Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-10-26
From the Missouri Republican,
The Democracy and the Presi-
dpncy.

presidential contest oil 1917 mas htu
and is having the effect we intended
it has provoked an earnest and inter
estiag discussion of the subject in all
its bearings by the opposition to fres
ident Grants admimistrat:o This
discussion will go to the bottom Of
our political condition; it will reveal
the whole truth about that condition
as disclosed from a point of view
above the present parties; and "hat
ever the result of this calm and dis.
passionate review may be, it can not
but be salutary.
At the very threshold of the discus
sion stands the fact that President
Grant is disturbing element in the
Republican party, end that large
and influential element in that party
who will certainly either vote for him
as against a Democratic nominee, or
not vote at all, would welcome an
opportunity to oppose and defeat him,
if they could do so without placing
their life long opponents in power. As
between Grant and Democratic
nominee, they would reluctantly sup
port Grant; as between Grant and
any other possible Republican candi-
date, they would gladly support the
latter. This malcontent. anti Grant
element of Republicanism is no insig-
niiicant power; it is represented by
Senators Schurz, of Missouri; Sumner
and Wilson, of Massachusetts ; Fenton
1f Mr., Vnrlr. Mast NJ TnnlsInno
Horace Greeley, and Cassius NJ. Clay
Gov. Geary, of Pennsylvania; Cox
and Noyes, of Ohio; 1'rumbull and
Logan, of Illinois; the Chicago Tri-
bune, the Cincinnati Commercial, the
New York Tribune, and the New 1ork
Evening Post. In Massachusetts,
New York and Ohio it embodies the
better part of the Republican party.
In Missouri, and, indeed, the whole
West, it embraces the Germans and
the liberals who supported Brown in
1870; and if it does not include the
better part of the Republican party in
Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas,
it embraces even there portion
which, iu point of numbers at least,
is not to be despised This power
full element, discontinued with the
maintained prescription OF the Re
publican party, alarmed of its pro-
gress toward Capitalization, ard dis
satisfied with the personal usurpalions
of the President, has not been able,
thus far, to assert its independence !;
it is held in thralldom by a power
which gives it the narrow choice OF
supporting Grant, or gong over to
the Demo cracy and while an hon
est Democratic partisan would easily
solve the difficulty for them by telling
them to cast their fortunes with the
Democracy, it should be remember ed
that an honest REPUBLICAN may not
find it so easy to accept such solu-
ton. Party allegiance is powerful
sentiment in this country; and while
independent and conscientious men
are ever ready to oppose the policy
Of Their own party, they do not readily
to espouse the policy of its opponent.
A passive attitude by the Demo
cIacy in the next presidential cam
paign would give to Liberal Replb-
licans the Freedom which they can
not secure for themselves. They could
assert their on policy, proclaim their
own platform, and nominate their own
candidate. without q violation of
their party obligations and in appeal
ing to the people for support they
would have an immense moral advan-
tage over the administration party.
whose adverse appeal would be ne
cessarily limited to the President 5
partisans. 1t is true, this passive at
titude would involve q sacrifice on the
part of the Democracy which they
might find it hard to make Demo
Gratis have a right to say that, if the ir
principles are worth struggling for,
even in the face of defeat; and to
withdraw. as party, from great
national contest, might argue a lack OF
devotion to their principles, and a
willingness to see their party disband.
But in answer to this may be adduced
the universal conviction among Dem
ocrats that our constitutional polity
can not survive reelection of Grant
and the four years OF increased CEN
tralization that would follow. 1t is
the Democratic opposition and the
fear of possible Democratic triumph
that cause the administration party
to resolve that the Democratic par
ty shall not triumph, and induce
it to resort to violent legis-
lation and still more violent acts to
prevent such an event AS long
as the administration party is con-
fronted with democratic opposition
which is strong enough to alarm it,
so long will it resort to new schemes
ofunconstitutional legislation, and Sc
long will it uphold the Executive in
violent measures of interference to
maintain itself in power; and thus
even though undeniable facts prove
that the Democracy are o majority oi
the people, there is no assurance that
the PARTY in power would yield place
to them. Under these circumstances
may not the highest patriotism de-
mand of the Democracy the very sac
rifice indicated? They would waive
the possibility of q Democratic tri
umph, indeed; but they would secure
in exchange, the almost absolute Ger.
tainty OF Radical Republican defeat
They would save the Constitution 10y
overthrowing those who constantly
violate it. They would preserve to
the States their right of local self
government, by overwhelming the
party of Capitalization They would
release the Southern States from the
bondage in which they are held, Sc
cure to them the privilege of being
represented in congress by their fairly
chosen delegates. abolish The semi.
military rule in that region, inaueuratc
universal amnesty, and effect the
abrogation of all such measures as
tho I'm Kluv This L,