The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-07-11
IS THE tLIBERAL" A REFORM
PARTY.


The Liberal" party is professcdly one
of reform. While adhering in the main
to Republican principles it started out
on its crusade with the loud cry that
those in power had abused their high
mission, and by the perverted use of off,
cial authority had rendered any reform
within the Republican party organiza
zion impossible. It thereupen proceeded
to search high and low into the conduct
of the government for something to base
its cry for reform upon. "Complicity In
frauds" unconstitutional usurpation" OF
power, Capitalization measures, furnished
the groundwork for the charges which
were brought to bear against the admin
istration. Out of pretended corruption
it assumed the task Of delivering the
country. Investigations we've demanded
and were granted. Speeches were made
in Congress to be disseminated by means
Of the government printing Office, and
finally a convention was called at Ci ncin.
NATL in the hope of crystalizing all the
opposition thus manufactured against the
administration into some tangible form
The result of this crystalizing process
was then to be amalgamated with the De-
mocrary, and from the combination 9
"Reform Party" was to be placed before
the country.
1t would be well to consider here of
what material true reform parties are
made. We know Of no better instance of
the formation of party of this kind
than that of the Republican party. De-
mocracy had ruled the nation in the in
terests of slavery for years. Border ruff
fanism prevailed on the outskirts ofcivil-
izatlon, checking the legitimate growth
of the country; public offices were reek
ing with corruption, and secession was
threatened as an inevitable result of any
attempt to check the domination of the
slayeocracy, or Of insisting on the rights
of the freemeh Of the north. To this
state Of affairs the Democracy submissive
~ bowed its head, and lifted not finger
to stay the destructive tide
Here was an earnest call for reform. A
cali that must be needed, or the nation q
wreck. The danger was recognized, and
the people proved equal to the emergen-
cy. The Democratic party was outvoted,
and other hands saved the nation.
But how is the self styled "Reform
Party" Of to day to be composed? What
has been the history Of its course so far
The only hope for its success rests in
gaining the support of those very men
from whose hands the Republican party
rescued the country in 1860 Are those
men the usual material out of which Re-
forms are made. Is Reform q matter of
bargain and sale? Does it naturally go
back beyound preceding reform for is
foundation, and seek strength among po-
litical malefactorS of former ye&rs? We
think not. If the Republican party,
or the administration of this government
is to be reformed, the purifying element
must come from something better than
itself. The idea that the Democracy can
jump from its standpoint in 1860, past all
the progress effected by Republication
IN the intervening twelve years, and come
out in advance Of it in 1872, is a prepos-
ferrous one.
Where are the Liberals" to-day? a
little over a month ago they would not
admit Democrat to their national con
vention as delegate, for the reason that
the movement was Republican oneI; and
yet we find the New York Tribune indoors
ing the Democratic Indiana State ticket,
which has not a single renegade "a. 6.
<Liberal'O Republican on it. Are the
Democrats being merged into Liberals"
into Democrats? And when the thorough
amalgama ton is effected, let each voter
analyze the mixture and satisfy himself
as to what elements this "Refo1m" is COM
posed Of, and consider whether genuine
reformation can come from such combi-
nations. 10.