The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-10-13
MASSACHUSETTS POLITICS.

M n y nv u " y Il I y VAAAAOcs
Whether republics are or are not
ungrateful, there can be no question
of their short memories. TO say that
without Mr.. Charles Francis Adams
there never would have been a Re-
publican party in Massachusetts
would be to put the matter little
too strongly, but it is mild state
ment to say that he is one of the IA
theirs of that party; and most-of the
men who manage it would never have
been heard of if Mr.. Adams and two
or three other gentlemen Of ability
and honesty had not set the example
Of boiling. Mr.. Wilson began by re-
pudiating the nominations of the
party which had found him in OBJ
scurity and made him public char
acter. He never would have been a
Senator, and never Vice President,
Iif he had considered himself bound
to stand by his political associates
through thick and thin. This is
true Of many others. The Republi-
can organization Of the State is made
up Of the dsJecta membra Of half a
dozen political Associations-ol
Wings, Democrats, Know-Nothings,
Liberty men, Temperance men,
Workingmen-all the dissatisfied and
discontinued and doubling elements
of one of the most thoughtful con
stituencies in the country. We can
we'll remember when Mr.. Adams was
regarded, and very properly, by the
men who now cannot vote for him, as
a leader to be trusted, as IN adviser
to be respected, as the strongest of
candidates when he could be prevail
ed upon to stand at all.
Prosperity has spoiled these Mas
sachusetts Republicans; they need a
little Of the political adversely i'll
which they were nurtured. When
The old Free Soil party, Of which
they are the descendants and the
heirs, was passing through the purg-
alton Of its homage and utterly de-
spiscd blythe Boston Wings, it plu-
med itself upon the ability Of its
prominent members-upon its first
rate men, like Adams, and Dana, and
Palfrey, and Allen, to mention no
others. But Mr.. Wilson, who was
in q hurry to go to the Senate, and
various aspirants who were in a hur-
ry to 60 to the House of Representa-
tives, could think of no better way to
kill the Wing party that to coquet
with the Know Nothings, and the re-
suit was a thira-rate Governor who
couldn't tell the truth, and u delcga-
ton in Congress which astonishcd
everybody. The influence of Massa-
chusetts upon national politics has
declined from that fatal hour. The
people Of the country lost their re-
spect for the State which, after a no
bic record Of representation, could
send such a ragged platoon of nobod-
les to Washington. The Democrats
of Massachusetts, though reduced to
q mere handful, suddenly rose in the
scale Of responsibility, being also re-
!enforced by the Hun!ker Wings, who
had brains and culture even if they
did not have much political sagacity.
At last the Republican party, ira
ding upon its Anti Slavery traditions
became strong enough to discard and
deny its Know Nothing antecedents;
it had come into its fortune, and it
has been playing at ducks and brakes
with it ever since. There was but
one way of winning back the Liberal
members, and that has been studi-
ously avoided. We honestly think
that the vote fol Adams would
have been enormous. Thousands
would have felt it to be privilege to
support him. He would have come
into the canvass with a good name,
with a deserved reputation for abili-
ty, and, more than all, for honesty;
while his willingness to be candi.
date was a piece ofpare good luck OF
which these Republicans have no,
shown themselves worthy. Now fol
the issue! OF course, Gov. Castor
may be defeated; but that will settle
nothing, except for the present. Il
may require five years to perfect ths
revolution in Massachusetts, politics
but that revolution is nevertheless
certain. The Republican party ther
must taste the experiences of thu