The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-06-17
THE PHILOSOPHY OF REFORM.

As q general thing, men only improve In
their moral life by the complete abandonment
OF old habits, old modes OF thought, and the
foFsakilg of former eompanionship; and what
is tr.e in respect to individuals is also true Of
parties and OF men in the aggregate.
Knowing these TO be the foundation prinei-
pies upon which the World moves forward
and makes progress, we have been slow to be-
!ieye that the Democratic party had SO far
forgot Its Intense hatred OF the eolored race,
or was up to Ignoring that wicked and per-
adious notion which 1t has SO long entertained,
that this is y white mans governmen t,"
that its great lights and Its rank and file,
especially the latter, could go for Chief Justice
Chase upon the platform from which he will
not bulge an inchj that we have never had q
particle ofconadence In his nomlnatlon by that
party. "Csn the Ethiopian change his skin
or the leopard his spotsl then shall they who
are accustomed to do evil learn to do we'll"
The Herald supported Mr.. Chase. That was
to be expected. The Herald has no moral In.
stincts. Principle never leads 1t In making
its choice Of whom or what 1t will support
Interest, caprice, mischief, anything governs
This Journal, Wherever 1t can prove . mar
plot, 1t is chiefly anxious to do 1t.
The World undertook to go for Chase and
shew for brief period that Its managers had
some lingering remembrance of its earlier
and better principles, but 1t too has now
backed square down..
The Day BOOK, the Columbus Siatesman, the
NatioaGI Ia!eRigsaesr, the Chicago Times, aud
come other journals were calling for q change
or the World must be read out of the party,
whereupon this paper backs square down.
The following signIhcan. words show "that
like the dog 1t has returned" sc.
with the opinions which Mr.. Chase con.
tinues to hold he Is by far too sayacious aud
Iiehr.stshied politician to suppose that the
Democratic party can have any serious thought
OF making him Its candidate for President.
while the party is compelled to recognize the
existence OF many unwelcome facts which IL
cannot reverse, II has not changed, and cannot
change its principles: The fact that the ne
election is a fact which the Democrats party
recognizes only on compulsion, while Chief
Justice Chase regards II with more than com
the Joy which attends the fulhllment Of q long
cherished hope. What he has so ardently de-
stree, me Democratic party has strenuously
resisted and Indignantly denounced.
The Democratic party may be unable to re.
woke what has been done; but they cert ainIy
are not going to endorse 1t, as they would viz
tually do by nominating a man who makes it
The cornerstone OF his political creed. There
Is a great difference between submitting to
stand 1t, and placing ourselves under the said.
ahce Of man who has aided In bringing the
cyl xiI upon US We should be glad to see Mr..
iOIoW -hr. blhiE Anu senator DOOlttlo
INTO the Democratic partyj but as he regards
negro suffrage as blessing instead of an afro
elous, though perhaps irretrievable blunder,
we DO not see how he and the Democratic
party Gan nave any bond Of fellowship. We
uld NOT opJect TO parley, but 1t was certain
from the beginning that the mountain would
not go to Mahomet, and II appears that Ma
homet Will not come to the mou n tain, which
steadfast as the Chief Justice IL. wouid bsv.
been much the easier miracle"
In view Of this announcement Of the World.
1t Is safe to conclude that this paper has been
warned that 1t must wheel into line or be
ostracised, and read out OF the party Its
also evident that the Democratic platform viii
now be simple and pure, and go the full extent
against the colored race, and resolve most
aFmly that this Is a"white mans Govern
ment." The World tells usthat II did not OBJ
Jet 10 q Parlsy" with Mr.. Chasei but from this
we may safely conclude that Mr.. Chase himself
did object to this parley. He had none OF that
plant spirit or disposition which this Journal
applies to Mr.. Blair And Mr.. DoolIttle. Tho
Chief Justice hereafter must be regarded as
not only man Of great ability, but as so nrm
In his moral eonviotions that he could not DO
seiuced. Henesforth he will grow In the esti.
nation Of all genuine Republicans.