The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-02
THE SENATE DISCUSSION

THE SENATE DISCUSSION.
The war of the giants still goes on in the
Senate. We would be glad to see the
great powers of Sumner, Schurz and Trum-
bull welded in cause worthy of them and
their past record. We are sare that an
honest attempt to get at the truth in this
sale of arms could have been made in a
spirit that would have excited no OPPOSE
ton worth mentioning. The Republican
party has done too much for the country to
justify indifference to its integrity and har-
mony among its members at this eventful
crisis. We believe in the fullest and
freest criticism of its acts. But
the just object of criticism is to Improve
the party, and not to introduce into it fatal
elements of discord. No true Republican
objects to searching scrutiny of the official
acts of General Grant, or any member of
the party. On the contrary, he who OPP
poses such investigation is an enemy of the
party and Of the people. Purity is the
prime condition of peace, and strength and
healthful growth in man and institutions.
While secret corruption testers, decay goes
on, and final dissolution is sure. Fidelity
to the party, love of country and of truth,
alike conspire to dictate search
ing scrutiny into erery suspected
case Of ,orong doing. We must probe deep,
discover and extract the irritating element,
at whatever cost. And this, from our love
of country, and of the Republican party,
as means by which its peace and prosper
ity are to be secured. In contrast with
this clearly admitted right and duty, is that
carpng criticism and triumphant display of
discovered fault to our enemies, which
has marked the conduct of certain Senator's
during the past year. Their action is based
upon the assumption that the Republican
party has fulfilled its mission, and should
be disbanded. They are willing to leave
the administration of the government to
the chances of a general scramble,
in which all the elements of opposi-
ton, shall be combined. The people. it
is said, are to take the government into
their hands,"
Such movement, if successful, would
be controlled by those who would form a
vast majority of its supporters. The DEM
ocratic party driven from power for its cor
ruptions, imbecility and treason to liberty
and progress, opens wide its arms of well
come, to all who will bring it votes. Lift
ed into power by the aid of those whom
its lying promises have deceived, its old
malignity wosld instantly revive, and
spurning the tools and dupes, by which it had
risen to power, reenact the damning crimes
for which it was disgraced and outlawed by
the American people. We have only to
look to those states where it is in power,
for partial illustrations of its spirit and
purposes. But even there it is now re-
strained by prudential motives. 1t is still
in all its members wicked and unregenerate
as a party. It's 'New DEPARTURE is but
blind to deceive the foolish and unwary.
"How does Brown behave since his con-
version?" inquired good minister of one
who used to be terrible sinner. "Ah,
much better ~ was the reply. she used
to go out cunning Sundays with his gun
on his shoulder, but now he hides it under
his coat till he gets into the woods ~
Such is the conversion of the "new de-
paIture"-a concealment of its purposes
till the Democracy regains the seats of
power. Then the innocent fleece that
covers its treacherous and savage form will
be thrown aside and the monster come
forth. Its Ku-KIux bands will rally from
their dens, bloody with midnight muir
ders, and go forth to fresh conquest. It's
Tammany chiefs will again befoul the bal
lot, and restore the Reign of Priestcraft in
the Metropolis. Prescription will follow
every loyalist who dare stand up for his
opinions like a man, over the whole South.
The National credit, Industry and Trade,
will fall paralyzed, and the country turn
from its high career of progress backward
again towards the night of barbarsm.
This is precisely what Democratic Tri;-
umph means, and all this they inrite who
propose to break up the Republican party
to-day.
Great Heayeni is mis- our mission !?
End in this, the prayers and tears,
The toll and strife, the watchings,
Of all our battle years.
Still as the old world rolls TO light
Shall ours In shadow turn
beamless chaos, cursed of God
Through outer darkness borney
Where the far nations looked for light,
biackness in tho air