National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-04-15

II will be rccollccted by our readers that
the REPUBLIcAN was the first paper In the
country TO call attention to the visit OF Gov |
ernor Hendricks to this city Ave or six weeks
ago, aud TO disclose Its real purpose, which
was to endsayor TO effect q new departure Of
tho Democratic party. The statement was
denied at the time by some Of the Demo-
cratic prints, and rid iculed BY others at, we
presume, the lnstlgatlon Of Mr.. Hendricks
himself. But since then circumstances have
occurred which prove the correctness Of our
statement that the Indiana Governors visit
was not to rgue cases In the Supreme Court,
but to consult with the other Democratic
leaders upon the advlsabillty Of sinking the
Democratic name, and in future sailing I'M
der the new flag Of LIbera Republlcanlsm.
The press Of the country has pretty freely
discussed the whole subject during the last
mouth, with au all but unanimous opinion on
the part Of the Democratic or gans against
the little scheme OF Mr.. Hendricks. This
gentleman Is In many respects to his own
party what an ex-vico President was a few
years ago to the Republican organization.
lie seems to understand the newspaper ma
chiuery-to be always on the alert to turn
his little craft into every current in the hope
Of running ahead Of his competitors. lie Is,
as Mr.. Lincoln said VI the lamented gentle
man to whom we have alluded, all the time
carrying nuts to his own nest" But the
work of disbanding the Democratic
party has been little too much for
him. The Springfield Republican tells us
In recent issue that "he (Mr. Hen
dricks) found Judge Thurman proyoklngly
unimprcssiblc, and went away with flea in
his ear" The only comfort that Mr.. Hen
dricks obtained was from two or three politi-
cal soldiers Of fortune like Carl Schurz, who
having deserted their own party, have not
the moral courage to wear the livery OF the
political organization In whose ranks they
have practically marched during the last
eighteen months.
The New York World OF Sunday last has
some sensible reflections upon the subject Of
the disbandment Of the Democratic party
and the formation OF 4 new organization.
what" II asks, do these hopeful coun-
sclors mean who advise the dissolution Of
the Democratic party1 We number about
three millions OF voters. We possess the
same rights, the same access to the ballot
boxes as other free citizens. In what sense
are we expected to retire from politicsl 1t
would be too much to ask us to abstain from
voting, to rcaounCe our political rights, and
surrender the Government Of the country
into the hands OF the various stripes Of sat
islcd aud dissatisfied Republicans" That,
nothing more and nothing less, Is the mean
ing Of the whole movement. number OF
Republican politicians made grave mistake
In the last campaign. They saw no chance
OF obtaining office under Gen Grant, and
they did under Mr.. Greeley. In fact
he promised them In one Of his New Hamp
shire speeches that II they helped him tC
build his house he should not turn them ou
OF 1t when 1t was built. But Mr.. Greeley wa
beaten, and these gentlemen have been rest
less and uneasy ever since. Like the doyoi
that went out from the ark, they hnd no
whereon to stand, and the great waters o
public opinion have almost engulphed them
The dissolution Of the Democracy means fo
them possible political salvation. In 1877
they fought under Mr.. Greeley; In 1870 the.
would be willing to fight under Mr.. Hendricks
Mr.. Greeley was the wedge that should spill
Republicanlsm; Mr.. Hendricks has been sc
lected to rend the Democracy that the Fen
tons, the Reds, the Halsteads and the Nc
Clurcs may dictate policies, make and un
make Cabinets and lead the country to re
form aud political regeneration. .What I
transparent piece OF hunbag the whole thinl
Isl No wonder that the three million Dem
ocratir voters object.