Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-03-30
Party Discipline.

If the Forty first Congress was re-
markable for anything, it was tor the
freedom with which the Adminls,ra
ton was criticised by Its own sup.
porters. Not that General Grants
Administration is more deserving of
such treatment than those that have
gone before; but that there has been
greater independence OF party con-
troll shown by members OF both hous.
es than ever before. There are nerv.
Gus people in Congress and in news
papers, aud nervous people who are
neither in Congress nor in newspa-
pers, who have seen III every such
criticism imminent peril to the party.
Nothing could be further from the
truth. The diversity of opinion
among Republicans only proves that
the party has come more and more
TO represent the thoughtful portion
OF the people. And, if "bayonets that
think are invincible, much more are
thinking ballots. II the party could
be whipped into state OF submission
corresponding to that Of the old Dem
ocrats, it would deserve its inevitable
overthrow.
The Republican party is the party
of free thought and free speech. For
this was it created, and for this and
by this it must live. lit is a misfor-
tune for party to have men among
Its leaders too great to be blind fol-
lowers of any policy, then is the Re
publican party Of to-day most unfor
tunate; for in both houses there has
been shown spirit OF independence
utterly abominable to all admirers of
the old strict party discipline. But,
for ourselves, we cannot imagine any
thing healthier. 1t the Administra-
ton of Grant makes plumbers, las
what Administration does not y they
will not be any the less blunders for
our efforts to conceal them. It is
vastly better that the exposure and
correction Of every mistake should
come from within the party. II the
annexation OF San Domingo is wrong,
1T lis SAY so. II Gen. Grants weak
ness for showing kindness to his rel.
atlves, and gratitude to those who
have bceh generous to him. by giving
them office, is injurious to the coun-
try and dangerous to the party, by
all means let the mistake be rebnked
by the voices and pens Of those who
are Republicans. I. cnstom.houses
could be better filled, If cabinet APP
pointmcnts are not the best, no SEN
timent Of party feaity can make it the
duty OF Republicans to be silent
This courageous criticism Of men in
power is the safeguard of public pu-
rity, and the best guaranty OF the con-
t,nued vitality of a. party.
There is no man in public life trucr
to his convictions or Drawer in their
uttcrancc than Charles Sumner. No
suspicion, even the faintcst. of any in
terest j" Sob has ever attached to
HIM. lie speaks with sublime i'm
periousness, which we could wish
modified, but to which no man in the
nation has better right. For in
greatness of intellect and holiness OF
conviction he is the most imperial
man in America. His speeches are
thunderstorms, that terribly shock
the delicate nerves OF political vale
tudinarians; but thnnderstorms clear
the ar. And we would not have Mr..
Sumner speak whit less frankly
than he does. For, if General Grant
should come before the people for re-
election, the voice of Charles Sumner
would be all the more powerful in
his favor from the fact thai II had not
spared To critic,se what lie deemed
the mistakes Of the President. We
regret exceedingly to hear that al ef-
fort ia to be made to disp' ace Mr..
Sumner and Mr.. Schurx from their
positions on 9he Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations. Both are Rad
ical lsepnhlicans beyond suspicion,
and both are men of great abilities.
Independence and courage arc virtues
too rare to make 1t advisable to re-
press them by Furnishing public men
far possessing these qualities. We
are tar from agreeing with either of
these eminent senator's in all things
but, while ,ntir private purity, their
public taitl,fulncss, and their eminent
abilities are 80 lar beyond question,
I would certainly be no small ca!am
.ty to the country 10 lose them from
the leading communicating more SO
that all the odium OF their removal
would fall, whether rightly or wroeg-