Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-16
TIE POLITICAL OUTLOOK

TIE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
The editor of the Chicago Tribune having
announced to his readers the views which he
holds in regard to the management and duty
of a straightforward republican paper, follows
that article by another in relation to the po-
litical outlook. Having copied the first arti-
Gle. we think our readers will be interested
in reading the second since it expresses the
sentiments held in journal speaking the
thoughts of the leading republicans in the
West concerning the late elections and the
causes which produced the results we have
witnessed. The article is as follows:
The Republican defeat in the recent elee
lions is one of the inevitable incidents and
consequences of long continued party ascend
ency, Sooner or later il was bound to come,
and it is infinitely better that it should occur
this year than happen in 1876. The result of
those elections will prove blessing in dis
guise, like the late fire in Chicago, 10 Kidding
the Republican party of many bad and dam
gerous men who had thrust themselves into
leaderships for purposes of plunder. Parties
in all free Governments are exposed to be-
travail by corrupt and insolent demagogues
who abuse their opportunities and violate
their trusts. Like thunderstorm in sultry
weather, the recent elections will purify the
political atmosphere and clear the way for
the tremendous struggle in 1876 for the pos
session Of the Government and shaping the
policy of the nation as ii enters upon the
second century of its existence.
The result of the recent elections, there
fore, may be wisely accepted as a lesson by
which the country and the Republican party
afu If IL " a 1ar ais nd
in the first place what is the actual result of
the vote. OF the vote poled the conglomer
ate Opposition have majority; but the vote
OF the combined Opposition falls far short Of
that polled for Greeley in 1872. The Repub-
lican vote shows a falling off in such proper
ton that it is less than the reduced Opposi-
ton vote. This result OF the voting, then,
very clearly indicates that the country has TO
no great extent undergone conversion from
Republication to Democracy. The falling uf
in the Republican vote is not added TO the
Democratic vote; that immense vote, equal
nearly to one-third of the aggregate of the
whole country, is still Republican, and is held
in reserve.
The Opposition under ali its forms may be
elassed as democratic" and yet the vote OF
IA is smal'e err than that of ~ Nevertheless,
we do not underrate the magnitude of the Re
publican discontinue, nor nnderrale the i'm
portance of the Democratic success, tempDrs-
ry as il unquestionably is. We wish to state
the facts as they stand, and from these facts
show that there is nothing in them indicative
of disruption or disbandmeut Of the RrpubIi-
car party, or that thai parry is any the less
strong in the affections OF the people than il
was in previous years. Principles are un-
changed. The Republican aud Democratic
parties represent opposing policies ard oppos
ing principles as distinctly as they have AT any
time since the war. All attempts to fuse them
have failed because of their utterly incon-
gruous elements. The temporary success oil
the Democratic party is not dne to the adap-
ton of Democratic principles by Republicans,
but to a variety of causes, which combined,
in the absence of any national contest. as a
Presidential election, 10 induce Republicans
to let the elections 90 by default, or To bolt
for this occasion, and thereby relieve the par
ty of many persons and many outside issues
which had become odious and offensive.
There is not a Republican who cannot name
in his district one or more persons
who were riding the party to its rum, and the
recent election has substantially rid the party
Of these dead weights and "dead-beats," and
positively injurious "bosses." The party has
also been troubled with n puG,byr Of isms alto
gether foreign to the policies OF The Republi
can party, but which short sighted and Zeal
Gus IanaIes nave urea 10 make maj party
carry, and notably among these was the Pro-
hibitory Liqaor Law aud kiadred M asures,
seeking a statutory reguittion OF taa Git and
manners of the people These nave from
time to time been forced upon the party IN
certain States and localities. to the weaken
ing of its strength and TO the di.lntegration
Of its organization. This was considered
timely season 10 have these Issues tried at the
polls and disposed OF, and thousands OF Re-
puhlieans stood by, or so voted as TO let the
Opposition settle these snmptuary laws, so
that they are not likely 10 be heard OF again
for some time 10 come, and certainly not to
embarrass the Il publican party again very
soon.
1t is not to be denied that during the four
teen or more years of Republican rule, s"y
eral Of which were dariag period of terrible
civil war, when direct responsib lily was d .ff
cult Of enforcement, there was tendency on
the part OF several individuals who had fore d
themselves into prominence as leaders OF L.
cal divisions Of the Repab. lean party to en-
gage in some personal matters Of Questionable
prapriefy The Credit Mohilier affair and
number of other matters, though grossly ex-
agg.rafe1 aud by 10 a e os conhatd TO on
psrt,, and the Back PAY or Salary. Grab bill,
furnished the Oppo ition nlth material upon
which to found accusations against indi'idu