Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-03-25
WILMINGTON DEL.
Monday Afternoon, March rs.
THE ADMINISTRATION, AND

- =. .t ,sfae+ss WHY,
A casual remark of ours, to the effect that the
editorial tone of the Kennett Leader resembled
oyarmuch the deceitful call Of the False Shep-
hsrds in politics. is rather resented by our neigh
bor, and it rejoins by the suggestion that the
CosnuRcrAL is an administration paper" and
"wolf" The former name, for some reason, 1t
seems to regard as alternative with the latter,
and it might be supposed, that the advanced
thought" Of Kennett looked upon the Admins
tration as a gigantic monster, preying, with
bloody fangs, upon the multitudes Of tender
aocks that feed on the peaceful hilsides OF Ohes-
ter county.
But with our light, to support the Administra-
ton is not only wise, but right not only sensi-
BILE but honorable. The Administration has
steadily adhered to the principles, and faithfully
carried out the measures Of the Republican
Party. The Executive has resolutely, and in
good faith, put in force the laws enacted by Con-
eress, completing Reconstruction Furnishing the
Ku Klux, enforcing the right OF Suffrage, re-
ducing the public expenses, and funding the
debt Besides thus supporting the action OF the
peoples representatives in Congress, the Admin
istration has Justly treated the Indians, arbtra-
N~N@~NN
and defaulters, commenced the reform Of the
Civil Service, and sought, by proper and peace
able means, to extend our flag over desirable
new territory.
All this is In strict accord with Republican
principles. It is simply putting into acts the
theories and purposes to which the Republican
citizens of the nation have again and again
proclaimed their devotion. To be silent
in regard to such a record, to sneer and cavil
at it, or to condemn it, is simply to at
tack, by one or another OF these methods, the
Republican Party itself, and to antagonize its
principles and measures.
This, we are not ready to do When Andrew
Jackson Administration sought to circumvent and
defeat the Republican purpose, and to betray
and destroy the party that had trusted him with
power, we denounced it, OF course He did pre-
cisely the opposite to that which President Grant
has done, and as he was denounced, 80 the latter
must be supported. So long as he adheres faith
fully to the established principles and forwards,
with spirit and energy, the plainly-indicated de-
sires of the Republican organization, We consider
that it would be nothing less than unjust and
dishonorable for Republican newspapers to speak
of his Administration either with cold indiifer-
ence, or undisguised antagonism.
This is, Of course, reasoning as a Republican,
and upon the presumed confession that Repub-
ican principles and measures are still to be pre-
ferred. Weput this belief at the foundation Of
all our political action the Leader may not.
Indeed from some of its rather vague outgivings.
subsequent to the expression of its idea that the
COMMERCIAL is ''wolf," we infer that it desires
"a new deal" in politics, and thinks that in a
fresh shuttle, some deserving people might draw
better cards. If this be it's desire if it really
wishes to break up the Republican organization
or to have it outvoted certainly it has right
to so prefer. II it feels such pleasure in contem
plating the scheme of Disgusting the Democratic
animal with the old clothes Of Carl Schurz, and
David Davis, and so sneaking it into power, that
it prefers to look to the Cincinnati meeting, OF
other plot-hatching gatherings, rather than tc
the regularly constituted Convention of the Re
publican Party, this is choice which it has
power to make, and we have no power to forbid
But, in making this decision, the Leader, ant
any one else who may have the same singula
idea of what is best, should understand exactl,
what they arc about. They arc lending them
selves to the purpose of bringing the Democrat
ic Party into power. II they prefer its men itl
principles (2) its record, and its practices very
we'll. But if they hope to better maintain
Republican principles, by placing then
in the keeping of their enemies, the
will be sure to be grossly deluded
No "wolf' of any sort could more sayage
destroy the True Shepherds gentle Aocks, thar
will Democratic Congress slaughter the msaS
ures, and reverse the policy, of the Republica
Congress and Administration.
We say again, if the Leddsr desires such re
verssl of the National policy, it is going the righ
way to work if not, not. For ourself, we hay
no such admiration, either for the restless, an
bilious demagogues, who are squirming aroun
with all sorts of political schemes, labele
by all sorts of cheating titles or 70
the hungry hordes of the Democrat
Party, in whose behalf all these fine plot
are being concocted, as leads US to abando
the Republican organization, or to denounce til
Administration which firmly, faithfully, an
steadily maintains its principles, and carries OF
its measures. To our view, this would be eitht
political folly, or political treachery. And her
we stand, on as firm footing of conscientiol
devotion to the National welfare, as our crit
dare pretend to-