<
cans were disai!scted, ard all disorgsnized.
Why For two reasons mainly. Because
first, Of negro suffrage upon them
in the mos, impOlitic and obnoxious form.
Had the question of negro suffrage been
put 10 the people of Ohio, as il ought to
have been, as distinct question. it would
have been voted down, but t would have
in no way affected the Republican party
But it was put with two conditions which
; were positively wrong and absurd. First,
il was attached To a condition that desert
ers should be DISTINGUISHED. Most Oft these
deser.ers were not deserters in = just sense,
and yet they would have been disfranchis-
ed. They left the army without legal dis
. charges, Tut with no bad intentions. Sec
ondly the amendment was put in the mid
lie Of the Republican ticket, where every
man who resolved 10 vote against il must
. either not vote, scratch the ticket, or vote
against il. The largest number scratched
The ticket, a fe. yuled against the whole
ticket, and many stayed at home. These
facts VIII appear on the face OF the official
: returns. Yet with all the tremendous odds
against Us, General Hayes, the gallant and
worthy candidate of the Republicans. is
elected, and If il j. necessary to organize
the militia of Ohio anu march 10 Washing
} ton. he is. we doubt nOt, ready to do 1t.
In our private estimate, before the slec-
tion, we thought negro suffrage would run
full $1,000 below the general ticket, but, in
fact, il has a great deal more than that
tbs reason isnot only the prejudice against
the negro, but, The desericr clause. (Which
was equal TO 10000 vo' - and the disat-
fection OF many Republicans TO having any
such question raised. y national party
) should put nothing in its creed, doctrine or
organization which does not relate TO the
nstional policy or measures. With relig
ious, sacred, or moral questions national
party has nothln. TO do. The national
measures which are before the Republican
! party. are the reconstruction OF the South
r the equalization of taxes, the payment OF
the national debt. and a thorough economy
in all departments OF the Government. Let
: Congress attend 10 this at its next session,
in the best manner the means ard wisdom
cf the day will permit, and the Republican
President in 1865 will be elected By over
whelming lnajorities. This brings us 10
a second cause OF Republican lukewarm-
ness. This is the financial question. Con
gress Eve mean the last ene) has apparently
been ready TO spend money for any pur
pose hap hazard, with very little regard to
economy or necessity. This must at once
be stopped. The nation has no money TO
spare ON every scheme which spectators
get up. AS to the currency question, pub
lie opinion will undoubtedly justify the re-
turn of the national bank notes and the
substitution of grecnbacks for them but il
will not justify the Issue OF greenbacks in
excess 1uf the whole currency now out.
ANY attempt to do that will at once com
pleely divide the Democratic party. A.
Z tn n off, I'D
to make the entire currency simple Gov
ernment ISSUE for that is The most popular
currency we ever had in this country. But
ii cannot afford any departure from the
principle of gradual approach TO specie
payments, and steady reduction OF the
public debt. The system of taxation needs
revision by the ablest minds of the country.
irrespective of party. Let Congress call
in the help OF able, thinking minds, Of diff
srent classes, and they will get the best re-
suit of science on this subject.
With the valuable and most instructive
lessons of the autumn elections, we expect
10 see the Republican party better organ
iZed more effective. and more successful
in 1868 than ii possibly could have been
without them In public, or private at
fairs, sweet are the uses OF adversity to
those who consider and profit by the les
sons of Providence.
As to national aiTalrs-especially at
Washington-thcre is evidently some
alarm. We are asked, what will Johnson
do? In our opinion, nothing that is i'm
portant Ii Is true we cannot count upon
the acts of a madman. But on the other
hand there Is some method in JolInsons
madness. He Is not an idiot nor altogether
lunsiic. With ali his ohstinacy his rash
ness and his passion. he wants moral cour-
age. A great coIp d'etnt requires man
Of great courage. elf-poised, who dare de
~ the contingencies of fortune. and risk
the chances OF a crown. Johnson ID not
that sort of man. There aTe men about