Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-10-06
Henry Wilson On the Situation.

khVAly w RlSOH Oh tAae IphlVSuEO1i
The Vice President is very mucl
alarmed at the condition and the pros
poets Of the Republican party, as in
deed he well may be, with twenty 0
the thirty.seven States, most of then
heretofore Republican, in the hands O
the Opposition, and the probability
that others will soon be added to The
imposing column, In addition to thi,
mighty array Of strength, the House
of Representatives is Democratic by ;
large majority, and now controls the
Presidency, if by any contingency al
election by the people should fail.
These stern fact, and the drift Of
pnhlic opinion against Grantism, arc
indeed calculated to excite the fears Of
leaders who have had full swing for
fifteen years, who have made political
power subservlent t)personai interest,
who at last are beginning to rouse up
from long debauch, only to realize
that the party is doomed 0ld their
days in office are numbered Henry
Wilson, rs 4 shrewd and practical
politician, has deciphered the hand
writing on the wall, and now seeks
TO avert the impending lastrophe.
But it is too late.
In answer to an "invit ,tion to at
tend conference OF lealing Masso-
Republicans TO consider their
duties in the coming election" Mr..
Wilson, has written letter, which is
almost wall Of political despair for
the future. He mildly admits that
mistakes have been made in the
State and in the nation" and that
some men intrusted with official
position have proved themselves I'M
worthy These be gentle words for
he crimes, corruption, and outrages,
against which the people have revolt,
I'd North and South, East and West,
with united voice Of indignation.
Mistakes are pardonablc, since to
ew is human. II the Republican
party had nothing else to answer for
'ut the common plumbers OF ignorance
II incapacity, and Il few bad appoint
ncnts to Office, there would have been
10 revolution and no sufficient cause
or one. The country could never
AVE been stirred to the depths, as it !
low Is, 10y ordinary errors Of admins
ration. And surely Massachusetts,
which tolerated Butler, Boutwell,, |
richardson, and Others, in Congress
nd in the Cabinet. would not have
elapsed from her Republican faith
nd seyenty-thousand minority, to
which the Vice-Presidcnt pathetically |
etcrs, for mere lrifcs.
The causes which have DESTROYED |
Il confidence in the Republican party,
nd which doom it to overthrow and
IL far deeper than thcsa
urtacc indications. 1t has out.lvel
S good name, usefulness, and in
,grity. 1t is rotten from core TO
circumference, and there is not vital
y enough left to save il, even if there
'as the disposition for heroic treat
ient. After fifteen years of continued
ME and complete possession of every
ranch Of the Government, legislative,
Xecutive, and judicial, this party has
rought the country to the very verge
f bankruptcy and ruin, demoralized
ne whole public service, spread cor
option eyerywhesc, encouraged fraud,
Xerted fore fer political ends, seized
tates and governed them as satra
les, created Infamous Rings, squand-
'cd and stolen the peoples money,
lstained huge monopolies by op.
ressive taxation, and struck at the
'ess for exposing such iniquities.
The disease has become chronic
has grown into the system and can
OF be eXtirpated. Mr.. Wilson re-
ommends that cts tried and trained
aders should be brought to the front
gain, and their wisdom sought for
1unsel and guidance in the effort to
,trieve what has been lost. and to
store the party to its former pres
ge and power These tried and
aimed leaders are answerable for the
tier disruption of the party Their
email dealings in Credit Mobilier,
acifc Hail. Memphis-El Paso, and
Rings Of Ill kinds, have
cen partially exposed by investiga-
ons even with packed committees
ut the worst remains tc be told of
ZEN; and this can only be fully re-