Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-04-16
THURSDAY. APRIL Is, 1874.
Party Fealty.

The individual freedom Of thought exer-
cised by Republicans is one of the brightest
omens for the party safety. 1t cannot be
led astray by unprincipled demagoges so
long as its members are accustomed to
criticise and even blame. 1t is thinking
party, and has steadily refused to accept
dangerous dosmas perhaps by its leaders.
All the tremendous influence of the
executive could not make it accept John
sony theory Of Reconstruction. All the
efforts of demagognes could not make 1t
accept the dogma of paving bonds in
greenbacks. Those of its leaders. who
were infected with that delusion speedily
recanted, and bowed to the decision of the
mass of the party.
Such freedom of thought is not incon-
sistent with loyalty to party. 1t is the
highest loyalty. |: is greater fealty to
party to fearlessly strive to keep its princi-
piles right and its practices pure, than to
blindly and dumbly follow the lead of any
set of men. Such fealty would have him
dered If not prevented the rapid turning OF
the old Democratic party from its cham
p.onship OF freedom TO its championship
of Slavery.
We fear that the Democratic party OF to-
day lacks the independence of its mem
bers. For long time it was party treason
for Democratic paper to fail to uphold
Tammany in New York. 1t was party trea-
So, Ia criticiS. tho in fam rrvraa1 Pin,
During all the time the y. Y. Times was
attacking that mass of corruption single
handed, the World and other papers were
deirudin. Tweed and his colleagues. 1t
was only when the evidence became over
whelming and the people had risen in an
ger, that Democratic organs began to
change front.
Abuses Will arise in every organization.
Leaders will become selfish and danger
Gus, where adherents blindiy follow with
ont question. or remonstrance. Bold crit
icsm will detect these abuses. and cause
their removal. The Republican party can
claim the credit of being unfinching in
this respect. The wonder really is that no
more abuse Of power. or position has
grown ont ofthe gigantic operations of
the Government. In any private business
Of the same magnitude there would have
been A. much dishonesty. Bank cashiers
oflen abscond. Book-keepers in private
Counting Rooms. sometimes make false
entries. The Republican party in ad-
minis;ering the Government, can safely
challenge comparison not only with other
Governments, but with private establish
ments. SO far as percentage OF wrong.
But the party has not been content with
their good showing. II has diligently un-
earthed fraud. and abuse. No fears for
he party name. prevented its unwilling
Credit mobilier, nor di>,ecting ana expos
ing the SlnbOrn contracts. There has
been no effort to prevent denunciation OF
these and other wrongs. Nobody cries
treason, when Grant is blamed for appoint
ing Simmons. All this is consistent with
party fealty Let not the old Democ ratio
organization take any comfort from any OF
this freedom. Republicans, however GEN.
serious will not fiV to that organization for
sympathy or counsel. They will stay
where they are, approve what seems right,
blame what seems wrong, aud try TO turn
the wrong into the right. They will re :
member that the Republican organization
i the only one. that has SO far advanced
Republican principles. They may try to
remodel il. but they will not abandon it,
50 long a. the Democratic party opposes
Republican principles. 50 long will the Re-
pub lean party exist 10 sustain them and II
will rely upon the fealry Of it, thinking
freplncn.