Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-08-04
DLSINTEGRATING PARTY


The past eight months have been
the most significant in the history of
the Republican party. After the gen
eral defeat of the administration in
the Congressional elections last fall,
it will be remembered that the leaders
of the party Immediately began TO
pave the way TO a return TO power
with good intentions, and that there
was a great issue of brilliant promises
touching retrcnchment and reform in
Congress and in the departments, the
apparent honesty of which cheered
the heart of the Republican patriot
and led him TO believe that the new
era, so much talked OF, but so hope
lcssly hitherto, was actually dawning.
Congress met, fought, and adjourned ;
and when its work came to be summed
UP il was, of course, discovered that
the reforms instituted could be cover
cd with thimble and its rctrench-
ments carried off in 4 sardinc box. 1t
was realized, too, that instead of lay
ing down sound financial policy for
the party and placing it in favorable
light with the South, Congress had
tied it to ridiculous currency act
and insulted it with an attempt TO
pass the force bill, so that at the close
OF the session the shrewdsr men OF
the party saw that, instead Of gaining
ground since their autumn rcverses,
they have been steadily losing. Eve
rything since then has simply helped
them down the hill We have had
revelations of fraud and conspiracy
in the Postoilice Department, fraud
aud conspiracy in the Interior Depart
ment, fraud and conspiracy in the
Treasury Department, fraud and con
spiracy in every Office where there was
a chance TO steal and the opportunity
to bribc. Investigations have fairly
trod on each others heels, and while q
few have had just ending, the many
have been silently ignored OF very
recent events which wear an ominous
look for continued Republican ascen
dcncy, there are three Particular
conspicuous The revolt of the Vice
President from the policy of his par
tyj the opposition Of the party to the
conu anJ do oolorod doclorot;.n ri
independence, by Fred Douglass. The
action Of Mr. Wilson represents the
rlgh,s elcmcn, in tho nar,v-ibe ele
/ ment which ,yos its carlv liza and !,
now ~ real backbone not beoanse Of
nos, ;ssros Inn, ,hro,ah ;,s tborougl
bonos,r Tho Vice presidont clearly
nointed ont the dancers which threat
cned the Marty with destruction m,
methods bv which Il had becn led as
trov and Tho means nv which lis safe
ty could he made nossible As tbes,
means were chiefly honesty and eoono
INV In the administration ofnational ai
fa;rs tho nartv organs drowned tbeu
in n food of insolent ridicple Az n
tho onnosition of tho marty 20 Iat,
manifestations Of brotherlv feeling by
tho Soutb oxnressed ne Il IL tbrongl
tbe columns of an organ in itself vi
cious and cor,unt II nerhans rains m
nnduo imnortance But still The fact
remains that 90 far as wo have had
anv official ntterance il has beer
wholly hostile to the nolicv Of recon
ciliation The WASHINGTON Republicar
has moi only had The cfirontrv IN dis
trpst tho Sincerity of General Lec',
brave anpeal at Bunker mn for The
ro o.as,obI;sbmont of nortect fallowsbir
between tbo North and Soutb but has
boldlv nvowcd its belief that the neo
nle ot tho Sontborn STATES arc rebels
at beort vot and dcservc nothing bet.
ter than military rule The declara.
,;on of ;ndencndenco tor his race rs
onunciated bv Fred Douglass n wcel,
F ogo comnlctes these protests In mn.
eonivocaj languago M Donclass urg
es his nconlo 70 ent Loose alike from
Ronuhi;caps who have loved tbom
simnlv for tbeir votcs and Conservo.
tives who have heen embittered
o,oins, tbem bccopsc ,bov have been
,5e ins,rnmont oc Rcnunlican tvronnv
and baving established their indcne1.
! donoo 70 mainta;n Il tbro,gb the;,
own resources The argument /
MAINLY for n comnletc breaking away