Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-05-12
A Political Calm.

With the adoption of the Fifteenth
Amendment there Is a striking lull
in the interest OF general politics,
The Georgia debate in the Senate
is interminable, and to most persons
incomprehensible; and it yet re.
mains to be explained upon what
ground Senators justify long speeches
addressed to the empty chairs Of
their colleagues. They can not even
plead that they are meant for Bun
combe, for Buncombe does not read
them. They are printed, indeed, in
the Globe, and editors are supposed
to read that paper. But editors are
human, and they discriminate. 1t
is, therefore, fair to say that the
speeches upon the Georgia qursAiS~,
which have occupied precious days
of the Senate, have been heard by
nobody and read by nobody. The
languOr Of public interest In the
Congressional debates was never
more remarkable. In the House the
tariff discussion, confined to the de-
tails of taxation, has been really very
important, but prOdigiOusly uninter-
esting. 1t is felt to be no contest OF
principle, but sharp fight Of special
interests. Indeed, the chief political
excitement has been in the New
York Legislature, and in that "h0n-
est" body the victory OF the Ring
has been so complete and amazing
that there is no longer any sign of
war.
If parties were wholly arbitrary
organizations, or If they were formed
merely to accomplish certain results,
they would disappear when those
results were attained. If the Re-
publican party had been only a union
for the overthrow of the ascendency
of slavery in the national policy, the
adoption Of the Fifteenth Amend
would be the signal Of its dissolution.
But as the Democratic party, which
for generation was merely a con-
spiracy to perpetuate and extend
slavery, survives the extinction OF
slavery, so does the Republican par
ty. Total defeat does not end the
one, nor absolute victory the other.
They each continue rs representa-
tives and organs Of certain general
tendency in our political develop
ment. A hearty faith in the great
principles Of popular government, a
generous hospitality toward new
views and constant progress, a prac-
tical conception of the close relation
between morals and politics, a deep
conviction of the vital necessity OF
intelligence to a true republic, Will
generally lead a man to act with the
Republican party, and the policy OF
that party upon any specific question
that may arise will naturally be de-
termined by the same characteristics.
Upon such immediate topics Of
public discussion as the general f.
nancial policy and the tariff, neither
Of the great parties Is harmonious
within it's own ranks. There are
tariff Democrats and free-trade Re
publicaDs; and neither party, as a
party, is directly committed to pro-
lection or to free trade. Meanwhile,
the financial measures OF the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury are severely
criticised by many Republicans.
while the Democrats have no other
policy than incessant vOciferatiOn
that the Republicans caused the
heavy taxation, and thattaxes ought
to be reduced. Upon the foreign
policy there Ia the same disagree
ment upon all sides. The Admins
tration, during the Cuban troubles.
has faithfully enforced the laws Oi
1918, while Administration Senators
and journals have virtually con.
demned It's position, and Democratic
journals have sustained it's action.
Upon the Alabama question little
has been recently said. The Repub.
licans are, however, generally united
upon the truth Of the statement
mada in Parliament by Mr.. Coblet.
IN May, 1894, that England carried