The Republican journal., 1873-06-26
The Republican Convention.

The Republican Convention.
As we have before asserted would be
the case, the republican Stale convention
encountered a serious dilemma, in max
ing declarations in respect to the unden-
| able corruptlons at Washington. The
policy it chose was the expedent of the
skater who comes suddenly upon thin ice
1t has tried to glide as lightly as possible
over that which it didn't like. but was
obliged to recognize. Take for instance
the resolution which processes to denonnce
the salary grab. 1t chooses to call that an
act by Congress increasing the salaries
OF its Members! The endeavor to make
the people forget that the same bill
doubled the salary of the President, will
hardly succeed. Nor will they forget to
remember that the highest official of the
nation, and the head of the republican
party, made haste to give his official ap-
prevail to a bill that without it would
never have grabbed a penny from the
treasury. The hand that wrote at the foot
of that bill the words ''Approved, U. s.
Grant" is the hand that reins and controls
the republican party. The passage OF the
bill in Congress overwhelmingly repub-
lican, and its approval by the President
elected and sustained by that party, gives
the law a party character, which no twist
ing or turning, or gliding softly over, can
divest it of, 1t is the republican party
that did it, and none other. So that when
all this denunciation is launched at the
salary bill, it recoils upon the head of the
republican party-iust where it belongs.
The immediate and unconditional re-
peal OF this offensive act, which is so de-
cidedly called for, is either hypocritical or
else it places President Grant in worse
position than ever before He has given
the salary act his official approval, and
pocketed already his share of the plumber
for three months. He is now required BY
the resolutions of the Bangor Convention
to give his official sanction to an immedi-
ate and unconditional repeal of this act.
That is, he is required to write in March
~ approve" and in December II don't
approve" More than that the law is pro-
nounced disgraceful If it was disgrace
full in Congress to pass it, surely it was
disgraceful in the executive to sign it.
Then by its own showing is the head of
the party and of the nation disgraced
official. In what terrible labvrinths does
dishonesty and deceit involve men and
parties.
Again, look at the resolution in respect
to the Credit Mobilier business. Observe
the complacency with which this dis
honesty is imputed to ''men OF all politi-
cal parties" AS though the dominant
party, with its immense majority in Con
gress, and its entire control of all depart
ments OF government can shrk the re-
sponsibility of the evil that it permits.
The series of resolutions opens with re-
hearsal of self glorificatlon over the
achievements of the party since its con-
troll OF the government. OF all that has
been done which it calls commendable
the party proposes to take the undivided
credit. But when, impelled by the spur
OF public opinion, it uncovers mon
strous corruption, in which nearly all the
radicals are shoulder deep, and in which
bad company one solitary democrat Is
tound-them they are ready to divide
political responsibility and credit Then
they begin TO talk about ''the abuse of re-
sponsible positions by men OF all political
parties" Think of this as coming from
the party that has hunted every political
opponent from every post Office of five
dollars emolument that there is in the
country. Really. this Bangor Convention
has made a tremendous declaration of
terrible virtuous principles.
OF the nominee of the convention we
are able to speak in better terms. Mr..
Dngley is man against whose personal
character nothing can be alleged. He is
an upright citizen, an able and successful
journalist, and a man to whom, as such.
all our good wishes go out. He is known,
however, as politician, committed to all
the errors of his party, and particularly
to the extreme prohibitory law, Just now
so obnoxious. While acknowledging the
high character of the man, we shall not
fail to oppose the candidate of party
which seeks to perpetuate so many politi-
cal errors.
We publish to-day the decision of the
full bench of the Supreme Court in the
Brooks railroad case. 1t will be read
with interest, and those who read it care
fully will be surprised that any one could
ever have doubted the issue of the suit,
so clearly is the law laid down and 80
logical the result reached. The Brooks
case was regarded by the counsel tor the
railroad as by far stronger for the defence
than that against either Unity or Thorn