The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-06-25
From Harper's Weekly.1
The Republican Party To-Day.

No student of our political history will
deny that the Republican party shows
within its rank both an independence of
criticism, readiness of reform which no
other great and dominant party has ever
shown, and which is sure sign of its
real vitality, an augury of its continued
and deserved supremacy. The Demo-
cratic party, which was so long in the as
cendant, became steadily more and more
corrupt, more and more besotted with
slavery, scorning a chance which Douglas
offered it of assuming a virtue which it
did not have, until it sunk beneath the
wrath and contempt of the people. But
it Is the praise of the Republicans that
their press denounces most strenuously
maladministration of every kind, and
that the Congress which they control
scrutinizes impartially and severely the
conduct of administrative officers, and
the Republican officers are removed and
the Republican laws repealed when such
action is plainly proper The effect of
all this upon the country is evident. As
there is no great dividing issue, and as
the chief question at this time is one of
administration, the wish of the country
is to know whether the dominant party
is likely to purify its own conduct of af-
fairs, or whether honest men must turn
10 Gu0 OShOOId1lC III AOp0 vi ISllSl,
invoking ills it knows not of. That this
would be the means of any considerable
change of sides at the election is we'll
understood. II am dissatisfied l think
that l must vote the Democratic ticket,
and see what comes of it. is the express
sion of certain class. But nobody, ex-
cept a Democrat, says that he expects
of course greater honesty and purity
from Democratic administration.
Within the few past months the Re-
publicans have had the good sense and
the courage to repeal the SALARY grab"
act, for which, although warmly support
ed by many Democrats, they must, as the
majority, bear the responsibility They
have abolished in the House the moiety
system, after thorough examination
conducted by a Republican committee.
They have repealed the Sanborn contract
law, passed by Republican Congress,
and they have solemnly censured, in
adopting the report of the Committee of
Ways and Means, the Republican Secre
tary, Assistant Secretary, and Solicitor of
the Treasury. They have thoroughly
investigated the management of the Dis
trict of Columbia under the Territorial
system established by Republicans, and
it is understood that the report will deal
as vigorously with the results as the
other committee 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 leaders, and was supported
by the divided Democratic as well as Re-
publican vote, while the Republican
President, in accord with the spirit of
the national declaration of the party
promptly vetoed it,. 49,
These more prominent events of the
last six months show, at least, that the
Republican party is "hide. bound. -
Meanwhile its press has spoken in un-
mistakable tones. Press and platform
began last autumn to demand inquiry