The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1872-02-07


sented by what is commonly known as
the Missouri passive policy. But the
recent elections at the North show that
it had none, even with all its strength
compact and its zeal united. 1t isa
dead party. 1t has served its ends,
and accomplished. its mission in our
history, for good or evil. BUTT APP
pears that it is not to be let to die
II is altogether probable that the am.
bition of its leaders, who prefer promi,
nence in minority to dignified retire.
mcnt, will be efficient TO preserve it,
and maintain candidates in the field in
the next Presidential election.
Now it is very grave consideration
with US, what to do in the rapidly
approaching crisis. 1t will decide our
fate for four years more. A false step
this year will be fatal TO any remnants
of hope we have left US. We owe it to
ourselves and children TO act calmly,
dispassionately and for our o,cn interesis
so tar as We honestly can. The writer
of this has been used, in many crisis,
to exchange sentiments with his fellow
citizens, and desires to do so now
They have not always agreed with him;
but whether agreeing or differing, it is
no empty boast to say, that always,
when the die was cast, he has never
shrunk from sharing the direst of their
calamities, nor breathed a word of re.
proach.
Can we approve the continuation of
this party organization? VIII it harm
or benefit us? And if the leaders, like
Pendleton, hopeless of success, insist
upon maintaining it as a minority in
huence, does il best become Us to follow
our predictions and cleave to its
fortunes, or to follow our judgment and
refuse to be dragged by it through other
calamities? The latter alternative is a
grave one indeed, and requires moral
courage to face.
The party is strong enough to per,
petuate abuses which it is too weak of
itself to correct, and which might in
other ways come to be corrected. Its
pressure consoldates the powers Of the
administration, and rallies all elements
to its support. 1t prevents division
and insures success to the party re-
sponsible for present abuses; and which,
being thus endorsed, is encouraged to
continue them and advance to others.
IL affords the resistance from which
they spring, If it had no organized
existence; if the Republicans were al
lowed to expand over the whole field,
they would inevitably divide amongst
themselves. Simple dissolution of the
party and abandonment of the contest
would effect what no coalition could
accomplish. Amongst the divided Re
publicans the party opposing the adj
ministration would attack its corrup-
tons and abuses, and appeal to the
virtue and patriotism Of the people
North nnd South. That would be the
issue, and the only possible issue. If
under such circumstances the virtue,
the intelligence and patriotism Of the
country could not, or would not, rally
to what might even be considered the
lesser evil, then is free government
hopeless. Then may we know, what
most people of the South suspect
dimly feeling while refusing it utterance
that the whole business Of rs was
fatal and disastrous mistake.
Since then, the National Democratic
Party is powerless in itself, and, by its
existence, in place Of curbing the
dominant majority, only irritates its
malevolence, and gives occasion for
it surely has no reason to
be.
Nor is it any better, that it should
preserve its organization, refusing to
nominate candidates, waiting in a
body TO avail itself of the chances Of
the future, or to transfer its phalanXes
to the side offering the greatest induces
ments. Coalitions are always dam
ming. They smell of bargain and
intrigue. and shock the moral sense.
The people will not be openly trans, |