The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1874-11-25
THE REPUBLICAN DEFEAT.


in danger of falling into error only less
fatal than the original one, In conjuring
up reasons all but the true ones, for its
signal defeat. Why the people have
risen up in their might, and deprsed from
responsible positions SO many of their
unworthy public servants, is best known
to those who indulge in weak attempts to
salve over the wounds of the sorely strick-
en- party. One administration journal
goes into long jeremaid over the "mis.
take of the party" last winter in not Civ
ing the West all the currency it clamorcd
for; as if New York and Massachusetts
were not rs profoundly Interested in res
friction, as the West in expansion, and as
it the party had not ben routed even
more slgpally "harse foot and dragoons. :,
In those States, than elsewhere. Another
sagacious leader of the Republicans as
sures us that the hue and cry about the
"third term'' was prime cause of the dis
aster that the wicked Democrats and
rdisaffected Republicans succeeded to
gether in convincing enough of the igno
rant classes, that third term meant en-
pire and Gespotism to change the whole
result. Another, the organ of the Presi-
dent, assumes that the whole mighty
change is but the first in series of "neat
tricks onthe part of tht Dem ocratic lead
ers, who intend thereby to secure and EN-
brace General Grant to themselves, and
run him in 1876 as their own candidate
To US it seems the most ssnseless foiIy
to seek in such Iii ingenious ways t..
obscure the real and pa ent meaning of
what may justly he termed the revolution
OF 1874. Within the compass of thrre or
Tour years have been crowded so many
schemes of villainy in high places such
outrageous breaches Of n. ar'y cvery COM
mand in the Decalogue; such f.arf Al
prostitution of public trust; SO many re.
voting instances of a corrupt bargain
ana sale ofpluce and power, and such ut
ter decentralization of tho public con.
science, that it wou 4 seem us if the most
partisan journal would hardly care to
risk its reputation for political sagacity
by assigning false rcaaons for the catas.
trophe.
First and foremost in this record and
first also to be rebuked by the stern logic
OF the ballot, is the Republican President.
And he is not as blame-worthy as are
those who judged 80 unwiscly as to
imagine that he was one of the few whom
the world has known, who united great
military qualities, with transcendant
capacity for the administration of civil
affairs. 1t is remarkable that men cele.
brated for military prowcss are generally
found to b. I'D strong statesman In
civil life great general is frequently
and strangely tue creature of impul ::
influenced in his political movements by
the last snatch of inf .rmation and of,e,.
the creature Of the last aile-de-canp who
has his ear" We arraign a. one of the
causes of the defeat Of the party that
Republican chief, who to please broth.
er-in-law, has utterly su'v-rtcd the liber-
ties of sovereign state; over ruling to
that end the reports and advice of conf
mittees sent by congress to probe alleged
evils, and suggest q remedy; upholdinr
porjurcd judges, and sending tie nations
bayonets aud arms, tu en!or,c the wicked
wishes and plans of a little Co cri. uf an
biuslhng scoundre's, clMhsi with the
dignity OF federal Eepnbiican Office ho' d..
ers, offices obtained i he'd by direct
fraud and nu1,r,ns viulcncr. Too
obstinate to change his fixed line of at
tack even ii Eecat0nIb, oi sol;iIcrs wound
ed and dead are pi!ed a!o g his fatal
march, but prefers Tie cheap g!or,
obtained by p I isssnce fighting on
this line"--eveh in crsns.
Nor are the gr' at leaders who share il
his humiliating de:ea.., 'cSs to be held up
to public repcobaion f.r the misuse OF
their great pcroTativcs. Administration
papers try to bel;ttle the effects of the
crushing blow, ard dcDy its signiicanc".
"Look, say they, at South Carolina, and
Mi s;ssippi; las M, tn" government q fl
working majority taerc,,and is not the
President conforted thereby 2" Two
years ago tho Ecpab:ic,n majority In
Sputh Carolina was three t;mas as lar;,,
and was pill q up without government,
aid. With s;renpoas e ,varan.nt hoiD
'asrs ahl's mas necn a los Of two t1i.l:; Icy