National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-16
"Trs THE SALVAGE THAT WINS

transmission to black and white through
the hands of third party; but, be this as
it may, after reading it carefully, we find
one striking political apothegm cts
=" the Salvage that Wins" This, it
should be explained, was drawn out by an
INQUIRY regarding the possibility of the
success of Senator Newton Booths propo-
sition to run an independent ticket in Cali
fornia, and nominate Anthony, editor of
the defunct Sacramento Union. They
Twill invite attack upon Anthony's
" famous poker hand" said Mr.. Blaine.
Poker won't hurt a man in California,
was Gath's Characteristic reply. "Not
1" with many, but with the few" respond
ed the ex-Speaker, /" it's the salvage that
twins"
That there may be salvage there must be
a wreck is bit of logic which will not be
disputed and that Mr.. Blsine's mind must
have been fixed upon the possibility of a
wreck seems probable, or tue idea of sal
wage would not have occurred to him.
Was it the wreck of parties in general or
the wreck of the Republican party alone
that provoked the expression? Mr..
Blaine's long experience ia politics. his
shrewdness as a manager, unequaled in
the care of details of campaigns by any
other political leader in the country, and
his well-known ability to forecast the i'm
mediate political future, combine to make
this declaration tantalizing and indefinite.
Ard there is nothing in any
other portion of the reported inter-
view to throw any light upon it.
1t is true he is reported to have declared,
in allusion to the next Presidential cam
paign, that the Republican party cannot
"pull through if such tone is to be used,
addressing Republicans, as that of The
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN; but Mr.. Blaine
places too correct an estimate upon the in
fiuence of a single newspaper, however
honest its criticisms may be, to concede to
it the power of molding the policy of
great party. The necessary wreck will not,
consequently, result from any indiscretion
that may have been or may be committed
by this journal. Further, he evidently does
not seem to fear that President Grant will
destroy the party by forcing himself upon
it as Third-Term candidate, because he
dismisses that proposition with the remark,
&" l have had my doubts as to whether he
" president Grant, passionately hsrbored
" the purpose" "Try to make Grant do
anything" he added, land he will go
d" the other way. You can't drive him"
Now, Mr.. Blaine knows that numbers of
people, good citizens and true patriots, have
tried to make the President candidate for
reelection, and the consistent logic of his
estimate of the Presidents character must
lead him to the conclusion that he twill go
the other way" regardless of any passion
that he may harbor in the premises. The
Third Term will not, therefore, result in
the wreck. Where, then, can we find the
cause of the ex-Speaker''s forebodings? Is
it possible that they are the shadowy ghosts
of lost opportunities that will not down at
his bidding as he remembers-and admits
in the interview in question-that he ''did
/" not support, but rather defeated the
" Presidents policy on the Force bill and
the Arkansas settlement" and thereby
NIO LAuSA " OSoblOy SAC 1NSpuDllSdA VI bduI-
zation in the Southern States, by stranding
it as helpless wreck upon the dangerous
beach of Ku-Kluxism land White League
misrule? If so, he may reasonably expect
large amounts of salvage, but the wreckers
of the Democracy will be near at hand to
secure it for the benefit of their party.
We will not do him the injustice to join
in the intimation against his loyalty to
principle that he is engaged in Third
Party conspiracy, or that, in the event of
President Grants denomination, he would
either remain inactive or do something
worse. He is too patriotic, and too sensi-
tive TO the pride which loyal PennsYlva-
mans and loyal New Englanders enjoy in
the continued success of the party of pro-
gress, to be guilty Of anything of the
kind; besides, he is reported to have said
the President "has been as good-natured
with me (Blaine) since Congress adj
"journed as ever in his life" We do be-
lieve, on the contrary, that whoever the
nominee may be-President Grant, Sena-
tor Morton or any one else whose name has
been mentioned-Mr. Blaine will work as
hard and efectually as though he himself
were the candidate. We have not hest
tated to criticise his course when, in our
opinion, it deviated from the plain duty Of
the Republican party to protect citizens of
the United States, of whatever locality,
race or political belief, who may be the
victims of prescription and intimidation,
and it seems that he has not hesitated to do
the same in return. But the substantial
basis Of his political belief we have never
doubted. In his Connecticut speeches he
talked exactly as we wrote pending action
on the bill to Protect Electors. He even
went so far as to reproduce our figures,
showing the strength of the Southern
States in the Electoral College, and
the strength Of a required detection
in the Northern States to secure the
election of Democratic President. He
acknowledged the threatening condition
of affairs, and admitted that the Southern
Democrats are seeking to restore the su-
premacy of State rights There is conse-
quently only difference of opinion be-
tween him and THE NATIONAL REPUBLI-
CAN regarding the necessary policy to avert
this conceded danger. We proposed to do
it by empowering the judicial and execu.
tive branches of the Government to punish
crime and repress violence; he by accom-
plishing revolution in public opinion. We
saw that during the slow growth of this
revolution in public opinion, the Southern
malcontents would be able to complete
their treachery; and before long-aye, be-
fore the next national campaign-he will
have occasion to admit the correctness of
our position. In the meantime let him join
with us in securing, if possible, the salvage
of the wreck, made by the non-action of
the last Congress, to the Republican party.
This can only be done by hard, unselish
work, and by giving the Third Party
schemers such a tremendous hammering
that the conceit will be taken out OF them
and they become salvage even before their
structure is fOated upon the sea of pelitics.