National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-05-23
DEMOCRATIC INCONSISTENCIES.

Il is notable fact that Of late years 1t has
been impossible to hold the Republican men,
bers Of either House Of Congress to the sup
port Of caucus agreement. This arises not
80 much from q lack Of partisan loyalty US
from the popular belief that dictatlon within
the party, either through personal efforts or
q caucus combination, Is calculated to over
throw the true interests ofs the people at
large. It the direct result Of the Demo-
cratic influence against our party discipline
which finds Its strength in denunciations Of
the power Of the majority. Yet submission
10 tho will Of the majority is the hrst princi-
pie Of our governmental Institutions. Mat
ters were different In the period before the
war when Democratic administrations held
sway. Presidents Pierce and Buchanan and
their predecessors back to the time Of Jack
son were fierce partisans, who prostitutcd
every particle Of public patronage at their
command TO the bascst party uses. The sue
cess Of the Democracy was oil they sought.
Such thing as civil service reform
by which political opponent could
retain official position was not even
dreamed of. No greater Insult could have
then been offered to Democrat than to ac-
cusc him Of favoring the appointment Of q
Wing, Freesoilcr or any other supporter of
the opposition, TO Federal Office. ITO the
victors belong the spolls" was the motto and
the first cardinal declaration Of the Demo-
cratic creed. The strongest incentive to
prolong and keep alive this principle was the
prophecy that change Of administration
would result In a change Of ofiicc-holders.
II makes great difference with these same
people now that their OK is being gored, and
VIC hear from all sections Of the country all
sorts Of cries against the partisan fayoritism
Of the Administration. II these cries were
true, we might quote the homely old adagc,
"What Is sauce for tho goose Is sauce for the
gander;" but they arc not. It is well known
TO those who have dealings with the Treas
ury Department, for instance, that men who
occupy positions, from auditor down TO clerk,
and who supported Greeley and Brown In the
last campaign, retain the positions they
held before the development of their
political treason. The evident deduc-
tion from all this sustains the claim Of
the Republican party that 1t is most liberal
In Its treatment of faithful public servants,
but ut the same time II disclOses condition
Of party discipline and submission TO the
selfish aims OF the minority thati Is deplorablc,
and which would never 10 rcciprocated.
Again, all Of our Residents, with the excep-
tlon OF Lincoln, from Washington to Grant,
have wandered about the country during
their respective terms, to a greater or less
extent as the convenlcnCcs Of travel per-
mitted; but the majority of them being Dem
ocrats, no complaint Of absenteeism was
made by those who now declare that recrea-
ton is not requisite for the officers Of the
present Administration. The inconsistency
Of all this Is apparent at glance. We are
satisfied, however, that our Democratic
friends shall howl In these strains until
doomsday, because VIC know that every time
President Grant advances Republican In
position, appoints one to office, or visits the
people at their homes, he does that which
gratiles the ajority Of our countrymen, and
makes friends not only for himself, but for
tho great party which he so htly represents.