New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-04-11

FREDERICK DOUGLASS, JR.,
Lock Box 81.
The weakness OF Liberal Repub-
Iicanisn.
The Republican victories in the State cleo
tons of New Hampshire and Connecticut are
a significant sign on the political barometer.
They prove beyond doubt that the people,
in spite of the noisily circulated reports about
the enormous spread of the Liberal Republi-
can movement, still adhere to true Republi-
canism, as represented by the present Gov
eminent. Of course, the organs of the NAL
contents are taking great pains to explain
away this fact, and insist that the State cleo
tons are merely local affairs, and do by no
means furnish standard for the disposition
Of the people concerning the national Gov
eminent, but experience has always demon
strated the contrary. The State elections
have always been, and considered to be, the
most reliable tests of public feeling of salts
faction or dissatisfaction with the Admins
tration-t1ue indicators of the state of the
political atmosphere. In 1862, in the darkest
days Of the civil war, when reverse followed
reverse, and this distressing condition was
largely ascribed to the lack of energy and
decision on the part of the Government, New
York-then for the first time after several
years-Ohio, and Indiana went Democratic.
ANDREW JOHNSON, much against his wish,
did excellent-service to the Republican cause
through the indignation that he called forth.
Again, in.1S70, when Liberal Republicanism
had achieved its irst-probably its last
triumph in Missouri, and the chronic malcon-
tents believed in its vitality, New Hampshire
was carried.by the Democrats. If really the
administration feeling were spreading,
as the Tribune would have us believe, it would
be most noticeable in those always closely
Gratis had even copied the Missouri Liberal
Republican platform, and have been beaten
on it. Yet, We are by no means to take
such demonstrations as significant symptoms!
Even a more direct manifestation of the
disposition Of the people is given by the ac-
ton Of the Legislatures of many of the most
thoroughly Republican States, which have
quite recently Endorsed the Administration,
and instructed their delegates to vote in
Philadelphia for General GRANT. 1t is true,
the New York Tribune has lately made the
discovery that all those Legislatures are
entirely composed of ofice-holders, and pre-
sumes to invalidate this fact by screaming
Ohice-holders! Office-holders! but the charge
is too grossly and ludicrously unfounded to
be swallowed by the people.
Aside from such unmistakable indications,
it does not appear as if the Liberal Republi-
cans had made any Roadway since they car
RED Missouri; on the contrary, they are
rather weaker, for they would hardly be able
to carry it again to-day. Their leaders are
admittedly highly able and influential men,
and consequently viii create great deal of
sensation, cause much discussion, and be
listened to attentively, but the interest and
attention that superior man will always
command, no matter how intrinsically wrong
he may be, are by no means to be taken as
conclusive evidence ofapprobation. Their war
IL.
for their principal accusations have fallen dead
TO the ground, and the French arms investiga-
ton, in particular, has resulted in more COM
plete yindication of the honesty of the Gov
eminent officials than could even have been
anticipated. The case is virtually settled,
as far as the Administration is concerned.
though the organs of the opposition are still
working with the tenacity and malice of de-
spair to hunt up evidence in order to inculpate
somebody, be it only some subordinate en-
ploye. Of course, corruption" will be the
string to be particularly harped on in Cncin-
matt, but this charge, unless borne out by.
imcontrovertible facts, is too much of gen.
crafty to furnish powerful weapon. We
do not mean to deny that the President he's
made some injudicious appointments but
what Of that? Where is the man, and when
ever was there President, who was not liable
TO such mistakes? Nr. LINCOLN certainly
was not always lucky in bis appointments.
Neither MONTGOMERY BLAIR in the Cabi-
net, nor General MCCLELLAN as Com
inznder-inLh Chief, were men 10 whom the ma
fioD could look with confidence In those days
when the Republic was threatened in its very
exstence. yet 40 true Republican would ever
have dreamed Of causing split in the party
On tnaa account If the appointment Of
THOMAS MURPHY was mistake for which
the President is responsible, to him the
credit is no less due Of having appointed Mr..
boutwell,, who is paying the national debt
at the rate of millions every month"; If the
President deserves to be denounced when
some paymaster or postmaster is discovered
guilty Of defalcation, as il he himself had
shared the plumber, be ought also to be COM
inended for the choice of the other members
Of his Cabinet, in whom even Liberal Repub-
lican luminosity has not been able to pick a
/. Aaw that could effectively be used as a ham
de, and It can be safely added, on these
points the unbiased masses of the people
have settled opinions which are not to be
shaken by q few soreheads.