, 1874-02-27

and restore the party to power tn the
8tate. Tbs conclusion reached, after Some de-
liberation, Vas, that the party might rise again
to its feet were it not for the fact that Matt
Carpenter Was on top Of it, and two or three
mountains on top Of Matt Carpenter, bearing ul-
tinately' on its PROSTATE and bleeding body.
Looking up from its sup1ne position, the organi-
xation saw On " Matt" right ahoulder the back
pay grab; On his left the GAINESVILLE speech, and
on tho " broad OF his back" the New York Trib-
t4ne's truths or calumnies, or the Long Branch
scandal.
: NJ. Carpenters term e1pirea next year, and
the assembled sages, therefore, felt that, II the
question Of his reelection Haa made an issue in
the fall, the party waa undone, and that they
could never recover the State from the Reform
era. This, Of course, they considered the worst
evil that could befau Wisconsin. The gen.
e1n1 impression at the meeting Was, that
those who had voted for Carpenter In 1863 we're
opposed to him to-day; that the best men in tha
party believed thai with Carpenter - q candi~
date 1t would b impossible to carly = single Az
sembly OF genatoria1 District. 4 letter from d
prominent Republican who could not bo present
informed the meeting that Carpenter, to whom
not disguise the fact from himsaK, however
much he deaired to-in his Congressional Dis
trict the most unpopular man in Congress, "But-
1er not excepted ~; that the farmers dist1usted
him; that their disspproya1 Of his oourse was
unbounded; that his GAINESVILLE speech had cost
him not only "vores, but hearts"; that the
opposition to him could not soon be
quelled that any Republican who i'd
vocated his reelection would, in his Con-
g1essiona1 District, be certainly defeated;
that it the question Of his reelection VAS
brought into the CANVASS next fall, it would be
disastrous to tho Republican party in Wiscon-
sin. 4 very exciting campaign waa to DO expect
ed, and therefore tho party should put up as
candidates only the best and purest man it had
Other letters less classical described the senstor
as dead cock in the pitt" bona OF conten-
tion," etc.. etc. Some thought Carpenter would
see how affairs Stood and not make the question
OF his rA-el6C[l0Q an 165u6,-k18S LIZ Hou41
prefer to leaYe that question in abey-
anoe, at least until after the meeting
Of the Legislature. Tho greater number,
however, we're Of opinion that no such mag
naniunity dwelt in his senatorial bosom, and
that he would rather be wrecked with the party
that sent him to Congress- than see it out1iTe
him, since, to be beaten scah it would be no
personal dishonor, whereas to be defeated BY it
would Some advised that his friends should
induce him to retire. Some thought his friends
possessed no such power, as nothing abort Of
Omnipoteuce would effect it. Some suggested
that State Convention should be called imme-
diately to reorganize the party On purer and
safer basis, and purge it Of all foul humors, as
:was done on another occasion eighteen years
before. Others, again, proposed to beg the
campaign ct once. The only conclusion reached,
however, Was that Carpenter must be dropped,
or the party bid long farewell to all its great
ness. -:
II is not probable that the fato OF tho Repub-
Ican party in Wisconsin depends entirely on
Carpenter's course next fall. It is, however.
next to certain that, II the question OF his cleo
tlon is then made an issue. it will have disin-
terating influence On IN already considerably
disintegrated party.