The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-09-01
WHAT A REPUBLICAN THINKS OF HIS
PARTY

iron Don Fiat Washington Letter in the Cincinnati
Commercial, Republican,
The one problem above ali others that tI,,
Republicans are called upon TO solve is
whether there remains !: platform broad
enough for the elements brought together by
the war to stand upon tremendously. If such
exists, the party continues alive If not. il
is dead. and funeral is next in order. One
can We'll wish and pray for such u common
platform, but the fact remains, staring us
SiubDornly IN the face, that unless we can
lind some code of principles, yet holding Us
together Immediate and final separation is
inevitable.
Turning my back upon what | could wish
For, and looking with calm, philosophical inn
paHlallty upon what is, | am forced to say
that there is no more cohesion, beyond mere
Office holding and public plumber, in the Re
pnhhcan party than there is in Il rope of sand
For over year have been in WASHINGTON,
employed to crltlclse our public men, and
put to newspaper record their political acts.
| wrote the fact that while the Democracy is
A compact, well organized body represent
! ing certain feelings, that make of its parts
one efficient whole, the Republicans are OF
one party only in name--and each leader is
The representative of a faction in deadly
hostility To some other faction inside the or
&lnzatlon. Were Il caucus to he called to-
IaN Tor the purpose Of considering any one
OF The more important measures now under
consideration, its deliberations would be
marked by violent discussions, personal
abuse, and every evidence OF hate and slls-
pici"n to end in a violent dissolution
SO such caucus has been held since | have
been in Washington, and no such caucls can
be held, The fact is significant that no meas
nre OF public interest passes Congress. OK
ceW us II compromise, log-rolled through
with schemes of public plumber and leaves
behind a republican minority that secretly
rrolrcs that such measure has vet to he
passed on by the people, although in such u
popular adjudication the result may be the
triumph OF the Democracy. In q word, the
i'rpaplcan party in Congress is composed
ct factions in such deadly antagonism 10
.cach other that the hate among themselves is
more intense than that given the Democracy.
/ 1t from this unhappy condition of affairs
IN congress we turn to the Executive, the
condition is yet more deplorable At the
nc when our country needs a statesman
ANA ON party at least a shrGwd business
manager, we have 4 man whose ignorance
/ OF and Indifference TO public affairs eNcites
only contempt. For the first time in the
history OF our Government we have seen oul
President standing hat in hand, at the doors
OF the Senate begging the passage of a Job
and begging in vain.
/ The best illustration, however, of what |
wish to say is to be found in the agitation
lately experienced over the tariff. Had Gen
cral Grant and his friends possessed parti-
/ Gle OF common sense, or any honest desire to
continue the republican party in power, they
would have said that there was a question
upon which Republicans can honestly differ
and yet remain republicans. Therefore let
MS strive TO compromise upon an adjustment
tfat VIII make some approach to general sat
i1lartIon. But no, the Administration begins
| by throwing itself into the arms Of the pro
hibltlonists, and ends by prosecuting the adj
NocateS OF free trade.
The tail end of the republican party, this
| little knot of prohibitonists, is the meanest
and most corrupt faction with which we are
cursed. With Simon Cameron at its head.
and Amcs and Morrell, of PENNSYLVANIA.
whose fingers are tainted with untold plumb
err who stand in their places, and without
oluShihg vote money directly into their own
pockets, at It's tail, we are told that their vile
dogma OF protection is the platform of the
party ana on our belief in it depends our
recognition rs republicans. 1t is understood
within me last two days that the bonds Of
union between the faction and the admins
tration have been strengthened The edict
has gone out that the Office now held Inv
David A. Wells is not to be continued or i
continued that Wells is to be superseded by
some stoid believer in theying made LEGAL
And His Excclcncy, who began his admins
tration with such loud assertions of purity,
after drinking with Could and Fisk, sleeping
with Corbin and dallying with Ben Butler
has publicly opened his executive arms tc
embrace Simon Cameron, the vilest politica
prostitute of them all.
The late republican party is the leades
dead thing above ground, and if the surviv
ing friends wish to retain for it any feelings
of respect they will hasten its funeral
The Knox Il Lincoln Musical Assocaio,
hold their sixth annual Convention at Dam
arscotta commencing Oct. 4th and coninu