Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-06-15
The Republioan PARTY.

There is one regularity about the Re-
publican organization which has frequently
deceived its opponents into taiiacious nope
of defeating it this is the habit OF Its mem
bers to discuss very freely before the pubic
their differences of opinion. The leaders OF
opinion among the Republicans have tar
more independence than the Democratic
leaders. They will not submit to the die
tation of few they assert their own opln-
ions with a freedom, and often with bit
terness, which has, on dozen occasions,
led the Democrats to the Republican organ
ization WAS upon the point of breaking TO
pieces, But it does not break to pieces.
1t is surely a sign of vitality in party,
that its leaders have the courage to discuss
freely and openly their blunders, and the
policy which they are framing. Indeed, II
party is to grow, if it is to advance, if Ii
it to take up new questions as they arise,
and deal with them in statesmanllke man
ner, and in way to satisfy the people, 1t
cannot well get along without discussion
unless it is controlled by Ring or secret
council which SO tightly holds the relns that
| it is able, at any moment, to turn the Whole
| machine in any direction it chooses.
| We do not agree, therefore, with those
who think they see in the lively debate up
on different points of policy now going on
| in the country, sign of the imminent dis
| solution of the party. The leaders of opin-
lou among the Republicans are doing now
| what they did all through the war-what
| they haYe done ever since they have been IN
power-they are debating the questions, OF
the day among themselves, as though they
were independent of all party bonds or atfec
tions, and bent only on advancing the truth
or what each believes to be the truth.
They could not be better employed, for
| they are instructing the people and forming
public opinion, which in few months will
have to control the Congressional nomina-
tom, and in November fix the policy OF
next Congress.
The Republican party will never die Of
| free discussion. Nor is it likely to lose the
favor of the people because of any common
blunders, such as any party in power might
| make. Those who count upon easily de
feating it forget two things; they forget
what this party has done; and they forget
who are It's opponents. The Republican
party carried the greatest war OF modern
times to a successful issue; it liberated the
slaves, and thus opened the way to unknown
prosperity in the southern states; and II
did these two great acts against the constant
and malignant opposition OF the Democrat
ic party, which, when the Union was en-
dangered suffered its leaders to put it OIL
| the side of the Union enemies.
The people have not forgotten this; anc
the Republicans must be blunderers indeed
| if they cannot, with this double advantage
keep their hold of the country.
Nor have the people reason now to cas-
off the Republican leaders. ''The Admin
istration is not popular, ,''-critics say-bu
| the Administration is paying off the debt i
has Dnrifie1 the Dublic service so shameful,
debauched by johnson and his democratic
familiars it is collecting the revenue, ant
ecOnomizing the expenditures. If Andrew
johnson had done half in this direction tha
Grant has done, he would have been re
markably popular man; and while some
politicians are dissatisfied, the people rec
ognize these achievements and are wei
satisfied with the men who are serving then
honestly