Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-06-18
The Republican Party To-

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pandence of criticism and a readiness
( Of reform which no other great and
( dominant party has ever shown, and
which Is a good sign of its real vitality
and an7auGury OF its continued and de-
served supremacy. The Democratic
party, which was so long in the ascend
ant, became steadily more and more
corrupt, more and more besotted with
slavery, seorning the chance which
Douglas offered ii of assuming a virtue
which it did not have, until it sunk be-
meath the wrath and contempt of the
people. But it is the praise OF the Re-
publicanS that their press denouDces
most streDuOusly maladministratiOn of
every kind, and that the Congress
which they control scrutiniZes impair
TALLY aud severely the conduct of adj
ministratiye officers, and that Repub-
lican officers are removed and Repub-
lican laws repealed when such action is
plainly proper. The effect of all this
upcn the country is evident. AS there
is no great dividing issue, ard as the
chief question at this time is one of ad
miU;stration, the wish of the country
is 10 know whether the dominant party
is likely to purify its own conduct Of
affairs, or whether honest men must
turn 10 the Democratic Iiarty in hope
Of relief, invoking i'll it knows not of.
That this would be the meaning of any
considerable change OF sides at the elec-
: tion is well understood. y am dissatis-
fed; think that | must vote the Dem
Ocratic ticket, and see what comes of
! it, lit is the expression OF certain class.
But nobody, except a Democrat, says
that he expects of course greater hon
esty and purity from Democratic ad-
mipistration.
Within the few past months the Re-
! pubiieans have had the good sense and
courage to repeal the salary grab act,
for which, although warmly supported
! my many Democrats, they must, as
| the majority, bear the responsibility.
They have abolished in the House tie
Inoiety system, after thorough exam
! ina.ion conducted by Rcpublican
committee. They have repealed the
Ssnborn contract law, passed by .ir-
publican Congress, and they have sol
/ emniy censured, i'll adopting the report
OF the Committee OF Ways and Means,
! the Republican Secretary, Assistant
/ Secretary, and Solicitor OF the Treasury.
They have thoroughly Investigated the
management of the District of Colum
bia under the Territorial system estab-
| lished by Republicans, and it is under
stood that the report will deal as Wig
orously with the results as the other
committees and reports have dealt
with the other abuses which have
been exposed. The great scheme
of imitation, although passed by both
Houses, was powerfully opposed by
the most eminent Republican lead
ers, and was supported by the divided
Democratic as well as Republican vote,
while the Republican President, in ae-
cord with the spirit of the natiunai
declaration OF the party, promptly w.
tOed it.
These more prominent events o. !,p
last six months show, at least, that ,ie
Republican party is not 'hide-bound.'
Meanwhile its press has spoken in un-
unmistakable tones. Press and plat
forms began last autumn to demand
inquiry and reform; and both have
been constantly stimulated by the pres,
which has not heSitated to demand the
removal of the second officer of the C., b.
met and his immediate assistants.
Meanwhile 'Butlerism' has sensibly de-
clined. The member of Congress who
is not the leader of the House is Cen
era1 Butler. The same gentlemau is he
who is not likely to be the next Reput,-
lican Governor of Massachusetts. But
there was d general disposition not
very long since tO consider Republican,
ism and Butierism Synonymous, and
TO smile at the suggestion that the gem
efal had not yet mastered the party,
The situation Of the Southern States,
also, had not escaped the observation
and the criticism and censure of the
party. The committee of Congress, in
deed, could not find proper grounds for
taking South Carolina in hand, but it
did express sympathy and conscious
ness that there was much to be deplOred,
while there has been no stronger de-
nunciatiOn of the enOrmitieS in that
State and elsewhere than in the Repub-
lican press. On the other hand, and as
an illustration of the difference between
two dominant parties, during all the
Democratic delirium about slavery in
the Southern States before the war, we
recall no similar powerful criticism and
.unshrinking condemnation in the
Democratic pEeas of the country; the
managers Of the party in those States
were never called to account, but all
guilt and responsibility were thrown
upon Northern interference
The fear that the Republican party
has fallen hOpcleasly under the control
of unfit leaders and disastrous cOunsels
is not justified by the facts. We do not
say, of course, that it has wholly es-
capped them, or that there is not con-
fiict with them proceeding at this time.
Indeed that is just what we do say.
But the encouraging sign to those who
know that in free countries govern
ment must be carried on by parties,
and that there is now no great dividing
issue in our politics, is that the Repub-
lican party has healthy vigor enough
to wrestle with its own evils and
abuses, and that events show willing
ness and a wish among its members for
publication and reform. If it be said
that the truth is, the party is sinking,
and is therefore merely throwing over
its contraband freight, we reply that
that is the very thing which other par
ties have not done nor attempted to
do. The Free-soii Democrats in 1913,
the Douglass Democrats in 1857, tried
to persuade the Democratic party to
Tighten ship, and they were themselves
thrown overheard for their pains. And |
if to-day, as will not be denied, the
best Republicans in the country have
more heart and hope than for many
months before, it is because they $50
more clearly than they have hitherto
been able to see that there is a spir N
the party which is courageous enouxt
to give battle to those who would ,;-.
grace the common name, and sj.:rll
which tn h,s tha
of victory Harper's Weekly.
Senator Thurman is of opinion that
the hope of the Democratic party lies
insadherence to Democratic principles.
Whenever it wanders off after strange
gods it incurs defeat, and it will ever
ha 60 ~ Inst 60. nnd NOM fall nS nhnuf