The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-03-30
9tgisttt.
TUESDAY, MARCH 80, 1875.
Republican Unity and Success.

The closing scenes of the executive |
session of the Senate are calculated to |
afford encouragement to those who
think that Republican successes and |
Republican control in the a6minlstra-
tive departments of the government, |
will best subserve the highest interests |
of the country. 1t is well known that
the party has been torn and almost
ruined 10y internal disagreements and
dissensions. Oftentimes these dissen-
sions have grown out of honest con-
victions and manly independence in
the maintenance of those opinions.
There can be no secret of the fact, that
the Republican party is not composed
of elements which can surrender hon
est judgment to the dictation of party
policy, like the Democracy. OF course
more independence of action is to be ex-
pected, and more marked differences
are realized, in the opinions, votes and
actions of its members. They can new
er be relied upon to stand up as one
man, for the support of an Infamous
measure, and even tolerably good meas
ures about which there is room for diff
ference of opinion, sometimes fail on
account of this vrtuous independence.
Not so with the Democratic party.
They are a unit OH all questions. They
seem to have very little idea of right,or
public policy, except as it matches in
with party policy.
This apparent lack of harmony in
the Republican ranks has discouraged
some real friends of Republican prin-
ciples and disaster has been the result.
But when it comes to matters of real
and vital importance, when the issues
involve equal rights to all citizens, jus
tice, humanity, freedom, and questions
of that importance, then the party
leaders are unit, as of old This fact
was illustrated in the union of all the
Republican Senators in support of the
Louisiana resolution, They disagreed
upon many points very widely. They
| discussed those differences with entire
freedom. But when it came to the fin
al issue, these men sunk their differ
ences on minor and Irrelevant matters,
in order to stand together in approving
President Grants protection to the peo-
| pie of Louisiana against violence and
bloodshed.
And may we not regard the closing
scenes of the Senate as illustrative of a
growing tendency in the party through
out the country? The New Hampshire
campaign and election showed return
of all the old time harmony in the party
and consequent victory. The Con-
necticut Republicans are laying aside
all their late feuds and dsagreements,
and preparing for victory at the polls
next Monday. The Rhode Island Re-
publicans, in like manner, will meet
for glorious victory on Wednesday of
next week.
The policy and principles of the two
parties ought to be pretty well known.
The Republican principles are clear,
distinct, emphatic, for freedom, equal
civil rights, the Ell forcement of the late
constitutional amendments, the enfran-
ohisement and education of the five
millions of colored citizens, integrity
in office, and reform and economy in
the administration of public affairs.
The Democratic principle. if they have
any, is mainly one of opposition, en-
| deaNUi tv broak down the UtpuDiiCun
party, and to build up their own, by
fair means if convenient, 10y unfair
means if necessary.
In view of these principles of action,
and considering the peculiar condition
of affairs in the South, and the general
condition of the political, financial and
industrial interests of the nation is not
the success of the Republican party of
sufficient consequence to prompt the
surrender all minor considerations to
insure it? 1t is not meant that we
should surrender any moral or political
principle. We should not, for the sake
of success, however desirable il may be,
make politics trade and barter affair,
or overlook qualifications for public
positions, or allow the promotion of
any second or third rate politician, on
the plea OF availability. The principle
of selecting men for office, whose patri-
otism and integrity, and ability, can
not be subservient to any sclfinterest,
Is even more important than the parti-
san one. But in seeking to promote
the principle which seems to us most
important, we should not forget the one
of next, and perhaps not less weight,
when we consider the extent of its
bearing, Sometimes the remoter con-
sequences ola course of action are no
less influential for good or evil, than
those more immediate and observable.
And there is no necessity for conflict
in our endeavors TO select the very best
men, and ut the Same time to promote
the welfare of the Republican party,
For VIGOROUSLY the best men belong to
that party, are Unidentified with its in
tercsts, and are laboring for the success
ofits noble principles
And how is the prevailing unanimi-
ty to be brought about? As proper
answer to this important question, we
quote few wise and relevant words
from the Boston Journal. 1t is to be
/ brought about, not by testing the
strength of different sections, interests
or leaders in the Republican party, but
by the appeal which the crisis address
es directly to the good sense and patri.
, otism of the Republican masses. They
J who met and turned back the assault.
of rebellion, who took up the broken
! threads Of the Union at the close of the
war and wove them into more COM
l plete and perfect palladium of human
riobta tban fla Eatbarc bnI o.,o,