The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-12-04
From Harpcr'S Weekly
New Partv


\ grave proposition for Il new party
has been telegraphed from Boston. and
the report. after re~counting the good
things that We're to be sought by it, con-
cludeS by saying that General Banks is
thought of as its Presidential candidate.
Evidently the new party is in the mind
of the reporter what ArtemuS Ward
called a ''goak." Anew reform party,
with General Banks, late of the SALARY
grab, As a candidate for President, would
be as good Il joke as the reform Demo-
cratic party with Fernando Wood next
year. As he was last year, the candidate
for Speaker. Those who rccur to new
parties a remedies for abuses and
troubles take account of every thing but
the actual situation. One OF the most
powerful Of the Cincinnati chiefs of 1882,
when we warned him to beware of his
allles.askcd us whether we really thought
there was any thing left that could he
called the Democratic party. A new
party is not made by the cooperation OF
a knot of good citizens and clever men
who see that certain abuses exist and
that certain reforms are desirable. 1t
grows out of a very general conviction
among men of both or all parties that
certain great measures are indispens-
able, and that they are not to he expect
ed from any existing party. In this way
the Republican party began. A larger
part of the Wings and a considerable
body of Democrats were persuaded that
neither the Wing nor the Democratic
party could be trusted to deal effectively
with slavery extension. and in 1853 they
formed Il new party, and in 1856 polled
more than thirteen hundred thousand
votes.
But at the present time how many
Democrats are likely to leave their
party Ia help form Il new onep and how
many Republicans, having seen their
party willing 10 defeat obnoxious candi-
dates, however II Sularly nominated. icel
it necessary 10 form Il new organization?
There will be no new party. and the
President in lS76 will be chosen either
BY the Republicans or the Democrats.
Those who think that new party might
have been formed in 1872 make the
mistake of forgetting that the popular
confidence OF the great mass of Rcpub-
licans in the President was not disturbed
and MAS so firm and mistaken that ever
the action of Mr.. Sumner ocraSioncd
only regret. but no visible abandonment
OF the party. Twenty other leaders
might have followed Mr.. Sumner, but
they would have followed him alone.
The mass of their associates would have
remained behind. This was Il fact that
settled the situation. Those who saw
this and understood the Reason, however
they may have seen abuses and u~flrn>e>
in the government, knew that the prac-
teal alternate was the reelection Of
Grant or Democratic restoration. The
Cincinnati Convention was composed of
Il few honest Republicans, who repre-
scented no votes. and Il host of .'hum-
mrr," and ">~ore-icad>." who used the
name of reform to CRAFTY p r>onal DIS
content and private ambition. la the
campaign tlri followed. the first class
either gave Il protesting support t.
GrInt. az served independent, a. Gree
lev ml.rrillaS. The latter class, which
Wa, til; great mass, worked heartily in
the Democratic ranH>, and have been
now wholly absorbed in the party.
Thi, was the last effort ut the iorma-
, ton nf Il new party. But now, when
the Democrats think themselves virtual
~ triumphant and sure of success in
1876. and when the Republicans believe
their party Ia he purged, the suggestion
oi Il new organization Is merely anus
inr. What Democrat does not think
that his party vii! deal wisely with the
currency an,i the Southern States, and
govern economically What Republic
can does no: feel that the JonahS are
falling into the SEA? \ new party ol
! reform, EVEN with General Banks or
General Butler H. its leader. could hard
Is disturb the sercnc confidence of the
political situation.