Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-18
REPRESENTATIONS OF PARTIES.
(Fyom The Chicago Tribune

(From The Chicago Tr1bune.)
The general result of the recent elections
indicates that the issues growing out of slay-
cry and the great pro-slavery rebellion are
settled; that the mere platform of ECONOMY
and REFORM" without specifying by what
measures these glittering generalities are to
be put in practice, is as available to one party
as another, and, consequently, it is not avail
able as the special platform of any party; ana
that, on the present living issues, as to the
proper mode of laying taxes and tarlhs
for the support of the government, the two
old party organizations can no longer be re-
lied upon for their full party vote. Both
parties are, to some extent, disintegrated and
disorganized by this change of issues, as
might naturally be expected. But the demo-
cratic party enters into the fight everywhere
with the advantage Of having an issue In
which it believes, and for which 1t is prepared
to vote, viz free trade. The republican
party, as such, for four years past has had no
issue on this question, except within Its own
ranks. A large number of its leading states
men and organs, as well as of its voters, are
as heartily committed to free trade or reve-
nue. tariff as any portion OF the democratic
party. Upon this question there must be,
and indeed, to a great extent, has been,
union of the homogeneous elements such as
will enable those who think alike in the two
past political parties to work together In fu-
ture political organizations. The same neces-
cessity which in lS48 induced William T..
Bryant and his journal, the New YORK Eve
ming Post, to abandon the democratic party,
with which they agreed on all other questions,
to cooperate with the free soil (atterward re-
pubican) party, on the main question, now
induces such leaders in the late revolution IN
favor of human liberty as the same Bryant,
Wendell Phillips, William Lloyd Garrison,
Henry Ward Beecher, Lyman Irumoull,
Carl Schurz, David A. Wells, Charles Sum-
ner, b. Gratz Brown, John A. Logan, Gov
ernor Palmer, Frederick Douglass, &C., &C.,
and such journals as the new York Evening
Post. Cincinnati Commercial and Gazette,
and St Louis Democrat, to effect such re-
construction and reorganization OF political
parties as will enable them to vote squarely
for such a revenue policy and civil service
system as they can conscientiously support,
without becoming responsible for, or identify
ing themselves with, the past errors of the
democratic party on the slavery question.
The election in Missouri is the result OF such
reorganization of political parties, and is Il
triumph of the distilictively tree-trade party
over the protectionist, though the free suffrage
question aided in etfecting the result In IL
linois the two parties adopted in convention
can platform opposing protection, and the
democratic demanding free trade.
Yet in going before the people on these
platforms, the republican candidates were
met by the point that in Congress they
would be compelled, by party affiliations
on other questions, to come under the lead OF
protectispist caucuses, to vote fer a protec-
ZIONIST speaker, to see their business referred
to protectonist committees, and general
protectionist inclination given to their votes,
whatever might be their personal predictions.
This might have been met by the assurance
that the candidates would vote and act with
free-traders in all matters involving this ques-
ton, irrespective of their previous associa-
tions. In the absence of this assurance,
MANY republicans who desired to sustain the
free-trade policy either did not vote, or be-
lieved their votes could be cast most effective
ly for the democratic candidate. This fact
has had its potency in changing the congress
ional delegation in Illinois from eleven repub-
lcans and three democrats to seven republi-
cans and seven democrats. The same lnfiu-
ences have had an effect in Indiana, Missouri,
Michigan aud Wisconsin. Had it been clear
ly understood, beforehand, that the next Con-
gress would organize, elect its speaker,
appoint its committees and hold its caucuscs
upon a division of parties based on new and
accordance with that understanding. But, SO
long as that is doubtful, the party whose posi-
ton is uncertain must continue to give place
to the candidates whose position is declared
The time has now come when the two real
parties of the country, the free-traders and
protectionists, must cast their votes where
they will tell most effectively tor their princi-
pies, both in Congress and out of it. 1t is
impossible that we shall continue voting on
dead issues, and lodging the vital ones AS
our New York despatch intimated yesterday,
the revenue reform party will enter the next
Congress prepared to claim the speaker, the
organization of the house and the appoint
ment of committees, so that the business be-
fore Congress may be presented in manner
to carry out the Vows of majority of the
people, as indicated in the recent elections.
If the protectonists of the country desire to
carry this issue to a general election, or to
form national party on their own basis, we
shall, at all times, stand ready to meet them.
If not, it is pretty clear that so long
as the democratic party elects none but
free traders, and the free-trade republicans
vote for none but free-traders, while the
proteclionists rely on the prestige of the re-
publican organization and shirk the issue,
the complexion Of Congress will rapidly
change into one for revenue reform, and, pos
sibly, democratic. On the whole, in the re-
cent elections, the democracy have made gains.
But their gain has been very slight compared
with the heavy gain over the high tariff party
in the prestige of success in organization,
confidence and power. All these will make
themselves felt at the outset in the meeting OF
the next Congress.