The Weekly Washington telegraph. (Washington, Ark.) 1871-18??, 1872-03-27

l
state of chaos in the crucible, as it
were. We are rapidly approaching a
great political contest. Time with
steady march and rapid stride, is bring
ing us up to contest that in impor-
lance to the people of this country,
North and South, even to the very
fundamental principles OF republic
can government itself, has never had
parallel. Holding this view of the
Importance Of the coming campaign
we. cannot be neutral. Juuius says that
in a question merely political, an
honest man may stand nouter. But
the laws and constitution are the gen,
eral property of the subject: no. to
defend, is to relinguish: aud who is
there SO senseless as to renonuce his
share in a common benefit, unless he
hopes to profit by a new division Of the
spoil?' And believing that the very
constitution Of our country, which has
already, Of late years, suffered so many
inlractions, is in iminent danger of ut.
ter aDnihilation, we repeat that we can
not be neutral.
We do not wish to deceive our read
ers, if we could do so, with regard to
the situation. According to our iudg-
ment it is a critical one. The re-clec,
ton Of Grant to the Presidency of the
United States, and popular endorse,
ment ofail the wrongs and outroges Of
the administration, will inevitably re-
suit in the destruction Of the liberties
of the people. 1t is barely possible,
we admit, that the friends of the ad,
ministration might take q new depart.
ure, and upon platform Of liberal
and reform ideas and pledges, succeed
without bringing about, Immediately,
this direful result. This however, is
not probable. II is to-day the popular
feeling in the breasts of the great body
Of the people, north and south, and Of
all parties, that Grant must be beaten,
and the way to succeed is a matter
that must very shortly be determined.
To our mind one thing Is very
evident: the democratic party, in a
square fight against the administration,
or radical party, cannot succeed.
This is no doubt very unpalatable
truth to many; but it is truth never.
theless, and there is no use in trying to
disguise it, even if we were so disposed.
Recent events transporting in the north
ern States have settled this question in
the minds of all those who are OF
all disposed to learn and to profit
by observation and experience. -
"Sraws show which way the wind
blows" is an old saying, and a true
one, and they fail to show the existence
Of any hurricane, or even breeze of
disaiiected republicans in the north set
ling towards the democracy. Truly
many northern republicans are disaf.
fected, dissatisfied, with their party,
but not with republicanism. They
beliye like Mr.. Greeley, who is an
oracle among them, that "l,epuhlican-
inn, honestly managed, and unseldshly
! generated, is the safest polh;caldoctgine
by which a great State aad 4 great na>
ton can be governed They have
not fallen out with republicanism, but
with tier managers and generals.
These may be displaced, and 10 the
accomplishment Of this object, the best
energies of the best men Of the repub.
lican party, are now being devoted,
with singular unselGshness and lofty
patriotism which commands the res
pect and admiration Of every lover Of
good government and constitutional
liberty. Witness Carl Schulz, Graft
Brown and Horace Greeley, Ga host of
themselyes,) aided and assisted by
many of the ablest mon aud most iDhu,
ential newspapers in every state. 1t
is worse than idle,i is folly, it is crime,
to shut our eyes 10 the existence ofthe
fact that the influence Of dead party.
ism is waning. Parties, like some
men. outlive their usefulness, and it is
well that an unaltorable decree has