The New York herald., 1874-11-12
Lines or New Depsrture-Republica m
Hopes and Opportunitie

democrats see the result 0s an overwhelming,
unexpected and conclusive victory. One Of
the rhetoricians entities it "Gravelotte before
Sedan'-Sedan to come, we presume, with
the election of democratic President in 1876.
The loyal republicans are in rampant mood,
and talk wildly about shooting deserters"
and 'suppressing mutiny" and mo surren-
der" President Grant, who, the other day, was
mlrthful and saw in the third term the great
joke Of the season, is now reported as hav-
ing lpsed into pristine grimness, and says
that hG will be ready for the democracy IN
1876" Mr.. George William Curtis, who may
be called The Beautiful Being, or The Re-
fning Influence of RepubIcanism, observes
among the people ''an instructive apprehen-
sion" of the effect of democratic victory.
Vice President Wilson, who is one OF the
most sagacious Of present statesmen, proposes
reforms that will secure the triumph of the
party at the next election. Mr.. Medill, in
assuming control of the Chicago Tribune,
gives expression to similar sentiment. Mr..
Halstead, of the Cincinnati Commercial, init
mates that if E. B. Washburne is nominated
for the Presidency he will support him. So
that We see general tendency among repub-
licans to seek some common ground for re-
organization. The republicans will have
control of all branches of government until
December, 1875, when the new Congress
will meet They will have time to pursue
every advantage that this respite will give
them It remains to be seen whether they
will learn wisdom from victory or whether
they will run into wild riot and deirium until
the end comes.
Our own impression is that the wisest coun-
ellis will necessarily prevail in the republican
party. The leaders of that party are GER
tainly not fools. whatever they are. There
will be new departure What form it
will take or how far it will GO, not being
in republican condolences, we do not pre-
tend to say. But all the indications are
that the old republican leaders, the conserve
tive element of the party, will make strenuous
efforts to reform the organization. The in
fuence which General Butler represents has
been defeated in his own person, and there
viii be an end of what is called "Butlerism.
General Butler himself will. we have little
doubt, be solemnly charged with all the
Gins of repubicanism and sent into the
Wilderness as was done in Jewish times.
The ''regenerated" leaders may take
their lesson from the Mosaic law: 'And
Aaron shall lay both his hands
upon the head of the live goat, and confess
over him al the iniquities of the children of
Israel, and all their transgressions in all their
sins, putting them upon the head of the goat.
and shall send him away by the hand of a fit
man into the wilderness: and the goat shall
bear upon him all their iniquities unto land
not inhabited" We shall, no doubt, have
this solemn service some time during
the coming session Of Congress, if any
republican leader can be found worthy
enough to represent Aaron. For
scapegoat must be found and the new work
OF regeneration can have no more dramatic
beginning than to load Butler with all the
sins of his party and send him forth into the
| wilderness-say to Russia, the home of SO
many exiles from Cameron down, and which
is now vacant
Butler duly despatched s'by the hand of
fit man into the wilderness" we shall have
recall Kremer and deprive the Sharpes,
Caseys and others of his family Of their
visible means of support, we cannot say.
These, however, are small matters, and
if President will only do well by the
country the country will be easy in the
matter of relations. Mr.. Curtis, who is one
of the very few republicans who could act the
part of Aaron in the Punishment of scape-
goats, gives US his programme of penitenco
'sThe secret of republican reorganization for
victory in 1876" he says, ''is simply return
to the republican policy and fidelity to it.
Administrative reform, redemption OF the pub
lie faith, and fair play in the Southern
States are distinctively the demand of the
public intelligence and conscience" In other
words, MIR. Curtis says now after the battle
what the HERALD has said for two years; for,
as our readers well know, We have never had
any disposition to quarrel with General Grant
or even to tease him. During his military
career we were his constant friend. We aided
him to the Presidency. When Sumner,
! Schurz and Trumbull made their war upon
him on the French arms question we covered
him with our buckler. When C@sarism be-
came menacing issue we expressly re-
lieved the President from any responsibility
for it, showing that the danger of Cesarism
was not with him personally, but in the
republican party and in the abnormal con-
dition of affairs that had come with the war.
The President has never given us chance to
sustain him that we have not welcomed, and
on no occasion as earnestly as when he vetoed
imitation and kept order in Louisiana and
Arkansas. The trouble with the President,
however, is like the trouble with Nebuchad-
nezzar. His heart has been lifted up and his
mind hardened with pride, and if these cleo
tops mean anything it is that he will be ''de-