The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-07-22
Grant and the Republican Party.

Grant and the Republican Parry
A welcome correspondent, whose opinions we
this week comes to the defence of a third
term for Grant. We have no doubt of his non
esty in this position, but We cannot agree WIN
him. In the first place the feeling of the Amer
ican people is so averse to third term strens'n
ened by distinguished Precedents, THAI ""'
come to be regarded almost as bindinB aS 0o.-
stitutional provision; and were any man NUM-
mated for a third term, he would almost certain
ly be defeated. Thus we have the consideration
of party success, to begin with, TO urge against
the scheme. Presidents power and patronage
are so enormous, and so rapidly increasing, that
it threatens to be dangerous, even for second
term Nothing but the most critical circnmstan-
ces can make second election. necessary. Such
crises have arisen but three tines since the com
meueement of our Government-W ashingtoa, at
the critical time of the formation of new and
untried system of Government; Madison, in the
midst of the last war with England; and Lincoln,
in the midst of the rebelliOn.s The displacement
of either at the end of his first term, might have
proven disastrous. There was no urgent call for
the second election of either Jefferson, Monroe,
Jackson or Grant.
But the greatest objection to Grant is the per-
sonal character Of his administration. The Re-
publican party, however much kopposed to his
measures, is brought down TO it at last, until it
las reached that condition that man who OBJ
iects to Grant, or opposes his views, is branded
as traitor to the party. Even those of us who
believe and insist that Grant desires third cleo
tion, are stigmatized as fools. Under this SUBJ
ordination of party principle to the whims or in
e siu fn1i ol Iap .ho
grand Republican party dwindle Until the enemy,
but lately pronounced dead beyond resurrection,
are actually calculating, and with fair prospect
of success, upon electing the next President!
We think that we are as good Republican as
can be found in the ranks, and we do not desire
any position outside of the ranks. We rejoice in
q Republican victory, and regret Republican
defeat, as much as any other person possibly can
do, whether it be in Massachusetts, Ohio, or llli
nois. Yet, because we have objected to men in
the party, and opposed some of its measures, the
Chief has been slurred Democratic paper.
However, We shall not be frightened from our
course by that scarecrOw. And while we are at
it, we want to enter our protest against the
abandonment of another Republican principle as
n sacrifice to Grantism. If the party proposes
to depart from the ancient lGui marks, to follow
a man whom they made Republican in order
to have him for an available candidate, they
mnst allow those of us who object, to say so.
By the way, we may as well throw in the remark
here, that the first sacrifice which Grant made
in accepting the Presidency, was the sacrifice of
his Democracy!
The Republican party was founded upon the
material of the old Wing party. The great bulk
of the party-we mean the older members, who
have not come upon the stage of politics within
the last twenty years-is composed of members
of the old Wing party. The great principles of
the Wing party, in its days of glory and power,
were National Bank and Protective Tariff |
The practice of the Republican party, when it |
first came into power, and when it was uncor- /
rupted and had an eye single to the public good, /
was in accordance with these old Wing doctrines.
But the party has been gradually but surely
drifting under the control q EafsSPean money +
loaners and free traders, and their allies in the
Eastern money and trade marts. Just as grad
ually and surely has the party been losing |
strength and power. They are forcing them |
selves upon the old Democratic platform, and |
placing themselves in the old Democratic minor |
ity.
Almost every great panic and financial distress |
has been the result of an uncalled-for war upon /
paper money-generally in the interest of gold /
gamblers. The war upon the United States /
Bank brought on the panic of 1887, and caused 4
the downfall of the Democratic party. The
Wing party came into power, and failed to undo
the evil. Although the failure was because of
the treachery of John Tyler yet the party was
held responsible, and was defeated in the next
Presidential election. One of the earliest acts of
the Republican party, was the issue of green
backs. They were better than the United States
Bank, because the people had more confidence
in them, and came to fairly believe in them.
Greenbacks saved the country. At that time, it
vas not only treason to the party, but to the ma
tiOn, to lack faith in greenbacks Now it has come
TO be treason to maintain faith in them. The
very party that made them, denounce them as
rags" and worthless promises to pay," and
their advocates as "repudiationistsr
What has caused this great changef Why,
The Eastern and European capitalists and bond
lolders-most of whom bought their bonds at a
liscount with greenbacks, stipulating for the
payment of principal and interest in gold. Now,
f they can get greenbacks ont of the way, and
axe up what little gold there is in payment of
heir interest and bonds, things will be lovely.
Does anybody doubt that these money sharks are
lictating the financiel policy of the Republican
'artyi Be it remembered, that but little over a
'ear ago, Republican Congress, upon the de-
nand of the country, passed bill increasing the
currency, and Republican President had caused
to be understood that he would approve it. |
5ut at that juncture, he was waited upon by an
immense committee from Eastern bankers, bond
lolders, and gold-gamblGss- rspzSentiHg masy mil.
ions Of dollars; and when they had seen him and
departed, Grant vetoed the bill! Then, again,
'he Republican Congress gave the bill majority,
against his Veto but unfortunately could not
give it the requisite majority of two-thirds. Is
here not reason for the enemies of the marty tn
harge that corrupt influences were brought to
,ear, and that Grant again made a sacrifice. for {
something he so much needed! To secure Presi.
lential favors it is necessary to pander to Grants
personal whims, and represent one man, instead :
Of the body of the people. From a majority Of !
over two-thirds in Congress, they have in one
gear, since that veto, been reduced to a minority
'f almost one-third; and yet they cannot see it.
They freely denounee third term, with renewed
confidence in Grant-then they denounce green
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