National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-06
PANLnR

FhAIG6.
In times Of panic human reason leaves
her seat and gives place to instinct. As
the drowning man instinctively catches at
anything which comes in his way for
safety, even a straw, so do men in dire dis
tress grasp any change which may offer in
the hope of possible improvement of their
condition. But as no drowning man was
! ever saved by a straw, and only weak
ened himself by clutching at it in his
fright, so that he had less strength to put
forth in serviceable efforts at self preserva-
| ton, so when reason resumes her sway in
the minds Of the American people they
viii discover that reliance upon the Demo-
cratic party for salvation is only political
straw which has been repeatedly clutched
at by them before, in their distress, but
which has always proved inadequate to
their relief
1t is the party which plunged us into the
war with Mexico and the war of the Re-
bellion, saddling upon the people taxation
to the amount of upwards Of ten thousand
millions, and leaving a national debt of up
wards of two thousand millions. 1t is the
party OF free trade, which invites the pro-
ducts of foreign labor to come into our
markets at the expense of home industries.
1t is the party which opposes internal i'm
provements, at the expense of the General
Government, when they are found to be
absolutely necessary to bring cheap bread
to the people of the East, and to
reward the tolls of the husbandmsn
with a fair share of the proceeds of
his crops. 1t is the party which OPP
poses banks and prescribes hard money
as its policy for one section of the country
and advocates imitation of the public credit
by additional issues of an irredeemable
paper currency or utter and total repudia-
ton in another. 1t is the party which SUBJ
mits everything TO the dictation and con-
troll Of an ignorant foreign population in
New York, while it Expresses, intimidates
and assassinates the poor and ignorant
! freedman in the South who preSumes to
have a mind of his own.
What possible relief party with such
record and representing such bundle Of
inconsistencies at the present juncture can
offer to the people of these United States
is beyond the ken of any mortal. Can it
prescribe any universal panaceaSfor the ills 1
complained of in the agricultural districts?
Can it make grain higher and bread lower
without the construction ofnational channels
for cheap transportation? Can it supply
labor TO the idle or bread to the starving by
its free-trade policyl Can it pay coin to
he lab ~ h. nj
ment due-bills to the agriculturists of the
West and thus satisfy ALI Can it pay off
the national debt in greenbacksand still
maintain the credit of the country abroad
and the price of labor at homer Can it pay
the Southern planter for his former slaves,
and the holders of the Confederate bonds
in the same currency, without cheapening
the price Of labor or the purchasing power
of money? Will anything less than this
satisfy the clamors OF those at whose behest
we are told the revolution of Tuesday last
has been effected? Certainly not These
are the results anticipated by those
who set the revolution in motion. We are
well aware that it is no part of the design
Of the people who voted with the Democrats
toaccomplish these ends. They were simply
in trouble Among them idleness had bred
discomfort. The car Of revolution came
along all covered over with placards of
panaceas for all their ills, and in moment
of excitement they jumped on board to try
their luck. But they have placed men in
Congress who are pledged, in greater or
less degree, to all the measures above
named, and the people who nominated
them will hold them to their pledges. 1t
was the insane act of the intoxicated mob,
drunk with the excitement of discomfort,
TO be repented Of in moments of sobriety.
Fortunately the Senate and the Execu-
tive are still in the hands Ofthe true friends
ofthe people, so that no immediate mischief
can result, except possibly to the credit of
the country. Gold may rise and bonds
may fall. The menace of reputation may
prevent further reduction in the rates of |
interest upon the public debt But the
second sober thought of the people will |
return in season to prevent the consumma-
ton of the vile projects Of the leading con-
spirators. Even now those panic-stricken |
voters who deserted their colors in the |
battle see the utter absurdity of the expecta-
ton of succor from their lifelong enemies
We are full in the faith that reason will at
once resume her throne and direct |
them back to the paths of duty and honor.
They will then perceive that the Republi |
can policy of progress is the only true
course to permanent prosperity, and that it
can only be pursued by the honest and |
careful redemption of all national obIiga-
tions according to their tenor and spirit.
The Republican policy win advance the
American credit and name and fame high
upon the roll of honor among nations,
while that of the Democrats can only lead
to the stain of Reputation, inhumanity and
national disbonor