Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-04-03
Political.
From the Independent
Republican Aseendency vital TO the Nation.


Senators and Representatives, aud many other /
distinguished men, turned the whole power
Of his Administration against the party whose
misplaced confidence bad intrusted it into his
hands, il was fashionable for those who sup
ported him to exclsim "Thc Republican
Party having fulfilled its mission Of destroy.
ing slavery and yanquishing rebellion, it is
time now for new organizations and associa. |
tions.' But it proved to be party with
stronger hold on the popular heart than any
Of the political parties Of this century and,
instead Of being overthrown by this threaten
ing secession, it came out Of the contest
stronger and more powerful than before.
What would have been the results to the
nation aud It's interests, to those great princi.
pies for which 80 much has been achieved
since 1866, if a Congress in sympathy with
President johnson had been chosen by the
people, Instead Of one hostile TO him ana
bis policy--if the compact and united Re.
publican organization bad been disbanded, and
new rrstif f----,yt.fu7Yi 80 well understood
rh0e fiai J need mol detail them
Again, the unity OF this organization
sauctfed though it has been by so much pat
rotic blood aud SO many sacred tears, stir
ring, as it has, the conscience Of the nation to
its profoundest depths, prayed over by so
many pious hearts, and with history Of
which millions are so justly proud--is imper-
lied By attempts to rend it asunder into two
antagoniziDg national couvocations, aud to
test the experiment of affiliating one wing of
the divided party with those who, from the
hour Of the birth of the Republican orgabi-
zation, have sought, though Intellectually, to
stab it to its death.
This experiment has already been tested 10
Tennessee and Missouri, with exactly identical
results. In each State one wing Of the Re.
publican party placed in the field a Republi-
can State ticket in opposition to the regular
nominees. ln each State the Democracy de-
cined TO nominate 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 only a choice
among men Of their own faith. Ia each
State, by these appeals and with the aid of
the Democratic vote en- mdSSs, the indepen-
dent Republican State ticket was chosen but
jority Of Democratic Congressman. In each
State a Democratic United States Senator has
been since elected And no States are now
claimed - though, perhaps, incorrectly - as
more certainly against the Republicans than
Tennessee and Missouri. 1t is proposed now
to repeat these experiments on the broader
arena of the nation. d" 10 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-
publicans, Influenced by personal or legisla-
tive considerations, may have given aid and
comfort to the pending movement, in the hope
Of more auspicious results But fort which
could be easily held by its defenders is often
most difficult Of recapture when lost while
party which comes into power is always
controlled by the elements which constitute a
majority of its membership. To capture the
, fort, the aid Of some of its former defender.
may be necessary. Once captured, the ma
jority of the eictors hold supreme sway. II
this is doubted, let Tennessee and Missouri
answer the doubter.
If quarter Of million, or even as many
as half a -Hfrfcy Republicans could be 10.
daced to Join three millions Of Democrats in
defeating the gesnar Republican organiza.
tion, six sevenths of the new Cabinet would
belong proportionately to the dominating
wingof the coalition. The supporters of the
new Administration in Congress would be Of
the same political faith. And it does not
need to recall the history Of Andrew John
son, or John Tyler, to prove that, whatever
might have been their political principles
when elected Administrations rapidly assimi.
late 10 political policy with their political
supporters in Congress. If they must rely
for defense on political opponents, that very
necessity, by force more potential than
magnetism or grayitation, draws them to-
gether
Can the ascendency Of the Republican
Party 10 our nation be safely or wisely sur
rendered Virginia, West Virginia and
North Carolina were all, after reconstruction,
Republican States The former State was
carried against the regular Republican nomi-
nees for Governor, etc., by what was called a
Conservative Republican ticket, the candi-
dates on which claimed during the canvass to
be better friends of the President than their
opponents, even telegraphing their congratu-
lations 20 him when they won their victory
Has any one heard of any triumphs for Re.
publican principles or ideas in its legislation
since, or in the Constitutional Convention OF
West Virginia, or in the Kuklux deus oi
North Carolina ? When organized conspira
cy, violence, whipping, mutilation, arson, and
murder defy, as in some States now, the ma
tional as well as the local Government and
laws, despite President, Cabinet, Congress
aud all the power of the nation being known
: to be on the side of those whom they seek tC
, intimidate and outrage, how much more de-
plorable 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 bruta
enemies stay their hands ?
Would our national credit, the right arm
of our country in time of peril, (more power.
ful than an army, because by it armies and
navies can rapidly be called into existence
when needed), be strengthened by the over.
: throw of Republican ascendeney Under
Republican administration il has steadily i'm
proved, here as well as abroad. A party that
never bowed the knee to prejudice, and dared
to risk the odum of most burdensome taxa
tion when needed to keep our flag flying in
ttts<hcy-And wAieh, when peace came, dared
10 reduce taxation year by year, only to such
an extent as would not hazard our finances
inspires a confidence that no other organiza.
tion could command. And its result is seer
in the prosperity Of the nation, the develop
ment Of its resources, the enlargement Of IL
productions, the maintenance OF the wages OF
labor, the increased deposits of the POOR il
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 repudia.
; tion can never come in this Republic by any
direct vote of Congress or people. Its danger
is from indirect action. A party seeking
present popularity only-consenting to reduce
Q taxation a hundred and fifty millions, when
a but fifty could be safely abated or allowing
! hundreds of millions Of war claims, &c.,
! would, without doing anything else, impair
! .r Il tha patinual cradtf