The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-09

Editorial Opinions Of 1.-THE Leading Journals
upon Current Topios-CompiIed Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE FALL
CAMPAIGN.

''The work of the Republican party is not
finished" said Mr.. Conkling at Saratoga,
''nor is there any other party able or willing
to finish it." Truer words were never spoken.
There is a large unfinished work before us,
and the antecedents and aspirations of the
Republican party indicate its special fitness
for the task. 1t has done so much, and done
it 80 well, that it should not shrink from the
responsibilities now before it. 1--WE were
never more earnest Republicans than now,'
the Senator remarked on the same occasion.
That is good news too. But if the earnest
ness which animates the leaders assembled at
Saratoga is to be impaired to the rank and
file, and to be sustained until November-as
it must be if victory is to be then achieved
we apprehend that there must be some intel
ligible and specific exposition of the work
which lies before the party. Generalization
is we'll enough in its way, but a strong and
clearly defined purpose is essential to enthu-
siasm. The absence of any sign of such a
purpose is the weak point in Mr.. Conkling's
speech.
The same defect is apparent in the other
wise admirable sketch of recent Republican
achievements which Vice-President Colfax
has contributed to the Independent. AS a
yindication of the present Congress, the state
ment of Mr.. Colfax is almost complete. We
cannot accept his estimate of the tariff
changes which were appended to the Tax bill,
and are too conscious of the blunde COM
mitted by the ultra-protectionists in other re-
spects, to concur in an unqualified eulogy of
the fiscal and financial sagacity of the ruling
majority. In the main, however, the claim
to popular confidence which Mr.. Colfax sets
up in behalf of the party is eminently just.
1t has completed rec~ontruction, has
perfected essential constitutional
guarantees, has insisted upon retrenchment,
has largely reduced taxation, and has pro-
vided for the more equitable distribution of
banking facilities. 1t shares with the ad-
m1nistration the credit inseparable from the
more efficient collection of revenue, and from
a reduction of the expenses in every branch
of the Government. The gain accruing to
the party from these sources Mr.. Colfax has
not overstated. Very wisely, moreover, he
couples a reference to the great reduction of
the debt with the expression of a hope that
Mr.. Boutwell, will push his costly policy mot
so rapidly in the future. That hope the
country echoes, not without substantial cause.
Nor can it be said that Mr.. Colfax under
rates the strength of the Democracy. If he
has erred at all upon this point, it is in dwarf
ing the fierce intestine conflict now being
waged by opposing sections of the Demo
cratic party. He is fully warranted, how
ever, in the opinion that ''the Democratic
leaders enter upon the contest Just opening
WILL ulOIo COulluohtly OApiCooOu hOpoo VI
victory than for many years past" Their
confidence is not without a certain degree
of justification. The fact hat it exists,
and that it will impart vigor to their efforts
in the canvass, suggests a moral which
only Republican optimists will overlook.
For if, as MIR. Colfax declares, 'thorough
unity" IAN energy worthy of their princi-
ples,' ''and a zeal akin to that which has
given them SO many brilliant victories, are
I:l:1-. L. L. xn-1, ,u,Il 1 - ID
publicans if they would make success sure, it
is plain that something must be found to in
spire energy and zeal in the party and its
managers. SO far, it must be confessed.
those to whom the party looks for inspi-
ration have very imperfectly performed
the functions of leadership. Our Brook
lyn contemporary, the Union, proclaims
no more than the truth when it declares
that if the Republican party is to win
its autumn battle, 'it must be more aroused
to the perils of the situation than it appears
to be to-day; its AMI and file must take q
greater interest in it's hoped-for success than
they show to-day; its appeal to the people
must be more spirit-stirring han it is to-
day These are not the most pleasant words
that might be spoken, but their obvious
truthfulness renders it necessary that they
should be heard. Glorifcation and compli
ments will not insure victory.
1t is idle to suppose that a non-committa
attitude will be of much avail in a close
hard-fought contest. Facts go further thar
fine words; well-defned propositions will bt
of more avail than g~randiloquent references
to the war and reconstruction. One ugly fac
confronts us at the outset. The ''thorougl
unity which MIR. Colfax admits to be indis
pensable does not exist. Republicans in Con
gress are at variance with the administrator
upon a subject which at this moment vital,
affects the national interests. The Presiden
suggested a measure that would have par
TALLY restored the American carrying trade
with profits incident to the European war
but his suggestion was overruled by tn
Republican members, who, in other matters
have done the work of m~onopolists. For tn
odium and the loss inseparable from thi
action, the whole party are held responsible
Here, then, is a subject in regard to whicl
continued silence is impossible. The part
throughout the country must pass iudg
ment one way or the other; it must sustain
the President against the monopolists, o
the ~monopolists against the President. 4
similar issue-substituting the people 70
the Presidents presented in connectio
with tariff reform; and they are blind leader
of the blind who imagine that it can b
averted. The growing tendency to sectiof
alism, notably exemplitied in the non-actio
on the Reapportionment bill, is another ma
ter that should receive attention. The gree
of Eastern Representatives has inflicted il
Justice on the West; and the selfishness whic
thus introduces discomfort where Republica
principles are the strongest, cannot be to
summarily rebuked.
We adduce these examples to show no
much there is about which Republican orato
may u~sefully talk, and now various are I'll
questions which enter into the fall campaigl
II may not be desirable, or possible,
embody in a platform every subject that e