The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-21


johnson the arrangement which he actually
concluded.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
From the NJ Y. Herald.
The great Republican party is very far from
being united on important questions of public
policy. In fact there are two well-defned
parties and several little factions or rings
under the same political organization making
war upon one another. Even the administra-
ton Of General Grant, which all combined to
bring into power and which has held the reins
of government less than year, fails to unite
or control the party. While there is desire
to hold the party together and to make the
administration the bond of union, there are
really no cohesion and no general principles
of public policy upon which the factions and
cliques can unite This is seen on the very
important questionable greatest political
question of the day : the restoration
of the Southern States The debate
and votes in both houses of Congress
on the question of restoring Virginia show
that the prominent leaders as well as the Re-
publican members generally are widely di-
vided. There is a fierce struggle between
those who advocate moderate and conserva-
tive policy-who would admit Virginia as she
presents herself for admission, and who
WISH 10 See TecOuSIrucIlon promptly GULL
pleted-and those who are for imposing more
disabilities and restrictions upon the South
ern States. II is fight between the extreme
radicals, Of whom Sumner in the Senate and
Butler in the House are leaders, and the con-
servative Republicans. This difference is ex-
aggerated, too, no doubt, by the personal
rivalry and feeling of leading members The
administration is with the conservatives on
the question of restoring Virginia and the
other Southern States. In fact, the Presi-
dent proclaimed this policy in his message to
Congress, and thus laid it down as the plat
form of the party. Yet we see the radical
division of the party ignoring the views or
wish of the President, and showing strength
in Congress which the administration and
conservative Republicans combined may find
it hard to overcome.
Then, again, we see one of the most promi-
nent Republicans in Congress, and the chair
man of the Committee on Appropriations, Mr..
Dawes, attacking the administration for its
| extravaganza and for breaking its promises to
| the country in the matter of economy. His
| speech in the House on Tuesday on this sub
| ject was most damaging. He was fearless
| enough to say the truth, however much it
| might hurt the administration or the party to
| which he belongs. He denounced all the
members of the Cabinet for violating pledges
| to the people and for reckless extravaganza,
except Attorney General Hoar. This excep-
| ton of MIR. Hoar, however, amounts to
| nothing, as the Attorney Generals Office has
| little to do with the expenditure of the public
money, and does not require much to carry on
its operations. Mr. Dawes paid particular
attention to the large and reckless estimates
of the Secretary of the Navy and of the Post
| master General and his censures were well
sustained by figures. The book of estimates,
he said, for the next fiscal year contained ap-
| preparations for public works of 1924, ,625, 173,
against appropriations for the same objects
last year of SS5, 493, 900. He showed that the
| Republican party had come into power by it's
assaults upon the profigate expenditures Of
Andrew Johnson's administration and upon
its professions of reform and economy; yet,
he said, the estimate to carry on the Govern
| IN ent for the next year was an increase OF
$2S, 900, 900 over the amount required by
Andrew Johnson, and of $49, ,628, ,537 over the
amount appropriated for the present year.
All this shows that the professions of econo.
my by the Republican party in Congress and
| Republican administration were insincere,
and were only used as political capital to gel
the votes of q credulous and victimized pub
lie.
Looking at the division in the dominant
party on vital questions of public policy, al
its violated promises and shortcomings at its
| reckless extravaganza, at its want of defined
| principles in the management OF public
affairs, and at its indifference with regard to
supporting the administration it has chosen,
we are naturally led to inquire what prospect
there is of perpetuating its power, and what
chance there may be for the opposition party
There was a positive issue ON the slavery
questionable one, in fact, which brought
the Republicans into power-as there was
too, in the prosecution of the war; but
neither exists any longer. The Republi
cans, however, have used the slavery
agitation and the war for politica
capital long after the questions were settled
and until they are worn out. The people ar,
tired of them, and look for other questions o.
issues that bear upon the present and future
In this respect the dominant party does no
meet the wants and expectations of the coun
try; for, as was said, it has no positive policy
no platform of principles, and no unity O
cohesiveness beyond that which the spoils o
Office give. Who, then, is to govern thi
great country? What party can take tn
place of,the one in power? Are we to drif
along in this negative way without princi
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