The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-11-18
The Reorganization OF Parties.

The general result Of the recent eiec
tions indicates that the issues growing
out ofslavery, 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 the
one party as the other, and consequently
is not available as the special platform
of any party and that, on the present
living issues as to the proper mode OF
LAYING taxes and tariffs for the support
of the Government. the two old party
organizations can no longer be relied
upon for their full party vote. Both
parties are, to some extent, disintegra-
ted and disorganized by this change of
issues, as might naturally be expected.
But the Democratic party enters into the
fight everywhere, with the advantage OF
having an issue in which it believes,
and for which it is prepared to
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 It's
leading statesmen and organs, as we'll az
of its voters, are as heartily committed
to free trade or revenue tariff as any
portion of the Democratic party.
Upon this question there must be, and,
indeed, to a great extent, has been a
union of the homogeneous elements
such as will enable those who think
alike in the two past political parties to
work together in future political organ
izations. The same necessity which, in
lS4S, induced William c. Bryant and
his journal, the New York ECen'ng Post,
to abandon the Democratic party, with
which they agreed on all other questions
to cooperate with the Free Soil (after-
ward Republican, 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 Trum-
bull, Carl Schurz, David A Wells,
Charles Sumner, B. Gratz Brown,
John A. Logan, Governor Palmer,
Frederick Douglass, &c, and such jour
nails as the New York Ecening Post,
Cincinnati Commercial and Gazette, and
ST. Louis Democrat, to effect such re-
construction and reorganization OF po-
litical parties as will enable them to
vote squarely for such revenue policy
and civil service system as they can
conscientiously support without becom-
ing responsible for or identifying them
selves with the past errors OF the Dem
ocratic party on the slavery question.
The election in Missouri is the result OF
such reorganization Of political par
ties and is triumph Of the distinctive
ly free trade party over the pro-
tectionist, though the free suffrage ques-
ton aided in effecting the result.
In Illinois the two parties adopted in
convention substantially the same plat
form, the Republican platform opposing
protection and the Democratic demand
ing free trade. Yet, in going before the
people on these platforms, the Republl-
can candidates were met by the point,
that in Congress they would be COM
pelled, by party affiliations on other
questions, to come under the lead OF
protectionist caucuses, to vote for pro-
lection Speaker, to see their business
referred to protectionist committees, and
a general prolectionist inclination gwen
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 question. irrespective OF their pre-
vieus associations In absence OF this as.
surance many Republicans who desired
to sustain the free trade policy, either
did not vote, or believed their votes
could be cast most effectively for the
Democratic candidate This fact has
had it potency in changing the Con-
gressional delegation in Illinois from
eleven Republicans and three Demo
Gratis to seven Republicans and seven
Democrats. The same influences have
had an effect in Indiana, Missouri,
Michigan and Wisconsin. Had 1t been
clearly understood beforehand that the
next Congress would organize, elect its
Speaker, appoint its committee. and
hold its caucuses upon division OF
parties based on new and living issues,
the people would have voted in accord
ance with that understanding. But so
long as that is doubtful, the party whose
position is uncertain must continue to
give place to the candidates whose posi-
ton is declared.
In Schenck's District, D. J. Morrelrs,
and McCarthy's of Syracuse, the issue
was made up mainly on the question OF
protection and free trade, the friends Of
trade voting in some degree, withoutre.
gard to past political affiliations, and
carrying McCarthy's District for Re
publican free trader in the convention,
and the other two districts for a free
trader at the polls.
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
effectually for their principles, both in
Congress and out of it. 1t is impossible
that we shall continue voting on dead
issues, and dodging the living and vital
ones. As our New York dispatch in
timated yesterday, the Revenue Reform
party will enter the next Congress pre-
pared to claim the Speaker, the
organization of the House and the ap-
pointmeut Of committeessso so that the bus
iness before Congress may be presented
in a manner to carry out the views OF
the majority of the people, as indicated
in the recent elections. If the protec-
tionists Of the country desire to carry
this issue to a general election. or to
form a national party on their own
basis, we shall at all times, stand ready
to meet them. II not, it is pretty clear
that, that so long as the Democratic