National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-14
THE DUTY or THE REPUBLICAN,
LEADERS.

Success in politics, as in war, generally
accompanies aggressive campaigns. The
best of principles and the best of plans are
practically worthless without pluck. Men
who have the courage Of the wrathful
dove or most magnanimOus mouse must in
evitably drop to the rear to do whatsoever
is in their power to retard, advance, and,
when collision comes, TO add to the shame
of defeat the disgrace of a route. If we
have such men IN prominent position now,
courage must be infused into them some
how, or they must step down and out of
places where, in the present situation of
affairs, they can do only harm, and bring
disaster alone to the Republican party and
to the country.
BWhat is the situation? The Republi-
cans are in a large majority in both
branches of Congress. They have the
Administration. Whatsoever they shall
agree upon, as to the general policy of the
party, must prevail at least for the time
being. They are confronted with hard
times, the consequent discomfort, and not
few positive ills growing out of the legis-
lation of the past They have a vivid
recollection of a recent defeat in the cleo
tons. Anybody can stand a victory.
Great political generalship is shown in
making the most of q defeat so that in the
end triumph may be insured. In word,
the Republican party is in precisely that
predicament where brave leadership is an
absolute necessity, and where timid ad-
visers can be of no possible account.
Every word the latter say, and everything
they do, tends to produce political panic.
Men Of this kind H. the Republican party
who happen to occupy prominent positions
have simply Cutlived their usefulness.
We have briefly outlined above the prac-
teal situation. What is the fact as to the
issues of the day? Here there is dispute.
Let this dispute be settled by an authori-
tative Republican policy; and let that pol
icy be announced nOw-dUring this session
of Congress. We have no hesitation in
saying that poor policy in respect to the
pressing issues of the times is better than
no policy at all. But with wise, brave
leadership, a good policy can be eliminated
out of the action of this Congress upon
which the country can be rallied to re-
newed, even enthusiastic, support of the
Republican party, so that no opposition can
prevail against it permanently for many
years to come. What should that policy
be? In the first place, we may say mega
lively, it should not confidently depend
upon the glOries Of the past. These mainly
belong to history, and in politics have had
their day. When you talk Fort Sumter"
to starving men, you only add to their dis
content. As affairs now exist in this re-
public the events of the late war have
little more to do with shapingpublic opinion
than the deaths of Peter and Paul and the
rest of the immortal saints of Christianity.
For the present we may let the dead past
remain very quietly buried. But, in the
second place, there are questions pertaining
to the living present and the future which
the Republicans must shape into unity,
harmony, well-consideredp Olity, through
which the nation shall be placed upon the
road to general prosperity and permanent
progress. This cannot be done by spigot-
hole economy; by dismissing a few men
and more women from the Treasury De-
partment; by cutting down appropriations
10 the amount of half a shirt button apiece
to the able-bodied men of this republic;
nor by melancholy speeches in the fearful
style of Mr.. Job Trotter on any or all sub
jects. Great measures, coming home to
the whole people, are required; measures
which shall secure speedily soundness Of
finance, the Inauguration of transportation
reform, the restoration of material pros
perity through internal improvements,
the development of our vast mineral
resources, the resurrection of our
commercial marine, the iudicious amend
ment of the tariff, the more COM
pIete establishment of civil rights to all
citizens in some of the States. Here are
questions of immediate importance and of
national bearing. We shall speak of each
and all of them from day to day in these
columns, giving specifically our views
touching the duty of the Republican party
in regard thereto Meantime, that Repub-
lican who shall do most to put these ques-
tions in shape for practical legislation,
forming Herewith national polity, Is the
coming man. If there be no such Repub-
lican leader, the coming man may be a
Democrat, or belong to party whose
name we have not heard. We beseech
our public men to stop chronicling small
beer and enter upon the great the pressing
duties of craftsmanship.