The Portland daily press., 1874-03-21
Republication not ButleriSm.

Inc swirl, nerce blows dealt Butler by so
many Republicans on the door of Congress
in the debate on the Sanborn contracts dem
onstrate that Repubcanism and Butlerism
ale different issues entirely. Buffers at
tempted defence o. the Jayne-Sanborn sys-
TEN, was beat down into the dust, and the
real leaders of the party, those whom the
people really trust, were foremost in the as
sault.
While recognizing the value and necessity
of party discipline, Republicans have always
been the first to repudiate unworthy leaders
when found to be unworthy, and to denounce
officials who have been elected by Republic
can votes, and have proved recreant to Re-
publican principles. The freedom of criti-
cism and disapproval of officials and official
action, displayed by Republican journals, is
constant wonder to the opposition. They
can hardly comprehend such independence.
They only see in it, evidence of the democrat
ization of the Republican party.
Never were they more wrong. The OBJECT
of criticism is to ascertain what is BEST and
the object of censure is to cause the worse to
give way to the better. 1t is this very. criti-
cism and censure that have preserved the par
ty from ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS have caused it
to reject many tempting counsels aid to cor
rect many political errors. The Democratic
party would not be the wreck it is to-day, ii
Democratic papers, and Democratic citizens
ers instead of blindiy defending all their acts.
That party never would have been committed
to the support of slavery-never to Opposi-
tionlto the war-never to opposition to human
rights-never to Tammany ard Tweedism,
if there had been more sturdy boldness on
the part of its members.
The Republican party can never be COM
mitted to Butlerism, no matter what officials
strive to effect it, so long as the Republican
Dfess and ReDublican sneakers ara outSnolon
and free. Butlerism undoubtedly has its dis
ciples, and it may be that persons in high
places favorably regard it. 1t may
be rampant and persistent at times, but
in no time, and in no sense is the
Republican party committed to IT, or
affected by it. The ringing words of Repub-
lcan Congressman, and the outspoken opin-
ions of the Republican press, show plainly
that the Butler system is out of place in the
Republican camp. 1t would certainly feel
more at home in the Democratic camp,
ny, and be welcomed by the OLD leaders,
Put the Democratic party in power, and But
lerism finds congenial soil, and Immediate
/ ly blossoms out in full flower. Itthen would
! have no hostile criticism, no censure except
| from the opposition party. 1t would claim
| and receive party allegiance. The history of
| the Democratic party,-the fate of Douglas,
| the career of Tweed-all show bow little is
| to be hoped from that source. The only hope
OF the country is still in the Republican party.
| Republican principles still exist, and are still
| assailed by their old foe, the unforgiving, up-
| forgetting, and unteachable Bourbon. Their
| only safeguard is the Republican organiza-
| ton. Republicans should cling to their par
| ty, strengthen it and purify it, the better to
| enforce Republican principles. Ells,vorth
| american.