Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-30
The Rsnuhlicnn pnrtr.

A great deal of anxious foreboding about the
future of the republican party is finding express
sion in some of the papers just now. Some of
its jealous, but not overwise or brave friends are
in a fever OF distress and apprehension because
Mr.. Sumner will be so rash as to expose the
mistakes of the president, because Mr.. Dawes
and Mr.. Blaine will not blindly follow the lead
of General Butler, because some political theor-
lists in Cincinnati, claiming TO be republicans,
have constructed a rather shaky platform of
their own, and because the republican papers
generally do not deprecate these instances of in
dependent speech and action, and frown upon
the men who dare TO utter their honest thought,
but instead freely speak their mind in praise or dis
approval, asst may happen, with what appears to
these nervous people culpable disregard of the
effect their words may have upon the fortunes of
the republican party. If the party were valu-
able only for its name or its past history all
this would not be so absurd as it now seems,
though it would still be very foolish. When
political party has reached that stage of de-
crepitude that it is given over to the care of
the doctors, its digestion is q constant source of
anxiety, and its friends are desired to walk
softly and speak with bated breath tor fear of
agitating the patient, then its condition is al
ready desperate. Its restoration may not be
impossible, bur the chance is not worth waiting
or working for. 1t may be said of parties as of
men, that they are immortal till their work is
done, and if they have any real vitality, free dis
cussion, even if it is somewhat noisy, will prove
rather a wholesome stimulant than dangerous
agitation.
4I,,4s H. IL
approve of the course of the president and his
friends, we might keep quiet about it, or, at the
worst, mourn over his errors in private, con-
hdentialy among ourselves, and not openly
criticize them in the face of all the world, as
Mr.. Sumner and so large part of the republic
can press are doing; that this course creates
dissensions in the party, and weakens it, and, if
continued, may destroy it. If the sole end of the
republican party were to make General Grant
president for another four years, or to keep any
set of men in Office, or even to perpetuate its
own existence, there might seem to be
some reason in these remonsrances. But
the party has a higher motive than
these. The only purpose of its organ
1zation was to administer the government
of this country in accordance with what its
members believe TO be correct principles. Its
representatives in any Office are its servants, not
its masters, and if they make mistakes either
by usurpation or neglect of duty, or by adopt
ing course of policy that is thought to be un-
wise, they will be reproved if the party is sound
and honest. A president and his immediate de-
pendants do not constitute the party, and have
no right to dictate its policy. When differ
ence arises between him and the great majority
OF the people who elected him, it is foolish to
accuse them of making dissensions in the party.
MIR. john Quincy Adams was right when he
pronounced the threat that certain course
OF conduct would cause the defeat of the party,
neither disnifed, proper nor statesmanlike."
II Is the argument of the shalowest kind of poll
nclans and is unworthy of the least respect.
The republican party can take care of itself lust
SO long as it deserves to be taken care of. The
superservceable persons who persist in nursing
it into decline, and try TO scare away by bug
bears those who would keep it awake and &C
tive by the stimulus of free discussion and honest
criticism, are doing it all the mischief they can
which fortunately is not much.