The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1871-05-09
A Party Of GrumbIers.


these measures it went before the coun-
try prepared to maintain its policy
against all assaults. Such is not the
case now. If it has any distinctive
character, separate and aside from its
ancient fame, it is that which makes
the inveterate grumbler in the every
day affairs of life a social nuisance;
hence, as the Democratic party has no
distinctive characteristic in these lat
tor days but that of a persistent grunl-
bier, it follows, as a matter of course,
that it is a political nuisance-a nee
essary nuisance, we admit, like the
common scold, or the always irate
virago in social life. The recent Con-
gressional address, the latest and most
authoritative exponent of the position
of the party, is an illustration of this.
That document is one continued scold
from the opening to the closing. And
what is remarkable, the tone and tenn
per of this scolding pronunciamento is
but counterpart of almost every res
olution, speech or manifesto, put forth
by the party for the past ten years.
And yet with platform based solely
on the ideas Of the common scold
adapted to political discussions, the
leaders and organs of the party talk
coolly of the possibility of the people
trusting them with power. 1t seems
to us that political effrontery could 90
no further. The Republican party
may have made mistakes in fact there
is no doubt about it, for they are seen
of all men but there is this to say in
palliation-they have all been made
in the interest of the Union, Of the free
dom of the people, and in the maints-
nance of the country's integrity invio-
late. 1t has not scolded but acted it
has not grumbled, and paltered, and
halted, and stood shivering, afraid to
move in the direction of right, fearful
that in so doing it might tread upon
some fossilized notion that the consti-
tuition contained no provision whereby
its perpetuity could be maintained.
The Republican party believed that
this government was made for all time
and has acted upon this belief. In
maintaining this belief it has some
times not adopted the best means, or
acted as wisely as it might-but in all
cases, it is satisfaction to know the
lend has justified the means" The
same may be said of Gen. Grants ad-
ministration but with all its faults,
and mistakes, and shortcomings, the
people to-day would. rather perpetuate
it for another four years than trust a
party which has no better platform to
offer than string Of complaints, set
forth in the language and temper of a
common scold. If the Democratic
party can come before the country
with no better platform than this, (to
use the language of the New York Ev-
ening Pos) the American people will
not, whether Gen. Grant is candidate
ior reelection or not, put into power a
party which has been an unmitigated
nuisance, breeder of disorder, a cor
rupter of public virtue, debaucher of
politics, the friend of every wrong and
oppression, the fomenter of violence
and rebellion, for more than a dozen
years. To succeed, that party must
cease to be party of grumblers, and
show by its acts that it has a firmer
purpose than Falstaff had, to "purge
and live cleanly." The Democratic
party supported slavery-and wac
beaten. 1t countenanced rebellion
ard was beaten. 1t set up peace-at-
any price platform-and was beaten.
1t advocated repudiation-and was
beaten. 1t opposed equal laws and
general sufirage-and was beaten. And
now it is marching on to the next Pres
idential election at the head Of hume
rous bands of Ku-Klux, northern and
southern-gangs whe set both law and
decency at defiance who rob where
they do not kill who cheat where
they cannot rob; men whose acts
threaten the whole land with anarchy;
and they have amongst them scarcely
leader with brains or conscience
enough to rebuke violence and law
lessness, or condemn public plunder.
As said above, those Democratic lead
ers who hope to carry the next Presi-
Dental election, and imagine them
selves fit to rule the country, do rot
even comprehend the duty of a minor
ity. They seem to be mere partizans,
not politicians in any higher sense than
that in which sutler might call him
self a defender of his country. 1t is
the duty ofa minority, which hopes to
become the majority, to show an ex-
ample Of obedience to the laws and
respect for the rights of others to
make manifest, wherever it has the
opportunity, that it possesses states
mnnlike ideas; That it comprehends
the principles Of free government that
it knows how to rule, and how to keep
in subordination its bummers. If the
country is now afflicted with unconsti-
tutional and dangerous legislation, it
is the fault of the Democratic leaders.
Ii they chose they could in two weeks
restore order all over the South, and
the much.condemned Ku-Klux bill,
clothing the President with dictatorial
powers, as is claimed by the party
organs, would fall stillborn, and be-
come a dead letter upon the statute
J books.-Erte RcPubEcoH.