The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-23

to other quarters of the Union, it does not
require much sagacity to foreten the
speedy downfall of the organization that has
for ten years ruled this country; and il this
result is to be averted, means must speedily
be adopted to prevent apathy like that dis
played in New York, which is equivalent to
partisan dry-rot, from spreading TO other
States One of the Republican members of
Congress from New York displays the narrow
and selfish spirit which usually characterizes
professional politicians, by declaring that the
late result is caused by unfortunate and i'm
proper appointments in the Custom House,
and that radical change in the clerks, in
spectors, and tidewaiters will insure q
restoration of Republican ascendancy in the
Empire State. We have no faith in this state
ment, for the public estimate of the politics
of New York has not yet sunk so low as to
believe that the action of hundreds of thou
sands of voters is controlled by the
appointments or disappointments in one
Wall street den of iniquity A
deeper cause of the disastrous apathy un-
doubtedly exists, and it must be discovered
and removed if Republican ascendancy is to
be continued. The Democracy were assisted
greatly in their late contest in New York by
the selection of nominees who combined with
personal fitness what the World styles 'un-
exceptionsble war records" and by their
careful avoidance of the issues upon which
the bulk of the members of the opposing
parties have been hitherto divided. No often
sive opposition to the fifteenth amendment,
to the payment of the public debt, or to recon-
struction was manifested, and as the past work
of the Republican party was thus practically
acquiesced in, the people were invoked to
give their opinion on the present course of
the party and its officials rather than their
views of old controversies. The prevailing
dissatisfaction with the tardy action of Con-
gress in diminishing the burdens of taxation
thus found ample opportunities for express
sion, and thousands of Republicans were also
glad to embrace an opportunity to rebuke
the corrupt men whom they have from time to
time elev~ted into power, which did not appa-
rently involve an abandonment of their cher
ished principles. Of all the parties ever
formed in this country none is SO prone to
act on current and immediate issues and to
ignore dead ones as the Republican; and the
members of that organization are thoroughly
satisfied that the national interests will be
promoted by change of rulers, they will show
as little hesitation in staying away from the
polls, or in openly voting the Democratic
ticket, as was displayed by hosts of the Re-
publicans of New York at the late election.
Tho vitality of the old war issues is now
nearly extinguished. If the Democrats have
sense enough to acquiesce in results which
they cannot change, and to hold the Repub-
icans to strict accountability for what they
are doing now, they will once more become
formidable, despite the fifteenth amendment.
And by way of preparing for this change of
tactics. it is vitallv important that Conoro~~
and all Republican officials should be on their
good behavior; that the universal demand for
relief from the pressure of odious and un-
necessary taxation should be speedily re-
spected and that the race of corrupt Repub-
ican legislators and officials, which has be-
come decidedly too numerous, should be
sternly rebuked and condemned by the Re-
publican organization.