Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-03-18
The Strength and Weakness Of
the RepuOlicaI Party.

general, before engaging n batt c, Is 10
ascertain as nearly as possible the
condition nd capacity Of the enemy's
forces, and to inform himself with scru,
pulouS care as to the strong and the
the weak points in his own command.
If defects are found the first o ject and
effort will be to remove them. A sim
liar course is equally necessary in pc.
!itlcal organizations In these, espec'
tally, numbers are not always o guar
antee Of superior strength. A political
party divided in sentiment and action
may cas- ly he defeated in a general
contest at the hallot-boX by an oppo
nent fewer in numbers, but more uni>
ted in purpose and effort.
In view OF the approaching presi-
dential contest and general congress.
ional and State elections the Republi-
lican party has now arrived at aperiod
when the most thorough survey Of the
working condition Of its fol, es shoull
lie made, and wherever defects ae dis.
covered they should lie Immediately
removed. That the party has, ever
since its organization, numbered in
its ranl S a majority of the voting pop
ulation will be conceded even hy the
opposition, whose chances Of success
at the polls at each election since 1860
has depended on divisions in the party
in power. Democratic gains in the
last congressional elections we're de-
rived mainly if not wholly from this
source. On the same ground they are
now predicting a presidential and con
gression;l victory in 1876. VII their
expectation be realized? The solution
ofthis problem lies wholly in the course
the Republican party may pursue in it,
preparation for the campaign.
The strength Of the party in powe
lies primar ly in its numbers. United
it can again sweep the con Try as it
did in 1872. But its numerical oual-
ity may be productive Of weakness, as
in the case Of the last congressional
elections. a knowledge of superio,
numbers is too apt to produce undue
confidence, which leads directly to IN
dif|ere &c and apathy, while the Oppo-
s ton. feeling their weakness leave no
stones uuturned in their efforts to
bring out at each election their entire
{ rec.
If the Republican party has not
made up its mind to let the ensuing
prrslden ial and other elections 60 by
default. it is not too soon now to COM
me ce those preliminary arrangements
which are absolu ely essential to secure
q full vote.
But there is another source Of weak.
ness in the party now m nife ting it
sell. which, ifn0t checked Immediately
cam t fail to lead to di astrous re
suits. VIC refer to an inoriinate am
bition for Office. 1t is internal danger
that usually manifests itself at some
period in patty organizations whose
numbers, as In the present case, are
/, largely in excess of those Of the Oppo.
r sition Ind viduals with comparatively
, limited political strength imagine that
in the aggregate excess OF numbers in
. the party they can, with the support Of
personal friends secure a majority vote
At leat they will make the venture In
this way the aspirants to each pos ton
from that or Chief Magistrate. dowr
. to State legislators, multiply. Or
= nomination day two or more candidate,
. for the same position are frequentl,
put forward, who, Lacked by q few
friends, are determined 10 run at al
. hazards. Each has his supporter.
neither faction will yield and Il party
a split is the result.
In the coming campaignt the success
ful parry will cautiously avoid this ia
tai source of defeat AS o publ,
journalist We urge our friends, perso
nal and political, 70 rise above all sci
!. fish aspi at ons, and in an honorable
|, spirit Of self abnega ion, strive patriot
ically, to promote tie general good o
!, the country by winning Republican
success.
4 We can have but one President. an,
t that man should be the choice If
|, united party, nominated on the grounC
Of his peculiar fitness to grapple sue
e c~essfully with the great issues now en-
e ding. This necessity for unity of pur
pose and action applies with eqra
, force in the selection Of cong essme,