Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-04-14
Blaine and Grant.

sional orators who have been summon.
ed to aid the Administration candi,
dates in Connecticut, there is none
holding a position Of such peculiar
prominence with regard to the future
of the Republican party as ex-Speaker
Blaine and in view of this circnm-
stance especially, his utter silence
concerning Grant and the Grant
policy is more significant than the
most elaborate discussion of this lead
ing question could be. 10 urge the
endorsement of Il platform whose
dominant theme is the ''integrity and
patriotism of Grant, with more than
inferential approval of his most ambi
tious schemes for II continuance in
power, and yet to avoid in every
noticeable manner all allusion to this
central issue, amounts to a confession
Of the confession of the antagonism
which is rendins the party. TO save
the Republican organization and ut
the same time loosen the grip which
the President has upon 1t, is the en-
deayor OF those politicians whose
interests lie in the direction of Mr..
Blaines. The absurdity of this at,
tempt is apparent upon its face
Grantism is Repubicanism. The
President was repudiatcd together
with his party by the people last year,
and the final efforts of the expiring
Republican majority i'll Congress were
directed toward placing absoIut e
political power in the hands of the
President, and every formal proclama-
ton Of party principle, on which po-
lltical campaigns have since been con
Quoted, has made fealty to Grant the
leading issue. Mr.. Wilson is more
outspoken in declaring that the ''ex-
istence of the Republican party may
be bound up in this personal vagary'
of u third term; but Mr.. Blaine seems
to believe that the party can be carried
along on the old issue of sectional
luminosity and vague alarms of danger
to come from Democratic supremacy.
The course OF all recent events has
been to fasten still more strongly
Grants hold upon the party organiza-
ton. The Civil Service has received
large additions from the ranks Of those
defeated Republican Congressman
who sustained the Force bill. The
control Of Republican Conventions by
Federal oflicc-holders. has resulted in
uneQuiyocally plodging the party in
the various States to the support Of
Grants ambition. The President
himself is personally active in advanc-
ing the plans of his campaign and
while compulsory assessment is lev
led upon the clerks Of the New York
Custom House for expenses in Con-
necticut, Grant is holding audiences Of
consultation with the managers OF that
central machine. Toignorc the Prcsi.
dent in Connecticut, after the Repub-
lican party has proclaimed the issue,
is to slight Republicanism not only in
that State, but in the whole land
1t is sufficient evidence that if the
party continues to exist it must be
under the control of the Executive
who has thus far compelled it to the
support of his personal schemes. The
terrors of Democratic rule which Mr..
Blaine pictures are not recognized by
the people. Even the Republican
platform refuses to take Issue on Dues
tons Of Legislative policy with the
Democrats The sole point on which
appeal is made to the people is for the
approval Of those personal vagares'
4. of administration which look directly
toward a third term. The Force bill,
the Louisiana usurpation, the attemp-
ted subjugation of Arkansas, the pros
titution of the Civil Service and the
use of all the appliances Of military
and Executive power to compel a
recognition Of Grants preposterous
claim to continuance in office, are now
come mp for judgment. If Mr.. Blaine
f finds the party demoralized in its
general policy, he may correctly at
f tribute it to the fact that Grant is tho
party.--Boston Post.