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

Again, the unity OF this OrganlZatlOn-Sanc-
titled though it has been by so much patriotic
blood and so many sacred tears, stirring, as
it has, the conscience of the nation to its pro-
foundest depths, prayed over by so many
pious hearts, and with a history of which mil
lions are so justly proud-is imperilled by at
tempts to rend it asunder into two antagOniz-
ing national convOcations, and to test the
experiment of affiliating one wing of the
divided party with those who, from the hour
df the birth of the Republican organization,
have sought, though Intellectually, to stab it
to its death.
This experiment has already been tested in
Tennessee and Missouri, with exactly ldenti-
cal results. In each State one wing of the
Republican party placed in the field Repub-
ican State ticket in opposition to the regular
nominees. In each State the Democracy de-
clined to nominate a party ticket, but sup
ported the independent Republicans. In each
State appeals were made to the Republican
voters to vote for the independent Republican
ticket, on the ground that it was really only a
choice among men of their own faith. In each
State, by these appeals and with the aid of
the Democratic vote en- nsasse, the independent
Republican State ticket was chosen, but with
it Democratic Legislature and majority of
Democratic congressman. In each State a
Democratic United States Senator has since
been elected. And no States are now claimed
though, perhaps, incOrrectly-as more GER
tainly against the Republicans than Tennes-
see and Missouri. 1t is proposed now to re-
peat these experiments on the broader arena
of the nation. s. In vain is the snare set in
sight of the bird"
1t cannot be doubted that many earnest
Republicans joined in these State movements,
who deeply but unavailingly regret now their
results. And, doubtless, many earnest Re-
yartl iv,A, aaI Ixy, lo,~s
tive considerations, may have given aid and
comfort to the pending movement, in the hope
OF more suspicious results. But fort which
could be easily held by its defenders is often
most difficult to recapture when lost; while a
party which comes into power is always con-
trOlled by the elements which constitute a
majority of its membership. To capture the
fort, the aid of some of its former defenders
may be necessary. Once captured, the ma
jority of its vlctors hold supreme sway. If
this is doubted, let Tennessee and Missouri
answer the dOubter.
ia quarter of million, or even as many
as half million, Republicans could be induced
to join three millions of Democrats in defeat
ing the regular Republican organization, six
seventies of the new Cabinet would belong
propOrtionately to the dominating wing of the
coalition. The supporters of the new Admin
istration in Congress would be of the same
political faith. And it does not need to re-
call the history of Andrew johnson, nor of
John Tyler, to prove that, whatever might
have been their political principles when
political policy with their political supporters
in Congress. If they must rely for defense on
political opponents, that very necessity, by a
force more potential than magnetism or CRAWL
tation, draws them together.
Can the ascendency of the Republican party
in our nation be safely or wisely surrendered
Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina
were all, after reconstruction, Republican
States. The former State was carried against
the regular Republican nominees for Cover
nor, &C., by what was called Conservative
Republican ticket, the candidates on which
claimed during the canvass to be better friends
of the President than their opponents, even
telegraphing their congratulations to him when
they won their victory. Has any one heard
of any trilunphs for Republican principles or
ideas in its legislation since, or in the Con-
stitutional Convention of West Virginia, or
in the Ku-Klux dens of North Carolina ?
When organized conspiracy, violence, whip
ping, mutilation, arson, and murder defy, as
in some States now, the national as well as
the local Government and laws, despite Pres
ident, Cabinet, Congress, and all the power
Of the nation being known to be on the side
of those whom they seek to intimidate and
outrage, how much more deplorable would be
the condition Of their poor victims with the
Republican .party out of power? Would
their hopes of protection increase? Would
their wicked and brutal enemies stay their
hands?
Would our national credit, the right arm of
our country in time Of peril, (more powerful
than an army, because by it armies and navies
can rapidly be called into existence when
needed, be strengthened by the overthrow
of Republican ascendency? Under Republi.
can administration it has steadily improved
here as well as abroad. A party that never
bowed the knee to prejudice, and dared to
risk the Odium of most burdensome taxation
when needed to keep our flag flying in the
field, and which, when peace came, dared to
reduce taxation, year by year, only to such
an extent as would not hazard our finances,
inspires a confidence that no other organiza.
ton could command. And its result is seen
in the prosperity of the nation, the develop
ment of its resources, the enlargement of its
productions, the maintenance of the wages
of labor, the increased deposits of the poor in
savings banks, the steady decline in the gold
premium, and the appreciation in the value
OF our currency and bonds.
Every intelligent man knows that rcpudia-
ton can never come in this Republic by any
direct vote Of Congress or people. Its dan
ger is from indirect action. A party seeking
present popularity Only-conscnting to reduce
taxation hundred and fifty millions, when
but fifty could be safely abated or allowing
hundreds of millions of war claims, &C.
would, without doing anything else, impair
if it did not shipwreck, the national credit
When payday came, and an empty Treasury
failed in the payment of interest on the ma
tiOnal bonds, the shock to our credit and goot
name would be felt around the world. AL
values here would be unsettled, business
would be deranged, and financial disaster
would certainly follow. The Republican
party has never been Drawer than when il
risked its political existence on doing right
and, while it will reduce the burdens of tax.
alton LAS it has six times since the wary a.
rapidly as the national faith will permit, the
world knows that not for the most wide
spread popularity at home would it risk the
pllghted faith of the Republic, or permit
IFS credit to be at the slightest hazard of dis
No; the time has not yet arrived for its ex.