National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-06
NO SVPRFVDRRy

w y y LhLkAANDHLts
Has the Republican party been defeated?
The popular response to this inquiry, in
view of the results Of the recent elections,
is positive affirmative. But we deny it.
The hordes of towards who have been
frightened by the demonstrations Of the
Opposition press, or deceived by the in
famous lies and the barefaced garbling Of
official records to which the enemies of
good government have resorted, are begin
ming even now to regret their timidity.
Although it is true, as we have stated, that
the two parties met face to face on Tuesday
last, it is also true that members of our own
party were so thoroughly disguised with
its management during the past two years,
and with the selfish and suicidal policy of
its leaders, that they were induced either
to remain away from the polls or, intending
to rebuke their recreant representatives,
voted for Opposition candidates. It is pos
sible that some vain glorious enthusiast
may evolve from that result an assurance
that the Democracy will repeat its success
in 1876, but this is a mistake. No Demo-
cratic principle was involved in the can
vass. In fact, the Democratic party
composed as it is of intiationists and con-
tractionists, of repudIationists and partial
redemptioDists, of free traders and protec-
tionists, and of the hodge-podge, heller
SHELTER crowd of voters who are car
ried away with the -hurrah and unmean-
ing excitement of the moment-eould not
have presented anything more than the
ghost of its former self as an apology for a
tangible nucleus around which to rally its
followers. But the country was in such a
condition that even the shadow or dream
Of a principle was sufficient to arouse
effective sympathy against the men who
have for years had control Of affairs in Con-
gress, and have failed to do anything to
meet the essential demands of the hour
The New York EIeRiHg Post summarizes
this view Of the case in forcible language.
cit is impossible" says that paper, ''to de-
''rive from the result any expression of
popular opinion on the great financial
''question of the time. There was no
SERIOUS conflict upon that in this State.
Both parties here declared themselves in
''favor of hard money and a speedy return
''to specie payments. Their only rivalry
Gin this respect was in their emphatic con-
''demnation of the fallacy of imitation and
'the fraud ofrepudiation. Ifany financial
significance were to be forced from yes
'ferdays vote in New York, it would
''point towards the approval of the loose
political economy of the West, because
''the recent Democratic victories in Indiana
Etand Ohio-from which New York Demo-
S'crats derived much comfort and encour-
f'sgement-Were gained on paper money
platforms. We do not believe, however,
'Thst the overwhelming majority of voters
cat the East intended, by voting the Dem
''ocTalic ticket, to accept the Democratic
E'policy of the West. Neither was yester-
''day's result an expression of popular
S'opinion on free trade. That question
''was almost wholly lost sight of in can
Grass in which were seen Democlati; can
''didates who frankly avowed themselves
'pTotectionists. and Republicans who did
not know whether they were free traders
cor protectionists, or else were either to
'tsuit varying situation"
The truth is that the election wass grand
skirmish, in which the rifemen of either
party were pointedly pitted against each
other, the Democrats having the advantage
of using riHe-pits dug by their Republican
opponents. Like the skiTmishes which
precede great battles and actual contests,
A. 81 ,-o,,,1t L,s I,oor, In M NAV fora
shadowed. Face to face we have been;
but not in full line. When we meet them
again, as we shall in 1876, with banners
flying and ranks drilled under the inspira-
ton and discipline of a struggle involving
the life and integrity Of the Government,
our scattered forces will again prove their
invincible power over the insidious treason
of the common enemy. There is no ex-
travagance of rhetoric in the words we
have used. We sincerely believe that the
struggle in 1875 viii be for the life and
integrity of the Government because Dom
Ocratie ascendency then will be equivalent
to reputation of every obligation made.
dear to the loyal citizens Of the country by
our success in defeating the shareholders
rebellion. Already such men as R. N. 7.
Hunter, former United States Senator
from Virginia, has proposed that the losses
of the slaye-aristoeracy, both in their slave
property and in other values, shall be paid
for by the General Government, and the
Democracy Of the South has not been slow
10 follow that proposition up with others
equally repulsiYe. At the same time the
Democracy Of Georgia and North Carolina
are proposing so TO amend the constitutions
Of those States as to virtually disfranehise