Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-04-06
The Political Situation

alarming, because it may lead to tn
I. greatest of national disasters-th
restoration of the Democratic part
to power. We ask any man in tina
State. or in any other, who has hith
erto sustained the Republican party
what advantage the success of til
Democratic party could possibl
bring to the country Does any in
telligent citizen who is familiar witt
the history of that party, or with tn
influences that now control it, lool
to it for greater purity, efficiency, o
economy of administration? Doe
any such citizen wish 10 see the mel
and the means that now direct th,
State and city of New York brough
into the national administration
Does any body believe that the peace
of the country would be more assur
ed by party which is supported by
I'll e Ku-Klux Klan, and which has on.
ly scorn and contempt for the loyal
men of the Southern States? Or be-
cause of conspicuous mistakes upon
the part Of the Republicans, or oi
personal disappointments and cha
grins, are sensible and practical men,
ready to surrender the national gov
| ernment to party which includes
every enemy of the popular principle
and of truly national union?
If we should be reminded that we
have ourselves sometimes severely
criticised Republican action, we reply
that in no other way could Republi
can fidelity be shown. II is because
of our profound conviction of the
necessity of continued Republican
dominance to the peace and prosper
ity of the country that we have criti-
cised conduct which seemed to us
to shake confidence in the party and
its policy. Plainly, if every paper in
the country friendly to Republican
ascendency should praise indiscrim-
inately every measure of Congress or
every suggestion of the Administra-
tion, or should be silent where it
could not commend, the result would
infallibly be what We saw in the
Democratic party dc zen years go.
1t is theSigorous Republican protest
against Republican errors which
proves that the party is truly living
force, and not mere machine. No
criticism is to be deprecated, howev-
er severe, when it is seen to be that
of friend; and friendly remon-
STRANGE, however earnest, is very easi
ly distinguished from hostility.
The party in power, it must be re
membered, is most seriously affected
by the action of the government at
Washington. For a party is judged
not only by its principles, but by the
conduct of its representatives in the
executive and legislative departments.
They are subject to hundred infu-
ences, the force of which is in no de-
gree proportional to their wisdom.
In the heat of debate for inst ance.
and under the stress of persona feel
ing, Congress may pass me asures
which would certainly be condemned
by the calmer judgment of the mem
bers themselves. So the President,
who, despite himself, is surrounded
by fatterers seeking personal fayors
is really excluded from a knowledge |
Of the tendency of public opinion and
of his own party feeling, and may
therefore do mnch that friendly re
would have prevented
Now the duty both ofthe Republican
press and Of the Republican leaders
srising from this situation is obvious,
md ii is mutual. The party press
n the country is honorable and for
he interest of its party bound to rep
'esent to the managers at Washing
on what public opinion really is, and
hose authorities are equally bound
o heed its voice rather than the in
crested representatives. Immediately
bout them, or what may often prove
0 be their own misconceptions of
he real political situation. This, in ;
leed, is the great value of an inde-
endent party press. If it merely
choes, records, and approves. the
neasures of the party managers, it
) contemptible.
The result in New Hampshire !
hows dissatisfaction. But this can
e removed by careful consideration
f the measures with which the Re- I
ublican party shall be identified, and
y constant and simple statement of s
he real position and inevitable ten {
ency of Democratic party. The t
wo can not be separated. 1t is not t
nough to show that the opposition {
oes not deserve confidence, unless i
e prove practically that we do. And |
nat practical proof will lie in the gen. I
raj wisdom of our policy. We will t
lention three points upon which
Use action will be of incalculable g
arvice to the Republican party. t
The first is the San Domingo ques- T.
on. tits plainly a subject upon 4
hich opinion in the party is divided, S
nd therefore great urgency in press V
lg it to decision would be extreme n
unwise. However favorable the q
.port of the Commission may be, S
It the party be heard both upon the
,port and upon the general question
hen let the decision depend upon
le evident feeling of the party. The p
ilure of annexation will ALLEVIATE no p
epublican. Peremptory pressure of c
lie measure will certainly propitiate
one. The second subject is the re- h
,rm of the civil service. The late L
ongress left the responsibility with p
lie President, who had wisely urged t.
elton upon the question. Should n
, at once begin the reform by q L
racticable system of competitive ex- b
and by favoring Senator II
enton's suggestion OF a, fixed term Il
Office, the reform honestly and n
gorously begun will command the ii
earty approval and cooperation of Il
any whose sympathy is essential to h
arty success, and tend to the paci- s.
cation of certain local differences. t,
he third subject is the Commission l,
non tho EpUlicb puocfion rTbora | =,