The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-11-04

seIt their manhood and independence.
The st. Louis Republicans New De-
.parture.'
There is not in all this land q more ably, no.
nestly and discreetly conducted democratic
journal than the St. Louis Republican. 1t was
chiefly through the wisdom, moderation and
statesmanlike sagacity of that journal that the
great state OF Missouri was relieved from a
carpet Dagger and scalawag domination more
hideous, if possible, than that which curses
South Caroline to day, and was brought under
her present benignant democratic sway which
has given her material prosperity equalled
by no other state in the Union.
When such paper, therefore, takes "de-
parture' from the beaten track of party drill
and usage, it deserves better treatment than to
be cried down as case of party recusancy or
treachery without first giving it respectful
hearing. While, then, our lnclinasion would
be to make haste slowly to adopt the sugges-
tiou of the Ripuhican, We are not prepared to
condemn 1t outright, but regard it as due to
the high source from which it comes to state
fairly to orr readers the proposition of the Re-
publican. and to indicate its line of argument
in its support.
In word, then, the Republican, taking the
result of the October elections as an index of
the drift Unpopular sentiment, sees very little
hope of the defeat Of the reelection of Gen
Grant in 1872 as political parties are now Or
gained and arrayed against esch other. 1t
therefore secommends that the democratic
party make no nominations for the presiden-
cy and vice presidency, buf join hands with
the moderate, conservative republicans, rep
resented by such men as Carl Shurz, Lyman
Trumbull Gratz Brown and J. r. Doolittle
and letting them nominate men of their own
class as the candidates, the democracy shall
cordially support them and thus secure their
election.
The arguments the Republican urges in fa.
vor OF this course are many and weighty.
even it," says that paper, "the democrats
should III 1872 be able to elect their candidate
for the presidency, such election would not
settle the question: it would no more imply
the installation of the elected candidate into
the presidential office than the undoubted
election of many a democratic candidate to
congress by majority of voters in the south.
ern states implied his admission to that body.
The votes that might elect democrat to the
presidency would be no better than the votes
that elected Switzler and Shields to congress
in the Sixth and Ninth districts of Missouri
in 1868, nor the votes that elected Judge
Goldthwaite to the L. S. senate from Alabama
in 1870, nor the votes that elected other
democrats to congress in Louisiana, Texas,
Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Ken
lucky; and if those votes were held to be-
illegal in the latter cases, they would proba-
bly, be held illegal in the first case. In other
words If an administration congress has re-
peatedly rejected democratic senators and rep.
resentotives elect, on account of pretended
illegality in the votes that elected them. would
it not refuse to count and accept the majority
of electoral votes cast for Democratic pres,
dental candidate for the same reason!"
But should even the democratic majority be
so overwhelming as to solve this difficulty, the
Republican, maintains that the victory would
be a barren one, as it would still leave the par
ty powerless in both houses of congress, and
the new president in the position of Andrew
johnson.
The proposed union with the moderate re-
publicans, however, the Republican contends
would at once place the successful party in
the majority in both houses of congress, and
enable the nation tostart on that career ofreform
and good government which all so ardenty
desire but for which the present hope of at-
talnment is so distant and unpromising.
That the proposed fusion with toe liberal
republicans would bring success the RepuJh-
can has no dcubt, saying .....
The election of Gov. Walker in Virginia, of
Gov. SCATTER in Tennessee, and of Gov. Brown Ia
Missouri, al Liberal Republicans, chosen by
Democratic and Liberal votes, furnish the sim.
pie, N,norable and effective method of beating
the president and his party and policy; and as
the Democrats in neither of those states have
hid cause to regret the manner in which
their deliver.uce was effected there is no reason
to believe tina, the national Democracy would
regret disen,hrelment of all the states effected
in the same way. Administration partissns tell
W. that the scheme would fail in u national up.
p,ic,,on; but the pains they take to tell US this
proves that they fear it will succeed,
Mr.. Beck, of Kcntuckey, who has just re-
T.. IL.