Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-04-12
Republican Ascendency Vital to the
Nation.
by HoN. souuYLrR co1rAx.

the whole power OF his Administration |
against the party whose misplaced con-
fidence had intrusted it into his hands, II |
was fashionable for those who supported |
him to exclaim: 1.-THE Republican party |
having fulfilled its mission of destroying |
slavery and vanqulsning rebellion, 1t is |
time now for new organizations and asso
ciations" But it proved to be a party |
with stronger hold on the popular heart |
than any of the political parties of this |
century, and instead of being overthrown
by this threatening secession, 1t came out
of the contest stronger and more powerful
than before.
What would have been the results to
the nation and its interests, to those great
principles for which so much has been
achieved since 1866, if a Congress in SYM
pathy with President johnson had been
chosen by the people, instead of one hos
tile to him and his policy-if the compact
and united Republican organization had
been disbanded, and new parties formed
is so well understood now that / need
not detail them.
Again, the unity of this organization
sanctifed 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 profoundest depths, prayed
over by so many pious hearts, and with a
history of which millions are so justly
proud-is imperiled by attempts to rend
it asunder into two antagoniZing national
convocations, and to test the experiment
of afhliating one wing of the divided par
ty with those who from, the hour of the
birth of the Republican organization,
have sought, though Intellectually, to stab
ii to its death.
This experiment has already been tested
in Tennessee and Missouri with exactly
identical results. In each State one wing
of the Republican party placed in the field
a Republican State ticket in opposition to
the regular nominees. In each State the
Democracy declined to nominate party
ticket, but supported 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 choice
among men of their own faith. In each
State, by these appeals, and with the aid
OF the Democratic vote en- mdsse the in
dependent Republican State ticket was
chosen, but with it q Democratic Legisla-
ture-and majority of Democratic Con-
gressmen. In each State 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. "In vain is
1t cannot be doubted that many earnest
Republicans joined in these State move
ments, who deeply but unavailingly re-
gret now their results. And, doubtless
many earnest Republicans, influenced by
personal or legislative considerations, may
have given aid and comfort to the pend
ing movement, in the hope of more au-
spicious results. But a 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 q majority of its membership.
To capture the fort, the aid of some of its
former defenders may be necessary.
Once captured, the majority of the victors
hold supreme sway. If this is doubted,
let Tennessee and Missouri answer the
doubter.
If quarter of a million, or even as
many as half million Republicans could
be induced to join three millions of Dem
ocrats in defeating the regular Republi-
can organization, siX-sevenths of the new
Cabinet would belong proportionately to
the dominating wing of the coalition.
The supporters of the new Administra-
ton in Congress would be of the same
political faith. And it does not need to
recall the history of Andrew johnson,
nor of John Tyler, to prove that, what
ever might have been their political prin-
ciples when elected, Administrations
rapidly assimilate in 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 gravi-
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 recon
struction, Republican States. The former
State was carried against the regular Re-
publican nominees for Governor etc., by
what was called Conservative Republi-
can ticket, the candidates on which
claimed during the canvass to be better
friends of the President than their oppo-
nents, even telegraphing their congratula-
tions to him when they won their vic
tory. Has any one heard of any tri-
umphs for Republican principles or ideas
in its legislation since, or in the Constitu-
ti0nal Convention of West Virginia, or
in the Ku-Klux dens of North Carolina ?
When organized conspiracy, violence,
whipping, mutilation, arson and murder
defy, as in some States now, the national
as we'll as the local Government and laws,
despite President, 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 whould be the condition
of their poor victims with the Republican
party out of power ? Would their hopes
of protection increase Would theil
wicked and brutal enemies stay theil
hands
Would our national credit, the right
arm of our country in time of peril (more
powerful than an army, because by il
armies and navies can be rapidly called
into existence when ueeded), be strength
ened by the overthrow of Republican as
tendency? Under Republican admins
tration it has steadily improved, here al
we'll as abroad. A party that never boweC
the knee to prejudice, and dared to risl
the odium of most burdensome taxation
when needed to keep our flag flying in thu
field, and which, when peace came, dareC
to reduce taxation, year by year, only tC
such an extent as would not hazard ou
finances inspiresa confidence that no othe
organization could command. And its re
suit is seen in the prosperity of the ma
tion, the development of its resources, tn
enlargement of its productions, the main
tenance of the wages of labor, the in
creased deposits of the poor in saving
banks, the steady decline in the gold pre-
MUM, and the appreciation in the valu
of our currency and bonds.
Every intelligent man knows that repu
diation can never come in this Republi
by any direct vote of Congress or people
Its danger is from indirect action.
party seeking present popularity only
consenting to reduce taxation a hundre
D.. and fifty millions, when but fifty could b
safely abated or allowing hundreds O
millions of war claims, etc.-would, with
out doing anything else, impair, if it di
not shipwreck, the national credit. Whe
payday came, and an empty. Treasur
failed in the payment of interei
on the national bonds, the shoe
to our credit and good name. woul