The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-06


active and vigilant enemies. The absence
of any one absorbing question which might
form the ground of an appeal to the public
at large is an advantage to the party which
always depends for success upon evasion
and side issues. The President has been
subjected to an uninterrupted course of
attack from the Democratic journalism
the first place because he is trying to
do his duty, and in the next, because he
systematically declines to ''dicker' with
Democratic politicians. No one can refute
the facts that General Grant has kept his
pledges to the people, and that his policy has
been generally advantageous to the country at
large. But in ''off years" the attempt was
sure to be made to disparage all his exertions
and misrepresent all his acts. Whenever the
question is fairly tested, it will be found that
the people have undiminished confidence in
fhe President; but this conviction ought not
to lead to any supineness on the part of the
Republican party. 1t is possible for the best
of causes to suffer through the negligence of
those who have the management of them, and
this danger can never be absent from party
which appeals rather to principles and reason
than to ignorance and denagogism.
No small part of the burden of the next
great fight will necessarily fall upon the Re-
publicans of this State, and it is quite time
that they began to organize their forces, and
place themselves in the highest state of eff
cheney for the struggle. In this city we have
not only to be prepared for avowed enemies,
but, what is still worse, for foes who are
actually within our own camp. The folly of
some, and the treachery of others, have done
much to weaken the party, as any one must
have seen from the results of the recent
election. An organization like that of the
Citizens Association, under the nominal
management of a well-meaning but weak
man like Mr.. Peter Cooper, and the
real control of an active aud un-
scrupulous agent of the ring like Mr..
Nathaniel Sands, is power capable of pro-
duclpg serious mischief Until these malign
agencies are finally disposed of, no efforts of
Republican leaders can bring out the true
strength of the party A still more dan
gerous element is at work. The men who
wear the cloaks of Republicans, while con-
cealing the weapons of the Democrats beneath
them, are determined to do all in their power
to destroy the administration, and with it
every cause with which the public interest is
really identified. Tonight these Tammany
Republicans are to meet for the purpose of
rendering their forces as compact as
possible. They are TO hold the
first regular meeting of the
new committee. 1t is important that every
true Republican should understand that in
proportion to the countenance or support he
gives to this clique, he Injuries the party he is
anxious to serve. Any man who enlists under
the Hank Smith banner had better take one
step more at once and go over to the Tweed
ties. Hank Smith aud his friends have been
allowed to do quite harm enough. No matter
with whom they may be associated they are
in reality working for the Democrats and all
their propositions should be rejected as de-
cisively as if they we're dictated at conven-
ton of pickpockets, like those who stole Mr..
Samuel Tildens watch at Rochester.
IF aver there was periOd at which it was
all-important to distinguish accurately our
friends from our foes, it is the one in which
we live. Great issues are being fought for,
and the public are gradually becoming alive
to their reality and Importance. We see a
gang of thieves-it would be absurd fattery
to call them by any other name-ruling alb
solutely in this city, corrupting the bar, the
bench, and the press and choking every
avenue to public life. They boast of their
power to extend their rule all over the State,
and then to seize the National Government,
and work from the White House as they have
worked from the City Hall. Their ambition
is to reconstruct the Government of the
United States on the model of that which
we now see in this city. Some people
do not believe it; others profess -, to
feel Indifferent as to whether they
succeed or not. But the main body of the
people still take very lively interest in the
cause of good government and honest Off
cials, and this is an element of strength with
which Republicans alone; can DEAL for the
Democrats are sacrificing all right to appeal
| to it. Whatever may be the amount of apa-
| thy existing now, and however much we may
| deplore it, we may be very sure that the good
cause will in the end prevail, and with proper
management we can render its success as
| sured at the very next contest. But there
must be sincerity of purpose, great address
and tact, and an unfalteripg belief in our own
| side, on the part of our leaderr. We look
| to the State Committee to sever all
| connection with Tammany-to reorganize
| the party in such q way as that the
Republicans and Democrats will stand face
to face, and not side by side. In this work
the committee is now engaged and people
who are disposed to help it will keep away
from the Hank Smith organization. 1t may
take time to cut away the bad timber; the
party has been allowed to get into such q
bad state that few weeks will scarcely suf-
fee to put it in proper fighting order again
But the task can be accomplished, and the
first step necessary is to draw the fsngs Of
the Tammany Republicans. When that il
done, we need have no fear concerning the
plots now being concocted by the Democrats
to bring finalruin upon the Republican party
in the State.
EXTRAORDINARY REDUCTION OF THE
PUBLIC DEBT.
From the NJ Y. Herald.