The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-11-07
"After Grant-what s,'


One of the greatest if not the greatest of thu
political conflicts of the country has just beer
brought to close by the decisive victory of th,
party of equal rights. As at the close of thu
war, millions OF anxious hearts throb with
quiet Joy and a calm confidence in the future
The clouds that SO lately were darkening oul
political prospects begin to retire, and we see
the sun once more.
There is now an opportunity to indulge il
some reflections suggested by the event. San
guine temperaments predict the ascenaency o
the Republicans for at least fifty years. w,
would not dispel these hopes but only maxi
their realization more certain by dwelling il
season upon the conditions, without which
these hopes must be vain.
The Republican party can obtain the conf
dence of the people only by pursuing Judi
cious and progressive policy, and by keeping
able and true men at the helm. The battl,
has not been fought once for all. 1t is an eve
recurring conflict There will yet be crises in
our national history, which will test to the ut
most the wisdom and the spirit of the Repub
lican party. Victory is often more trying thar
defeat. 1t is a time for watchfulness, not fol
intoxication. For with success comes new re-
sponsibilities and new dangers. On the great
ocean of the future it will not be all clear skies
and smooth sailing. There will be tempests
and adverse winds to encounter and many a
sunken rock upon which the great party may
be wrecked.
1t is a mistake to suppose that Conservatism
is dead. The Democratic party as at present
constituted, that is as an organization to carry
out the specific principles contained in the
Democratic platform, can scarcely survive until
another Presidential election for it is safe to pre-
dict that nearly every question upon which
they have now taken issue, will in less than
four years be settled beyond all controversy.
Where the Democracy now stand there will by
that time be nothing left to stand upon. But
the same Conservatism which has opposed
these reforms will still exist, and be ready. to
resist any new reforms that may be proposed.
Whether that conservatism be called Democ-
racy or something else, makes little difference.
Human society is so constituted that the
radical and progressive clements are balanced
and held by the conservatists and reactionists
Incapable of becoming motive power them
selves, it is their province to apply the brake
when the motion of society becomes too rapid
Some consider them a useless clog But true
philosophy takes broader view Thou Oh
sometimes checking progress when no check is
needed, tie normal action of conservatism is
heathfu and salutary. 1t tempers the ex-
tremes to which unbridled ultraism might be
hurried, and tends to prevent rash and hurt
full innovations as well as those that are useful.
In English politics for upwards of two hun
dred years radicalism and conservatism have
struggled for the mastery, with varying for
tunes, yet on the whole with decided ADVANTAGE
10 the Liberals. Now once more the Tories OF
England, like the Democracy a America, are
overwhelmed with defeat Yet conservatism
is not annlhilated by this defeat more than by
those IL mas sunered in the past 1t always has
commended every inch of ground Welded ia
progress and shows no signs of relaxing its Of
forts. 1t must be regarded as permanent el-
emenG in our politics.
If, therefore, the Democratic party does not
some party surely will rise up to oppose the
Republicans, to take advantage of their mis-
takes if they make any, and to improve an!
opportunity that may offer to snatch fir on
them the reins of government Between the
radical progressive element which with feU
exceptions will naturally gravitate to the Re
publicans, and the conservatism which will q,
naturally gravitate to the Democracy thor,
will be unceasing conflict.
This natural opposition will determine tn,
bounding line of parties on all question
where innovations are involved, and the di
vision of parties on these questions will influ
ence, if it does not control, the divisions tina
take pace on other questions. A few bolC
thinkers will always decide every question NJ
on its merits. But party sympathy, when NJ
counteracted by some more powerful motive
will lead the mass of those who act togethe
on the principal questions to combine on m
nor issues
1t is not safe to ignore or tespise the 1ppc
sition which the Republican party is likely t
encounter. From this vain dream OF unoppo,
ed success we may too la,e be aroused, as
1887, by the ala rum of defeat
With vigilance and activity there is nothin
10 lear. The same qualities that have give
the Republican party victory over past dar
eefs VIII be equally potent in the future. ]