The Van Buren press., 1874-03-31
Campaign Of "a.

From its results we may judge Of the future
Of parties either existent or expectant. In
all governments based upon popular suffrage,
partial or impartial there comes day Of dis
imtegration. followed by day ofcrystalza-
tion. of the political elements composing the
two principal. necessary and opposing par
ties. Parties form for the accomplishment
Of some change Of policy; their mission is to
graft upon the government some peculiar
idea. and thus effect change In the govern
ment itself In order to effect this change,
accrction of power begins, (provided the
movement Is at all popular. In the common
acccptation of that word.) and continues un-
til the policy is adopted and the government
made to conform to its new character. This
being accomplished, counter influences begin
to operate. either directed to an overthrow of
the new policy itself, or the ousting of those
from power, who have effected the change.
In the present status Of our politics, no
man or party desires to overthrow the new
policy, to-wit: universal and unqualified male
suffrage. Hence, the combined effort is to
oust the party who secured the adoption of
this new policy. Thus it becomes u war on
men. not principles. 1t is, therefore, folly to
accuse the opposition, to desire TO deprive
any man Of his right Of voting or holding Of
flee. But the final and triumphant adoption
ofa new policy, firmly seats the authors Of
In power, and undisputed sway, is in its ma
ture, surroundings and tendencies, monarch
ical. One of the most dangerous features Of
monarchical power, whether in the hands of
king or majority. Is a tendency to corruption.
This Is the general, almost universal rule.
and In our case we find no exception. The
old Democratic party, prior to the war, had
successfully withstoCd the most determined
assaults, from Wings, Know-Nothings, Free
Soilers and Republicans. They felt their firm
hold upon the governmcnt-they did not fail
to follow the rule and became corrupt In
many respects. Overgrown fortunes was
not the order of that day, and hence, we do net
find SO great peculatien in offices OF financial
trust, nor so many cases of bribery in other
Offices. The unbounded flood Of paper money
turned loose upon the country during and
since the war. has begotten love for its ac-
emulation, and nations, like men, soon be-
come dishonest, If their chief aim is money-
getting. The result OF the war ovcrthrew the
Democratic party. and firmly seated the Re-
publican party. Most stupendcus money
frauds aud unbounded corruption has become
characteristic of the party in power. The
abolition Of slavery was the original aim OF
the Republican party. Military necessity
came to their assistance and their aim was
accomplished. Fear Of flosing power brought
about re- construction acts, and In order to in
crease their numerical strength, they used the
arm of ihe military to confer the right of suf-
fragc upon the negro. The withdrawal of
the Southern members from Congress, gave
them majority in Congress; reconstruction
continued the existence of this majority, and
by universal suffrage they hoped to secure
and retain voting majority in the country
ut large. Reconstruction, the tragic farce,
having been enacted, universal suffrage Sc
cured and all aequiesced in, nothing remained
to be done. The mission Of the Republican
party was accomplished.
In vain have they tried to keep public at
tenton from their official short t-comings. by
attempting to equalize by legislation what
God has said shall not be equal. Many who
belong to the Republican party, and are out
Of office, many who are In Office, see but too
plainly the popular hand writing on the
wall. and they know that reforms OF abuses
alone can save them. Hence. we find these
clamoring for reform. Dsintegration has
cn, al rba Do MI na, Ia
parties both feel the operation of this law.
The people are beginning to examine for
themselves. BY the aid ofa fearless and un-
muzzled press, their education is rapidly pro-
crossing. The campaign Of 1874 Is but the
general muster, " but from tho behavior Of
the troops, we may judge Of the result Of the
pitched battle Of 1876.
Let no one suppose that, because many of
the leading Republican papers arc boldly en-
posing the frauds and outrages, perpetratSd
by Republicans upon the people, that they
are the less anxious to retain power in the
hands of the Republican party. They will
not hesitate to advocate the reelection OF
Grant, aud all the Republican ticket nominal
ted by their convention no matter how well
they are satisfied that all of them are radical,
ly corrupt. Their doctrine Is. "a Republican
reahing with corruption, in preference to a
Reformer who does not bow the knee to the
Radical convention.
The outside or new issues that will present
themselves this fall are. the Temperance and
Grange movements. Tho former has often
been State issue. but 1t may become Ma
tional one. The latter is in its early youth
and the indiscrction of youth may find a
grave for its decent intcrment this fall. The
leaders In the Grange movement, seen de-
termined to make It stepping stone to Office
zeal for the welfare Of the farmer Is but n
cloak to their political ambition, and IL they
lead the Oranges into the fight this fall, they
may put their houses In order and prepare
for the last great change" In such case.
their "epitaph Is already written" The
coming election can be made means Of con-
solidating and giving character to the move
ment, It can b. made a Waterloo.