New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-04


tend to bring it into degradation and disgrace.
BY virtue of twenty years Of communion In
party which. whatever its errors, has accom-
plished 80 much for tho cause OF Christian
civilization, these old Republicans have right
to arraign the Administration of Gen. Grant
and the majority which sustains it in Congress,
for the ruin of its good name, and its capacity
for usefulness.
Do we need to recapitulate how this has
been dOnef 1t has not been effected by any
single act. The repute OF the party which
elected Lincoln twice was too healthy and
robust to suffer materially from any one error
or fault. Parties, like individuals, do not
grow suddenly Infamous. 1t has been con-
slant, iuccssant series of illegal, dishonest,
sordid and vulgar offenses against the moral
sense Of the country, that have destroyed the
enviable prestige of the Republican party, and
made its management reproach and shame.
We will say nothing of the points of which
the opposition might complain. These columns
have borne repeated witness OF acts which
were not only disgraceful to the Administra-
tion but which involved treason to The best
interests of the Republican party. few
conspicuous instances are:
1. The violation of law in abetting an
audacOus conspiracy by which the State of
Louisiana was given over to band of knaves
who had plundered the public treasury and
had been defeated in a popular election;
Q. The systematic debauching of the politics
of several Southern States by which they have
been rendered bankrupt, and the very idea of
legislative government made odious and
contemplate;
8. The creation and support of a combination
for plumber in the District of Columbia which
has loaded the City of Washington with an
intolerable load OF debt, enriched cabal of
politicians, and discredited the Capital;
a. The steady, persistent. and shameless per-
| secution of the merchants OF this metropolis
| by an army of spies and extOrtioners, assisted
| by United States officers, who divide with
thieves and infOrmers the price OF their deg
radiation;
| s. The recent unheard of conspiracy between
the Treasury Department and an obscure poll
tician, by which the latter was enabled to steal
out of the public revenue some hundreds OF
thousands of dollars. and the officers of the
Government were ordered to assist him in
these depredations
| D. EldUdBcInbHJ vi tuC hhViOhdi hiihhNNS
so made up of dishonesty, incOmpetency, and
gross carelessness that nothing like 1t has ever
been seen IN histOry,-tOuching one day the
criminal and the next the burlesque, vibrating
between the Idiot Asylum and the Peniten-
tiary;
z. A contemptuous disregard Of the solemn
pledges of the Conventions of the party, in
reference to retrenchment honesty in dis
bursements, and the reform Of the Civil Serv-
ice;
| g. And finally an open and cynical interior
ence with popular elections in every State
where the Republican party is divided, In
| favor of the corrupt and immoral element,
and in bitter hostility to those who stand by
the ancient ways aud desire to give to their
States a capable honest, and reputable ad-
minlstratiOn.
We think no intelligent person can candidly
| deny that the Administration has been guilty
of these acts, and that in most of them it has
had the support of the majority in Congress.
| We hold that they cannot DO excused or con-
doned. 1t passes our comprehension, there
fore, how any Republican, if he has conscience
enough to take the trouble to inform himself
of the truth, can support such an Administra-
| ton in course which can only lead to the
gravest evils for the country, and the utter
and shameful ruin of the Republican party.