National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-13

general way, these cases are not parallel to
the condition Of affairs in our own country
to-day; for, as in France, we have no
aristocTacy whom the people are compelled
to support in idleness and luxury; we have
no obnoxious and oppressive laws; the stu
alton in which we are placed is simply the
result Of causes growing out Of the war
a situation for which the party that is now
shouting hosannahs Of victory, and not the
party in power, is really responsible. Had
there been no secession in '60-'61, we
should not have been compelled to suspend
specie payments and to issue Government
promises to pay, which have disordered
values and business, had the party that has
just triumphed given the hearty support to
the war its leaders were entitled to give,
and not prolonged it for years by their aid
and sympathy for the Confederate cause,
our debt would not be one half what it is;
our commerce would not have been lost,
hundreds ofthousands of lives would have
been saved, thereby adding to the produc-
ton Of the country; our taxation would be
lower; our pension list would not be one
half as large as it is; in word, we should
have recovered long ago from the evils and
mifortunes that befel US. In the means
and methods taken toward recovery, it is
doubtful if any party could have done
better than the Republican party has done.
No Republican need blush for the record
his party as party has made.
But notwithstanding all this the party at
the present time finds itself confronted by
an widespread financial and industrial de-
preston. 1t is an incident of the war.
Mechanics are idle, day laborers cannot
find work, mills have ceased to run, CAPT
tai is locked up, shopkeepers are without
trade, commercial enterprise is next to
dead. AL our great industries are suffer
ing. The bonds of one hundred and fifty
of our railroad companies are held dis
honored on the European markets. Every
thing has fallen except the national credit,
which is stronger and better than at any
period in our history. Our Government
securities have never been quoted higher.
They are the best investment in the COM
mercial centre that only fourteen years ago
refused to loan US ten or fifteen millions of
dollars. Who has done this, who has car
ried our national honor to so high and
proud point but the Republican party,
carried it, too, against the repudiationists
like Pendleton, who, at the present hour,
are congratulating themselves upon their
triumph3 As we said, the situation is a
mere phase Of the war. 1t was certain to
come sooner or later. And now that it has
come it is for the Republican party to meet
it as it met every other crisis which has
arisen since it came intopower. The coun-
try expected as much at its hands during
the session of Congress which began last
December, and it is looking to it to-day
with the same hope that it then looked to
It. Shall it be disappointed That is the
question which our leaders and statesmen
must meet and meet quickly. Trusting to
natural causes and influences is all very
well, but the time is short. A victorious
Opposition, flushed with victory, is thun-
dering on our flank, prepared to take ad-
vantage of every mistake and seize every
opportunity. If ever there was time
when the party needed wisdom, broad
statesmanship, harmony and Cancellation,
it is the present The dangers and perils
that beset the country should be calmly
and dispassionately considered with the
sole end in view Of bringing the republic
as safely and as speedily as possible out of
its present gloom and dependency, bring
ing ii to its former prosperity and content
ment. Are our leaders equal to the emer-
pency2