Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-13
DECADENCE OF. RADICAL POWER
The Weakness Of Grant--.The Party's Epl.
taph.

DOh Bdbt3 IIC
pondent of the Cincinnati Commercial,
in one of his recent letters, says that
no measure of public interest passes
Congress except as a compromise log
rolled through with schemes Of public
plunder, and leaves behind Repub-
lican minority that secretly rejOices
that such measure has yet to be passed
on by the people, although in such
popular adjudication the result may
be the triumph of Democracy. In a
word, the Republican party in Con-
gress is composed of factions in such
deadly antagOnism to each other that
the hate among themselves is more
intense than that given the DemOc-
racy.
If from this unhappy condition of
affairs in Congress we turn to the EX
ecutive, the condition is yet more de-
plorable. AT the time when our coun-
try needs a statesman, and our party
at least a shrewd business man, we
have a man whose ignorance of and
Indifference to public affairs eXcites
only contempt. For the first time in
the history of our Gouornment, we
have seen our President standing hat
in hand at the doors of the Senate,
begging the passage of a jOb-and
begging in vain. In this San DOmin-
go fraud l have not heard single
prominent man offer a defense of
President Grant that was not based on
his ignorance. General Grant," they
say, " is a well-meaning man, but he
is ignorant as politician, and there
fore liable to be imposed upon by de-
signing men,"
The best illustration, however, of
what / wish to say is to be found in
the agitation recently experienced
over the tariff. Had General Grant
and his friends possessed particle of
common sense, or an honest desire to
continue the Republican party in
power, they would have said that
there was a question upon which Re-
publicans can honestly differ and yet
be Republicans. Therefore let us
strive TO compromise upon an adjust
ment that will make same approach
to general satisfaction. But no, the
administration begins by throwing it.
self into the arms of the prohibition
lists, and ends by prosecuting the adj
vOcates of free trade. This tall end of
the Republican party, this little knot
of prOhibitiOnists, is the meanest and |
most corrupt faction with which we
are cursed. With Simon Cameron, at |
its head, and A mes and Morrell, of |
Pennsylvania, whose fingers are
tainted with untold plunder, who |
stand in their places, and %>'hout |
blushing, vote money directly into |
their own pockets, at its tail, we are |
told that their vile dogma of protect
ion is the platform of the party, and |
on our belief in it depends our recOg-
milton as Republicans.
1t is understood within the last two |
days that the bonds of union between /
this faction and the administration |
have been strengthened The edict |
has gone out that the Office now held
by David A. Wells is to be superseded |
by some stOlid believer in thieving
made legal. And his Excellency,
who began his administration with
such loud assertions of purity, after
drinking with Gould and Fisk, Sleep !
ing with COrbin, and dallying with
Ben Butler, has publicly opened his
executive arms to embrace Simon
Cameron, the vilest political prosti-
tute of them all.
Last night the New York Tribune,
two solid columns of
abuse of David A. Wells, reached
Washington. The attack is so abb
surdly violent, so ludicrous in its in
so much the blind scOld-
ing of hysterical old woman, that it
eXcites only ridicule and laughter.
However insignificant in itself, taken
as a part of late events in the politi-
cal world, it is important. We re-
ceive notice to quit. The partnership
est men and the rOgues is hereby dis
solved, and every man is left to go
his own political way unquestiOned.
Greeley, Grant d Co., will settle up
and close the concern. The late Re
publican party is the deadest dead
thing above ground. And if the sur
viving friends wish to retain for it
any feelings of respect they will has
ten its funeral. Upon its melancholy
tomb let us inscribe this epitaph:
DIED,
After brief but brilliant career, the late
Republican Party.
BORN
Of patriotic impulses, it built huge ma
vies, organized vast armies, and
through long campaigns, with
bloody battles,
Saved the Nation from the jaws of He'll. |
Its immediate cause of dissolution was
Trichinia.
Certain vermin, known as
Plunderers and PFotsCtiOnists,
ate into its vitals,
Causing a dreadful nausea, bad
smell, and a sudden
death. d. p.