Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-05-15
Party Making.

NAANAiS1A NeS eiS NoiA dpsiCA Va ilS Poi
That Republican journals are prompt to
expose corruption and to denounce the
guilty in their own party, is the strongest
proof Of the trustworthiness of the grea.
party which comprises within its lines the
vast majority of the citizens of the United
States Yet certain Democratic Journals
among which the Missouri Republican is
conspicuous in ST. Louis, affect to find in
this very fact browning evidence OF the
rottenness and imminent ruin of the Re
publican party 1t is worth remembering
that in this respect the situation has not
materially altered during the past three
years, at least. Republicans generally
have always shown entire freedom in con
demning whatever they conceived to be
wrong in their party, in this respect differ
ing remarkably from the habit of the
severely disciplined membership of the
Democratic party. If this were source
OF weakness and presage of overthrow
as the Republican, now seems to insist the
National party ought to have been
in 1872. The profound journal of
doesn't understand Republicans, and has
no conception of the vitality of Republi
canism. The "masterly passive policy
was based upon an utter misconception
alike of Republican strength and Demo
cratic resources. Had the positive ele-
ments of Democracy boldly taken the
field in 1872, instead of skulking behind
the skirts of the Republican Miss Nancy
ism that called the Cincinnati Convention,
the opposition would have polled much
heavier vote. Passivism paralyzed the
Democracy and excited more Of contempt
and indignation than of sympathy from
Republicans. The logical basis of it was,
as piece of party strategy, that the free
criticism Of Republicans upon Republi-
can men and measures meant Republican
disintegration. That was the blunder Of
our neighbor in II and ~, and that is
the error which our sage contemporary is
now gravely repeating in column-long edi-
torials, the burden of which is the same
old story, that Republicans have at last
become disguised with their party, and
will now positively desert it and join with
the Democrats to defeat it. After its
scores of defeats our journalistic oracle
now ludicrously repeats, in its ancient
phrase, its ancient and often falSifed pre-
diction Of the downfall of the Republican
party.
The Republican party has only begun
to be. 1t has scarcely laid the foundation
of national policy which is to realize
more and more, as the decades pass away,
the spirit and purpose of Republicanism.
The party was born in reatfirmatiOn of
the simple and sublime sentiment of hui
man liberty, and will live till the last of
those who cannot comprehend this senti
mcnt in its limitless applications have
mouldelod into dust. It's hold upon life
is its fidelity to that sentiment and its
substantial fidelity to that sentiment is
rendered a necessity by the strength of the
hostile sentiments which will insist upon
race determinations against rights Rad
zeal changes in conventional fec ing can
not take place in a day They .nnot be
wrought by legislation, or constitutional
amendments effected against the conven-
tionalism they oppose. That halfblind
and half-cunning partisanism of selfish
ness which naturally allies itself with the
feeling OF caste, can never cease struggling
till the sentiment of caste ceases to infiu-
ence its multitudes. And until that time
the Republican party will not have accom-
pllshed even its immediate mission.
Meanwhile the question of purity Of ad-
ministration is the question Of the practic-
ability Of free government. The major
masses wiIlrule; and, if they cannot rule
without fatal corruption, the reason is less
that Republicanism is a failure than that
Freedom itself is impossible. When
ever the Republican majority
of voters in the United States con
clude that they can no longer elect trust
worthy Administration Z" the great expert
ment of human liberty will be over If
Republicans were less ready to lash the
sins and sinners in their own ranks, there
might be reason to fear such catastrophe
The very signs that inspire Democrats
with the hope of Republican ruin, are the
pledge of Republican and National Sc
curly.
There are two theories of parties One
expects all that is helpful to come from a
few gifted or yirtuous citizens, whom the
people are to follow is their saviorS and
from whom, on finding them corrupt, the
people are to turn to accept the leadership
Of other guardians. This seems to be the
VtsSoar5 Republicans philosophy of par
ties. 1t is the notion of those politicians
who are perpetually trying to initiate par
ties and party platforms 1t inspires all
those leaders and journals that imagine
their party to be following them instead
OF obeying a conviction, and who conse-
qucntly think it the easiest thing possible
to redress their personal grievances by
stampede 10 the enemy How nearly
right they are appears in the result. They
are usually left to stampede alone,
while the main column Of their party
moves on as before.
Another theory of parties is that they
are historic growths, nccesSitated by the
opposing forces of civilization and bar
harism, humanitarianism and seltishness,
universal interest on one side and section
al or class or ethniC conceit on the other.
This permanent quarrel between Man and
some men finds its specific occasion in the
condition of the state In this country the
nature of the Constitution and Of the
mixed population, a portion of which has
Just been taken from slavery by the hand
OF military cXigency, determines the spc-
clhc character OF American parties They
are inevitable political developments,
which individuals can do nothing but
assist and which they can as soon trans
form as they can rccaSt the mountain
ranges. Over the South lands are the
dusky millions and their late proprietors
and over the country the millions whose
diverse sympathies array them on one side
or the other Of question which, through
whatever protean phases promises to last
for generations. 1t is easy enough to tell
how the strife should be ended. and by
what course ii may be buried forever. but
not SO easy 10 get that course adOnted
Meanwhile this chronic line of parties
will continue to defy the best efforts Of
mere political schemerS 10 wipe it out
-. LoHis Globe