National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-15
THE SENATE THE SAVIOR OF THE PA

THE SENATE THE SAVIOR OF THE PARTY.
The New York World, with characters
tic Democratic inspiration, compares the
Republican party to AN unhappy man who
was very drunk last night, who this
morning wakes up with dismal head
cache, and sits up in bed rubbing his
"weak eyes, wondering how he got there,
"and gradually calling up painful recollec-
d" tions Of having done great many foolish
9and inconsistent things while he was in
&" liquor" We are of the opinion that the
World is about half drunk itself and there
fore halfcorrect, not because the Republican
party, as illustrated by acts Of the Forty
third Congress, has done anything indis-
Greet, but because it failed to do many dis
Greet things expected and required of it.
But the World sips the cup Of self-congratu
lation to the extent OF entire inebriety when
it declares that policy is wanted for that
party. The platform Of the party as an
nounced by the authority of the last ma
tional convention remains to day as a guide
for its future course. If the recreant mem.
bers Of the last House had pursued this
course by living up to the spirit and letter
Of that platform, the country would have
been better of to-day, and there would
have been no proVocltion to our political
enemies to taunt US with having no policy.
The truth is some of our would-be leaders,
driven by fear Of the " Independent Press "
from the path Of duty, and prompted, per-
haps, by selfish ambition, abandoned the
well established policy OF the party and
sought to make terms with their opponents.
THE ALREPUBLIcAN has frequently
admonished the party leaders in both Houses
that this cry of " Wanted-a policy would
be evoked, and on more than one occasion
has made use Of it in these columns for the
purpose Of arousing the members of the
late House 70 = proper se6se of duty.
But let the World look to the Senate.
Morton, Cameron, Logan, Conkling, Ed
munds, Cragin, Howe, both the Morrills,
Sargent, Window, Wright and other Re-
publican members Of that body have never
deviated q hairs breadth from consistent
support of the principles Of the party as
they were expounded at Philadelphia.
The hue and cry about Third Term bills,
Force bills, Civil Rights bills, and other
measures which have been denounced as
partisan by the opposition, but which were
in fact intended to exemplify and give the
force of law to those principles, have been
unavailing with those earnest and devoted
Republicans. Very naturally, the Lower
House, being the most intimately connected
with the masses of the people, the debates
and proceedings in that branch have at
tracted more immediate attention than those
Of the Senate; and the Independent
Press, " finding that the facile, doughface
leaders of the party were more numerous
in the House, directed its batteries with
greater effect against the members of that
body. But throughout the entire progress
of the excitement which so lately convulsed
the country, and which still fills it with
forebodings of future trouble, the men
whose names we have mentioned, with their
associates, have been steadfast and true.
They have had policy at all times and at
all hours-a policy which has flashed as
beacon light in the legislative storms of the
past three months, warning the party of
impending danger If not 10 guide it into
safe waters. 1t is true that the laggard
action of the House had the effect to ham,
per and neutralize their desires for the
enactmant of remedial legislation on the
Southern question; but they nevertheless
succeeded in making record which will
save, if anything will, the Forty third
Congress from utter condemnation. Re-
garding the Cheap Transportation, Internal
Improvements and other questions of like
vital import, the Senate was also truer and
more literally conservative than the House,
and in maturing measures, like Mr.. Morton's
bill to provide against possible disastrous
emergencies in the counting of the electoral
vote, it has been far in advance of the pop
ular branch of Congress.
And the true men of the country are
thankful that the Senate remains without
change in its political character TO stand
for the coming two years stalwart defence
of the liberties of the people and of the
principles of the party. The cajoling and
the threatening of the Opposition will have
no effect upon the majority Of its members.
The misrepresentation of the common
enemy, the insinuations regarding the
Third Term, and the attempts to arouse
personal antipathies by limiting at conflicts
of personal ambitions will be harmless
with them. Above reproach and beyond
the influence of petty spites, they will
maintain their dignity, and with due regard
for principle will yet reclaim the Repub-
lican party by showing that it still has
leaders who are not afraid to avow a policy
and earnestly attempt to live up to it.
TuT EITPpTCEU CEp0TUET