National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-11
THE TWOPARTIES-TH FUTURE

hepuDuCdQS VINO u6SlTG 10 ODlalQ cO0SO-
lation under the reverses of the November
elections should read the Democratic or
gans. No two Of them can possibly agree
upon anything, except in the general SEN
timent that if they can only follow up their
recent successes in the November of 1876
they will succeed to a larger number OF
spoils than Jackson ever captured or dis
tributed, and be amply rewarded for their
long fidelity to their organization. But
upon the question, how shall that end be
attained, by what steps shall it be arrived
at, they are all at sea. The organ in New
York declares that the control of the ad-
ministration can be obtained only by a
steady adherence to the doctrines of hard
money, home rule and free trade. For
this it is soundly scored by the newspaper
mouthpieces In the West, which charge
upon it as the hired and bribed spokesman
of the money power. Like the platforms
upon which the Democracy went nto the re-
cent campaigns, different in different States,
the organs of the party everywhere are
at sword points. Some of them are squab-
bling over the speakership of the House in
the Congress which meets year from next
December; others are reveling in specula-
lions about 1.-THE Presidential succession;
while some of the more wary, with Blair's
Brodhead letter in their recollection, are
entreating their Southern brethren to re-
strain their natural impulses for a few
years, and keep their anxious fingers of
the "nigger." AS they begin to look the
situation fairly in the face they are by no
means encouraged at the prospect before
them. For the first time in fifteen years
they are called upon for a policy, and as a
party they have none to present. They
represented nothing in the late campaign,
except opposition to the Republican party,
and owing to the disafection in the ranks
Of the party-disaffectio not in regard to
principles, but men-they have won. What
to do with their victory puzzles and be-
wilders them.
On the other hand, the Republican pa
pers begin to show a healthier tone and
warmer sympathy toward one another than
they have exhibited for years. The gene
raj feeling seems to be that there are breakers
ahead, and that it will not do to in the least
contribute towards driving the ship that
has weathered so many storms, escaped so
many perils, and is freighted with so many
precious treasures upon the rocks. Never
holder in condemnation of the men who
have injured the party, or more fearless in
criticism Of those who have mistakenly led
it to disaster, they are still as devoted to
Republicanism as ever, as hopeful of its
future, and as determined to make that fu-
ture worthy of its past. The Republican
party has been drifting away from its news
papers during the last few years, or rather
the papers have been drifting away from
it. The gentlemen who consider them
selves the leaders Of the party have been
laboring under the illusion that they could
get along without the press-an illusion from
which there was a pretty rude awaken
ing last Wednesday morning. The lesson
is one which it will be well not to forget.
During the last ten days the Republican
press Of the country has rendered incalcu-
liable service to the Republican party. 1t
has held in the ranks hundreds of thou
sands of men who were ready to march
over 10 the other side; it spoke the only
voice the party heard when the so-called
leaders were hiding from the people who
had repudiated them. Reading the senti-
ment of the Republican masses as it finds
expression in their columns to-day the
party leaders can, if they only have the
courage, pluck a grander victory from
. the greatest defeat We have received. What
we need are harmony and Cancellation, a
broader and more generous craftsmanship,
the old discipline and organization and
frmness. We need united counsels and
united ranks. And there is no reason why
we should not have them. The Republican
party is still in supreme control Of the Gov
eminent, and will be so until next March.
The Opposition can do nothing for year
to come, and then they will have the pos
session Of only one half of one branch of
the Government. But whatever is done
must be done between this and the fourth
of next March. After that it will be too
late