Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-06-15
Political Prospects.
From Uarper's Weekly.

CEdltC u lCSoidbtoh w itS
ognize all existing provisions of the
constitution was adopted by a vote OF
seventy-six to firty-three, after an
angry debate. This is what is called
elsewhere "hedging" Probably there
is no intellige 1T political observer in
the country who does not know that
il the democratic party had carried
Connecticut, as it did New Hamp-
shire, the election of1872 would have
been desputed by it upon the question
of the validity of the amendments.
But the sentiment of the country is
so pronounced upon that subject that
the hopelessness of such q contest
seems to he foreseen by some of the
democratic leaders, and they are
anxious to abandon position which
has become untenable. But the
abandonment is fatal. If, as the last
democratic convention declared in
1868, the republican reconstruction Of
the union is unconstitutional. revolu-
tionary, and void, what has made it
constitutional and binding in 1872?
If void then-not Unwise nor even
unconstitutional, but void-what has
made it valid now? Does party
which processes such peculiar and
profound respect for the constitution
intend to ask the support OF the coun-
try upon the ground that it acquiesces
in the overthrow of the constitution
and in revolutionary usurpation?
If, however, the absurdity be con-
cealed under the plea of accepting
accomplished facts and the demo
cratic party withdraws its protest
against the republican settlement, and
promises a faithful enforcement Of
''the usurpation,' its claim to popular
confidence must rest upon the proba-
bility Of more honest and able ad
ministration of the government by
that party than by the republican.
What, then, Is the ground of such
probability In the state of New
York the democratic party is in pow
er. In the city of New York its
dominance is supreme. What are
the characteristics of its action? The
elevation to office of men of no char
acter whatever; the most universal
and unblushing corruption a legisla-
ture which is q by word of contempt;
consequent legislation which virtually
abolisEes popular government, in the
city in favor of an oligarchy of four
men, not one of whom enjoys the, re-
spect OF the community the infamies
of Erie bills, and of the amended code,
authorizing corrupt judges to crush
the freedom ofthe press IN one word,
vast and skillful system of plunder,
with profound contempt and disre-
gard of the principles and the defenses
of free and popular government
This is the aspect of democratic
ascendency where tie party is best
organized, most ably led, and ofprac-
tically unchallenged supremacy. And
against this regime there is no audible
protest in the democratic party. In
New York the Tammany leadership
is omnipotent In other states there
is no word of dissent. A democratic
victory in the election of 1872 will
be the triumph of this spirit, not be-
cause every democrat individually
approves of it, but because its ascen-
dency is indisputable. and its disci
pline remorscless. Now we ask any
republican at the west or the east, in
the north or the south, is it any
excuse for conniving in any way at
the success of such a party to say
lhas Mr.. Tweed aud the Tammanv
leaders are no worse than Mr.. Cam
eron fn1 Mr.. Chandler, and Mr.. Nor
ton and General Butler? Granting
what is often felt and urged in regard
to the character and leadership of
these gentlemen, is it matter of in
difference whether a party of the
general character and principles of
the republican, or of the general
character and tendencies of the demo
cratic, controls the government If
certain leadery upon both sides are
not to be respected nor trusted, it is
only wise to look further into the
party. Now every element of hatred
of the government, of disbelief in its
principles, the great mass of igno-
rance, the subscrvience to ecclesiasti-
cal dictatiop-the most doubtful anC
| pernicious elements in a system like
ours-are all combined in the demo
cratic party. The general intelligence,
| the true conservatism of industry,
faith in liberty and edueation--in q
word, the moral torces ofthe country.
are with the republicans. Is this q
consideration of little weight?
Moreover, if there is irregularitv
in many of the details of administra-
ton, if the the counsels which prevail
in its general policy are not always
such as honorable men approve, there
are two points to consider-first that
to recall to power the party which we
owe the corruption of political meth
DDS will hardly remedy the difficulty
and second, that while in that party
there is really no protest, there is in
the republican party aprotest so stern
that it constantly modilies what are
regarded as banerul counsels. In the
state of New York the democratic
voice that was raised againstihe dea
potism of Tammanny was summarilN
silenced, and with very few exception:
there has been no resolute democrat
ic protest urged against the alarming
tyranny of the amended code. Blu
it was the steady republican remon
STRANGE that modified the San Domin
go policy, which the republican lead
ers already named stronglysupported
and the commissioners appointed fol
the investigation of that subject anC
for the negotiation of the Englisl
treaty certainly were not due to in
fuences which any honest republican
doubts or would disclaim.
There is, therefore, no possibility
whatever, upon any theory, that 1
democratic administration would b,
purer or more efficient or wiser thar
, | the reDublican Even If the demo