The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-05-26
Symptoms of Dissolution.

1t will be recollected, says the In
%dianapolis Sentinel, that during the
war it was frequently asserted by
prominent members of the so-called
Union9or Republican party, that with
the suppression of the rebellion and
the restoration of peace the mission of
that party would be ended-the OBJ
ject which called, it into, existence and
gave 1t life and vigor would be accom-
plished by the cessation of the strife
between the contending sections of the
country. 1t was claimed that the par
ty was united only upon that single
issue, while the diversity and antag-
onism of sentiment upon political
questions that had existed previous to
would be resumed when the war end
ed. When the struggle ceased, the
Radical leaders had become SO intoxi-
Gated with the exercise of power, and
fattened upon the extravaganza and
corruption that characterized the con-
duct OF public affairs during that strug-
gle 'for the life OF the nations" as they
termed it, hat they were unwilling
that the old issues that had divided
the country and antagonized parties
should be resumed. Every effort has
been made by the leaders of the DOM
inant party to keep alive. the passions
and prejudices that the war develop
ea- and 7engendered. IF true love of
country had ruled in the public coun
ellis, a sincere desire for the public
welfare, the. restoration of the Union
would have followed tie restoration
of peace, and by this time the devas-
tation and waste caused by the terri
Bile struggle would have been efaeed.
But the interests of party and the ag-
grandisement of partisans have been
the rule with the leaders of the party
in power instead of the interests of
the country and the advancement of
individual prosperity and happiness.
The New York Eoening Post, a Rad
ical print, thus portrays the character
and the doings of the law making
power:
"Neuer before has Congress-" and
Congress is the emitome and exponent
of the Radical party, sheen so corrupt /;
never has the lobby been so powerful
at Washington; rever have efforts to
control Congress for the advantage of
special Legislation been so unbzushnlgly
made. % Il ,i, q H X x
Never has the public business been so
badly neglected = X = Never
has a National Legislature done 20 lit
tie good, and so mach harm. = \
The business of Congress is almost as
badly done as that of our Legislature
at Albany, [another Radical body,] in
viii CHI the whole session is occupied
with Jobs and schemes for plumber
Whenever a Government tempts to do
more THAN "to keep the peace and do
justice. y" it becomes inevitably, as ucih
as, the tool Of shaipers."
Even some of the Radical members
of Congress became Disguised with
the debasement exhibited by the hum
cry crow that were seeking for places
under the new administration. Sen
ator Trumbull was constrained to use
the following forcible language in ex-
pressing his disgust over the struggle
for official favors. He said:
"Wc shall be broken mp, unless some
administration set the example, OF
some legislation shall compel it, OF
making the price of office good behav-i
ior only. The scenes aud the scramble
Of the last month haze been dfsgrdcefid, as
you know x :
We must reform this altogether, or
the political state of the country will
be degraded beyond recouery.'
Even the New York Herald was
forced to reprobate the shameless
scramble among the leaders of the Rad
ical party for the spoils of victory,
and to condemn the gross corruption
which had characterized their conduct
of public affairs. 1T said: ..f
''1he fact has become patent that the
Republican party rs the most corrupt that
erer cursed Our land. During the war
its leaders fell upon the national treas
ury and the public credit like so many
wolves Their jobs and rob-
berries in the way of army contracts,
in the sale of rottoni old hulks for
transports, in the building of new war
vessels that proved shells or abortions,
and in everything connected with sup
plies, including provisions, clothing,
forage, hospital stores, and so on to
the end of the catalogue, for the use
of the army and navy, we're enough to
appal any other people than the Amer
A party that has become thus cor
rupt must be either on the verge OF
dissolution, Or else the people that toll
crates such a rule must be hopelessly
morally and pecuniarily on
the brink of bankruptcy.-G reenviAe