Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-09-12

You have assembled, the chosen representa-
tives OF the Republicans OF the State, when dis
cussons and events which may be observed in
the country aamoneh wisdom and crcumspec-
tion here. II ia In the year succeeding an cleo
ton of President that men feel the strings Of
party loosening from their limbs, exercise more
freely their own choice and judgment, aud Or
ganze with their own minds ideas as to persons
aud policies and administrations. What shall
happen at the next quadreRnial election depends
much upon what Is promulgated. and more npon
what Is done, in the interval by authorized and
official public agents While this is in degree
true Immediately after any Inauguration Of the
President, it is especially aud significantly true
at this time.
LAST YEARS REPUBLICAN, SUCCESS. ~
The Republican party came out Of theN last
canvass with very large majorities-party. be-
cause of the absence of a united aud homogene-
ons opposing party, in part because OF more
general belief OF their promises of reform than
Of the same promises made by their opponents
partly because of the power ofpublic patronage
which has been unduy exercised by every ad-
mini4trationj since that Of John Quincy Adams..
inpart BECAUSE practical and commercial peo-
pie are slow to change their government in pc
Rod of material prosperity, and above ALL APP
prehend, because OF the confidence which the
country had in the plain modest, robust charao-
ter OF the President. The expiration OF the
present termf will complete a period Of
sixteen years OF what may call continuous ad-
ministration, which has not once been exceeded,
and only once has been equaled by continuity
of administration In all the political contests
since the days of Washington.
IN LONG LEASE OF POWER. ABUSES ARE LIKELY
TO SPRING UP.
II would almost be strange and not according
to human nature under the conditions of Amer
can politics. after such lapse OF time and under
a system of government which extends its pa
tronsge, opportunities, and temptations over
territory OF imperial limits, and among classes
that learn only too quickly the ways OF official
thrift if scandalous Irregularities and immoral
tiles had not sprung up in the public service. at
first denied, next cOnnived at, and afterwards
cond1 under the pressure OF impending cleo
tious. II speak Of that which might occur,
speak az well OF that which IN common belief
has occurred Aud these things have gone as
far AZ the good name OF any party or the public
sense can bear.
"cAEsARIsM' FRAUD-ooRRUPnoN REAL DAM
The fears OF the early founders were spent in
The wrong direction the peril to the purity Of
the Government lies not in high ambitions but
in low dishonestes, it comes not from men VINO
think of doing great things for glory, but from
men who think OF doing mean things for profit
Our party, then which is
STRONG IN ITS RECENT MAJoRITIEs,
Strong In the mem m)ries Of the heroic time so
lately passed, strong in many Senator and he
preventative who bears about him no odor OF
the hard test remarkably we'll, has the weakness
which comes from its prolonged years, from
many of its former issues now recedlng, from
vices first nursed unw.ttingly and then tolerated
uuwlngy, from the possibilities OF diversions
in a general curiosity for new agitations and
new departures. fIom the suspicions cherished
by q stern and Just people that where there 10
so m uch smoke OF investigation there must be
some tire Of truth. Aud now is the hour nor
ono hour too soon, arrest the tendency and COR
rect the abuses, wherever they may be found.
Let us not b. found in the same order of time
with thegreat cardinal, who, after the discovery
of hisdeceptons upon his sovereign and his mis-
nse ofthe public moneys and after his own down
fall bitterly exclaimed that corruption wins
notmOre than honesty.
THE REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATION MUST MEET THE
PEOPLES DEMAND.
And now feIlow-citizens and Republicans, are
there no signs OF the times from California from
new names and new ORGANIZATIONS OF the Wes,
from the reports which come to us, from our own
instincts aud intuitIons as to what is going on
in distant fields OF canvassnR-are there no
signs visible to the Republicans of this Stale and
OF all the States, that il we would continue our
Iower for public good we must rise to the exi-
gency OF the occasiOnY l allude to no technical
method OF civil-seIvlce reform. 80 called, for IN
nv h.inbls opinion it s but doubtful, certainly
only partial remedy-good enough Tor polltl-
cal demand by one party and political promise
| by another party in Presidential election good
enough for a commission to sit upon but limited
at best, liable to ovasions aud lnadequ uate for
national disease. It relates to capacity more
| than to fitness. Education furnishes capacity
| but
INTEGRITY MUST BE ADDED
| To fitness The conscience, the determination,
| the action of the party must rise to general
and unqated demand for purifcatinn in all the
Offices aud iu all the practices OF the government
| service. We must not be behind Germany, or
| France, or Great Britain in each OF which during
| the year whole empire has been in motion over
a single instance of accusation OF undue personal
| gain from public trust. Our necessity is great
| or than theirs, for the life OF republican gov
ernment is in it's administration according to
/ virtue The country will scarcely be satisfied by
convention resoluions-things which have been
and must be. The people OF the country, the
| RepHbcans of the country will receive the res
olutonB IA they go forth from one convention
i after another with something like the poets
greeting ,,,,
.s Aud tits q kind OF good derd TO say well,
Aud yet words are no Deeds"
Let us rather inaugurate an era of conduct
and action And of persistent inrstence for tho oi-
cisl singleness aud purity OF every man connect
| ed with the Government. high or low. a. far Rf
| he can be followed. The people will enforce the
| demand and If they cannot hnd way open they
| will make one, Fortunate the Republican party
which is now responsible for the gouernnent oil
this country, if it shall appreciate the situation
| Felicitious the lot Of tho President if he shal
| make tho order sound through every depart
| lnent and over every head that sleeps upon on'
of his commissions Then he will be stronger
than before. 80 the people OF Great Britain
| after years Of corruption under Walpole. not "
| much hia fault as the fault OF his time, rallied II
a spirit OF personal devotion to the npright Chat
| ham, whose eXaltation in the hearts OF English
| men and in the judgment OF history has reste'
on the belief that he was, above all bis compeer
OF that age, the representative Premier OF homo
and honesty in the public service. May GU
| prasinpnt win n fame stainless.