Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-07-01
MThe Brighter Dawn.

under tho most suspicious indications Of a
triumph second only to the sweeping vic>
tories of 1872. Maine, Pennsylvania,
Ohio and California Republicans are al,
ready in the field, united, resolute, and
confident. They have entered upon an
hctive campaign, and see victory with
hearty or quite as much confidence as if
it were already achieved. Nor is this
mere boast or dhfohnded speculation:
The Democrats are divided beyond the
possibility Of union on the leading ques>
.tions now before the country-currency
reconstruction, the public schools, ard po>
l,tieal equality. The Republican party
Is a unite on each Of these issues, or near
ly so, and, is consolidating itself every
where. Even on local interests harmony
preyailsvary generally, and, shoulder to
shoulder, they have stuck out on an az.
gressive campaign with a zeal equal to
the continued Misunderstanding Of the party
during the years Of the great struggle for
The salvation of the Union itself. At no
time since it swept the country in 1872
have the prospects of the party been
brighter than they are to-day. 'p'
1t is manifest now, to all close obser-
ters. that there will be but two parties in
the 1ieli. Prohibitionists and other fc>
tons will be altogether too infnitesimal
TO be counted as a disturbing element
Even the Independents will fail to
make a demonstration of ally account.
During the present campaign, or at far
thest before the close of the Presidential
campaign, they will throw their influence
with one or the other Of the two promi>
nent parties and it is not difficult to see
now where the main portion of their
strength will be exerted. The ~Indepeu~
dents are Republicans at heart. They
we're Of and with the Republican party
through oil the war struggle for the
Union they were in full sympathy with
The Republican policy, and helped to sus-
tain aud carry its great public measures.
They are still Of the same mind, and be-
lieve in those principles which they i'd
vocated as Republicans when working
with the party. They left the organiza,
tion because Of the %delinquencies of and
absence of political integrity in some Of
its members. This feeling and with.
drawal Of individual members of the
party commenced as early as 1871 and
1872, It was not felt in the elections o.
the latter gear, because THEN absence a
the polls was more than gained by thu
floating .antiGreeley Democratic vot'
that was throwd for the Republican part,
On the election oflS73, but more in tina
of 1874, the Independent vote counted
heavily against the party from which
that faction, by way Of rebuke, had sep
Arntel.
But the Republican party has righte'
itself before the people by .purging ant
purifying its ranks Of the offensive ele
ments and the cause ofseparation haviuI
been removed, the national element
which originally bound the Independent
with the Republicans, will again unit
them in our common purpose of supper
ting those. great measures, which both be
lieve to be for the common good.
In contemplating this as a natural an
inevitable result, there is another ele
ment to be taken into consideration be
sides the normal condition and natura
sympathy and unity of purpose betwee
independents and Republicans. Th
Independen t sees that the Democrat
party is not changed; that it adheres t
the same views that it did when he bal
tied against its principles and politics
doctrines within the ranks Of the Repul
llcan party. The Independent is in fave
Of the reconstruction Of the States recenI
ly in rebellion, on the broad princip|
Of equal rights, while the Democrat OF
posses the measure , the Independer
favorsj a sound currency, the Democri
goes for infstion (acide Ohio Democrat
platform } the Independent supports II
school system-the Democrat barters
away, as in Ohio, for example, for Il
votes Of its avowed enemies the Ind
pendent iavors projection to labor-tl
Democrat is opposed to its protection Il
independent is in favor Of political equa
ity Of citizenship before the law, witbo'
reference to color or previous condition
the Democrat advocates the color lin
In short, there is little or no sympatl
between the Independent and the Den
ocrat. They entertain antagonistic view
i