The Russellville Democrat., 1875-02-18
STRATEGY OF THE RE
 PUBLICAN PARTY.

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 The average observer of the drift of the political current of to- day is bound to admit that the power of the dominant party is rapidly slipping through their fingers-that there is great re- action in the minds of the Ameri- can people--that this revolution of sentiment is in favor of Democra- cy, and that the republican party
 is thoroughly in it's decadence.
 Decay, disintregation and dis solution stares that party in the face. The leaders of the party see it and feel it; and like the gambler whom fortune has frown- ed upon, they have become fran tic and desperate, and are bend- ing all their energies to redeem their losses and restore their par ty to it's former status.
 The attentive observer of the con duct and actions of the leading men of that party for the past few weeks will see clearly reveal ed, the strategy by which they hope to retrieve their rapidly wan ing fortunes. A few of the more moderately thinking and sober-in- clined men of the party, like Mir. Wilson, appeal to the judgement and sense of the party, and prof fer wise counsel for their guid- ance; but their voice will go un- heard and unheeded, and the more clustering and bullying tones of Butler will find readier audience and command more fol lowers. The wise counsels of MT. Wilson will not be accepted be- cause the case is too desperate. The stategy of Butler and Grant is more apt to meet the case. No one who has kept pace with the. proceedings in congress for the past few weeks can be in doubt as to the tactics to be pursued by that party, which is to inflame the democrats to exhibitions ofviolent and disorderly conduct, and in temperate and unparliamentary language; and especially to pro yoke the Southern whites inlo riot and excesses. This is their sole reliance. They know the quick impulsive nature of the Southern people and they rely upon our inn prudence and intemperance more than they possibly can on any merit which their cause possesses. Any infirmity of ours in this re- spect is their strength. That this is the strategy upon which they rely is clearly indicated by every act they do and every worG they utter. Mir. Buffers insulting aEd but carefully guard ed and skillfully arranged speech es, always insinuating and reflect irg grossly upon the Southern people, but always kept within parliamentary bounds; Speaker Blains partial rulings; the harmo- nv within their ranks or the civil rights bill, and President Grants interest and concern in the eau cusses and senate proceedings, his freouent consultations and suggestions; his earnest desire to be armed with larger powers; his to thwart the well known wishes of large majorities of southern democrats as indicated in the message on Arkansas affairs all point in one direction. The intention to provoke the patience of his opponent beyond endurance, to plunge the peaceful States of the South into turmoil and strife and thus to have pretext for us- ing more Sheridans, is painfully evident throughout. The desper- ateness of their course is the more evident and their recklessness the more astonishing when viewed in
 the light of the recent Senatorial
 elections which were so disastrous
 to that side ofthe house. Itwould
 be reasonable to suppose that
 their defeat in those elections was
 q rebuke from the people and