, 1872-01-08
2olitital.
Decency in Politics.

We hope that in the next national
canvass the Republican party will bt
the party of reform. Congress will bt
forced to begin the reforms which have
been so long promised. The demand
of the honest voters cannot longer be
denied, and we trust that the leaders oi
the Republican party will take the work
of reform earnestly in hand. But while
this movement for legislative reform
should be general, the abuses which
characterize political, or rather party,
discussions should not be forgotten.
No reform can be substantial so long as
men attempt to make personal abuse
pass for discussion of principles. Few
journals admit the true character Of
their opponents, and too many editors
positively disregard truth and deeeney
in &c writing dowu" men who hold views
different from their own.
Our attention has been called to this
subject recently by the manner in which
the partisan journals have treated GER
tain men who attempt to lead the party
instead of letting the party lead them.
This bad practice of trying TO exeommu-
nicate men who differ in personal pre-
ferences or in their vi 'ws of expediency
or of law, has increased within the last
year. 1t received new force when SEN
ator Sumner opposed the San Domingo
scheme. The superservicable friends
of the administration, who always say
"Long live the king" to the mau who
gives them patronage, and are the first
to give him blow when his power
ceases. conceived the brilliant idea
of driving 51r. Summer from the Re-
publican party. They were unsparing
in their denunciations, and attribut-
ed his course to every mean motive that
could be invented. Senator Trumbull
was the object of equally bitter attacks
when he exposed the unconstitutionali.y
of the Ku-Klux bill Senator Schurz
has been numerically denounced as an
ambitious factionist for his independent
criticisms of the administration. Gov
ernor Brown. the leader of the Missouri
liberal Republicans, has been shameful
ly treated because he has refused to fol-
low the rings of ofice-holders and mo-
nopolists. General Cox has for two
years been the object Of most UNIV
rantable attacks because he differed with
the President and was in favor of prae-
teal civil service reform. Gov Palmer,
of Illinois, has frequently been called An
rnprincipled malcontent" because he
has tried to uphold the Constitution and
to maintain the right of civil govern
ment against military usurpations and
special legislation.
These men have been called "dema-
gogues, fools, "'knaves," and "sore
heads because they hold and express
opinions different from those of the
President or of ruling politicians who
control the patronage. Now, all these
men are Republicans who represent the
principles of the Republican purity with
remarkable consistency. The politicians
and editors, who prove their own un-
worthiness by descending to low per-
sonalities, cannot show that these lead
ers have even disregarded the platforms
of the party, and the mercenary motives
which are recklessly charged upon them
are too frivolous to deserve notice.
Every Republican has the partisan
right to differ from the President or
from any other officer upon measures
which were not contemplated by the
Chicago platform; he will still be true
Republican until different platform is
made. If the President has a policy of
his own to enforce against the will of
the Republican party, he has no right
and no disposition, as far as we know,
to exclude those who differ from him.
The men, therefore, who substitute per-
sonal recrimination for political discus
sion are doing the President i'll service
and are iniuring the Republican party
and the cause of reform.-N. 7. Eren-
ing Post.