, 1874-03-19

we should "see the Republicans al
comingover" to us, it would notsurprist
us or influence our action in the least
At the last general election we had al
the Republicans with us in the suppor
Of some of the candidates. and all thu
Democrats with US in support of some
others. without any bargain or claiming
or receiving any favor rom either on. .po
litical grounds. We are not surprised
that there n-e many party editors tt
WI ON that sort of independence is in
comprehensive; they never knew any
other condition than that Of party servi
tude, and no other means of subsistence
than party spoils. n3ssa a .
But We would ask our friend to point
out the difference between the Republic
cans coming over to us on independent
grounds. and the Democrats all going
to the Independents on terms dictated
by the latter; albeit the party Democrats
gebbled up the products?
Pertinent to this subject is the follow
ing extract from Col. John w. Forney's
anecdotes of Public Mem" la'la
"a political defeat. like political
victory, is soon forgotten. 1t Is true
nothing pleases the American people
more than q great victory, military OF
civil, except the power of being able to
overcome and bring back those they
have conquered. This is a peculiar
American quality. Every party IN the
country is led by the pardoned leaders
of the other side. The Republican par
ty of to-day is in a considerable degree
marshalled by old Democrats The
Democratic party Of the present day is.
to q considerable degree, marshalled by
old Wings. We have Morton, Carpen
tsr Hamlin aud Boutwell, in the Senate;
and Grant, and Sherman. and Sheridan,
old Democrats in the Administration !
while on the other side we have old
Wings, like William B. Reed, now of
New York, Samuel j. Randall and John
G. Built, of Pennsylvania. William Z.
Preston, of Kentucky, and Caleb Cush-
ing, OF Massachusetts, leading the Dem
ocratic party.
"The tendency of all such struggles
as that through which we haye passed is
to create an independent spirit among
public men; to teach them to prefer in
tegrity to office. and to encourages hos
tility to fraud of all kinds. Unless this
can be done, there is danger, especially
in great cities, of the complete o.er-
throw of our liberties. But no such
spirit can be aroused or crystalized
without sacrifices. To fight in q minor
ity, to work Cor honest victory, to bear
all manner Of abuse and loss-these are
the prices which must be paid if there
is to be any rescue from existing evils.
Henry Clay was never half so great
as when he lost the Presidency. Web
ster was never really himself save when
he fought in a minority. The proud.
brave spirit is resrive under fetters. 1t
revolts from obedience to party rules.
No independent man holds an Office
without feeling that be is manacleI by
a chain. Of the men who obey without
question, and who object Conscientious
", the latter are the most useful to 80
ciety."
An old and distinguished Democratic
friend in Washington, who sent US The
article from which the foregoing is ex-
tracted, writes: "What do you think Of
the philosophy of your old friend John
W. Forney? 1t seems to me he must
have had you in mind as he wrote the
latter part of it." We think of Forney's
philosophy. it corresponds exactly with
our own observations and conclusions;
and however much the partiality of our
old friend may exaggerate our personal
worth, be makes no mistake in Judging
of our position and disposition politi-
cally.