The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-02-01
George II. Pendleton On the Political Situa-
tiOn.

George ii. Pcndlet0n On Tile fOutlcaI SlIuii
tiOn.
Hon. George H. Pendleton has recentl.
written letter on the state of the parties ant
their possible future movements, that is attrac
ting much attention. We annex an extract
which will be read with interest:
Two great dangers imperil free institution
under the policy of the party now in power
The spirit Of centralized military government
ruption in office destroys the civil administra
ton. do not speak merely or chiefly OF sPe
ciaI defalcations however startling, but of th'
general degradation of the standard of otiicla
Integrity until the offices in both the civil ane
military service seem to be considered the prop
erty of the party, to be dispensed and admins
tered primarily for party aggr'ndizement o.
personal profit. These dangers gov out of an6
are inseparable from the presel organization
of the Republican party. Its foundation, it
philosophy, its history, and its leaders recog
nize military power and the corrnpting use O
money by official patronage as legitimate for
ces in ordinary civil administration, and nov
more than ever are they brought into active ex
ercise The Democratic party confronts this
theory and denounces these practices.
Founded npon the idea of local government
jealous of powers granted to authority, taught
that simplicity and economy are essential to the
honesty necessary in Republican institutions
it maintains with more determined purpose
that the military must be subordinate to the
civil authority, and that offices are trust fol
the people, not spoils for the victors.
Its powerful organization enters every village
in the land, and numbers among its adherents
nearly one-half the people-as intellectual, as
pure, as patriotic as unsel6sh as any of their
fellow-citizens. They are too numerous to be
cowardly. They are too patriotic to be luke
warm. They are too sincere in their purposes
and convictions to be driven to dependency by
ten years of reverses. They have shown con-
stancy in defeat as we'll as wisdom in victory.
If understand their feelings they will neither
disband their organizations nor flee the field
before the contest commences. Either course,
they believe, would give. undisputed sway to
the present administration, which could then
give undivided attention to the deserters OF Its
ranks
An advancing army, with the enemy either
dispersed or in flight, never loses divisions or
regiments, or even companies, and is generally
able to pick off or to pick up treacherous or
thoughtless stragglers.
If there be, as is claimed, many members OF
the Republican party who disapprove the ideas
which dominate the administration OF Presl-
dent Grant. and are prepared to oppose his re-
election, they should declare their purposes,
organize their party, develop and manifest their
strength, and if may predict the future, they
will have no just cause, even the most sensitive
and timid among them, for refusing to co-ope-
rate with the Democratic party. When its
authorized convention shall speak it will re-
mind its adherents that the ultimate and high
est purpose of its existence is to secure the
greatest prosperity, in its best sense OF every,
human being in the land; that principles OF
government arc true or untrue, as they contrl-
butte to this result; that parties and politics
and officers are but means to this end; that
principles are of different application, and
questions lose their Importance in the ever
shifting changes of human affairs, and, discard
ing all narrow ideas, abandoning the consider
alton of all questions which have been decided
or buried by the events which have passed, re-
cognizing the accomplished facts of the pres
ent, and appreciating thedangers of the future,
it will invite both by words and by deeds, both
by resolutions and by nominations, the Jealous,
hearty corporation of all men who believe that
the constitution is better system of govern
ment than martial law, and that reform in the
civil service is higher duty than rewarding
prospective partisan effort by distributing
spoils. ',
By this course the party, should hope, would
attain success. If it should once more fail, as
an honest faithful, patriotic minority, it will
hold an important position and exert an Inn
mense moral power over the majority (; and it
may we'll await the inevitable hour which will
crown its fidelity and patience with the success
which it will have deserved. 1 am, very re-
spectfully, your obedcnt servant,
GEO. II. PENDLEToN.