National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-09
TIE POLITICAL FUTURE.

1t would strike even stranger, ignorant
of our history before the war, as something
unusual that the people of the United States
are just now seemingly possessed Of a mania
for the organization of associations for pro-
tec;ive purposes. OF trades unions we,
have had many in the past, but of Oranges,
of Patrons of Husbandry, of Sovereigns Of
Industry, of Ecumenical Labor Councils,
&c, &c, we have recently been blessed
with an extraordinary eruption. Where
and from what this mania originated are
questions which il is difficult to solve !; but
that it exists in form of virulent and con-
tagioIls eruption, no one can deny. The
Journals of the day are filled with accounts
Of the proceedings of these associations and
discussions of their objects. They are, it
must be remembered, entirely independent
of purely moral organizations such as tenn
perance leagues or religious societies, but
they outnumber them ten to one, showing
that the people are more directly interested
in procuring direct personal advantage than
in the moral reformation Of themselves or
their Maynard neighbors. The aggregate
subscription to sustain missionary enter
prises including the cause of temperance,
in this country annually amounts to hun
dreds of thousands of dollars, but compared
with the amounts collected to sustain these
protective associations, it is small indeed.
Their ramifcations are widespread, begin
ming generally with 2 national organization
and ending with subordinate associations of
lesser grades, the object seemingly being to
preserve some similarity to our govern
mental forms. But it is noticeable that the
national councils or executive committees of
these wonderful associations are almost al
ways vested with extraordinary powers.
The proceedings of these vicarious bodies
are usually secret, while their authority is
publicly asserted, and the result is throb
of sensitive response 10 the action of q few
controlling minds, which thrills certain
veins throughout the length and breadth of
the nation. In palmer words, it is evident
that the people have very generally
placed themselves, to a great extent,
under the control of new leaders, and that
while they may not yet have severed
formally the political ties which naturally
bind them together, they have assumed
new obligations for purposes which, sooner
or later, may develop political charac-
teristics 1t is natural that, being bound
by obligation or attached by sympathy to
these protective associations, they should
finally drift into an unqualified support of
leading members thereof for public Office.
IL the principles upon which they are
based are sufficiently attractive to compel
the payment of large sums of money, it
follows that they will attract and compel
large numbers Of voters, and that the can
didate who bases his claims for support
upon his adherence 10 those principles will
receive those votes. 1t is, therefore, ap-
parent that we are in danger of the intru
sion of new and disturbing elements into
our political affairs. 1t is in vain that the
Changers protest their innocence of political
intent The brief experience of their ex-
istencc has taught us differently. In Illinois
they have elected an anti-railroad judge,
and in Kansas farmers friend to be United
States Senator.
These facts may Brighten timid time
servers, and may serve to drive many an
uncvenly balanced mind tG attempts ut
trimming sails to catch the new breeze.
The makeshifts and the demagogues of
the country have already begun to court
the favor of these novel influences. But
it is not the part of wisdom, or the result
of close Investigation, to take further notice
of these demonstrations than they are en-
titled to as evidences of desire on the
part of the people for q change in the char
acter Of national, State and municipal legis.
lation. This change can be, and is being,
accomplished within the organization OF
the Republican party. When the war
closed we heard much earnest and effective
talk about preserving the results of the
great Union victory. The emancipation Of
the blacks, and the consequent radical
changes in our political system, the final
Punishment Of the secession dogma from
the possibilities of the future, and thou
sand and one other things were talked of
necessarily; and, although the people
listened, were convinced, and offered an
eager support to arguments showing me-
cessity that these results should be perpet-
usted, they became weary of them in time.
There is not single member of the Re.
publican party in the country to-day who
would undo one jot or title Of what has
been done by way of reconstructing the
Southern States or mending the political
fractures of the war; but - time has pro-
gressed, each one of them has found some
thing In his own immediate locality, some
thing ofa personal nature, appealing directly
to home interests, to attract his attention, and
the issues Of the rebellion are no longer par
amount In his mind. This fact has induced