The Republican journal., 1875-11-11
Fight for Reform,

The readers OF the journal will bear
witness to the emphasis with which we
have commended that the Democrats should
make the question of reform in the ad-
ministration the prominent one in the
coming Presidential campaign. 1t is the
one paramount issue which the people
understand, appreciate, and desire. The
question of the tariff is difficult one to
be understood by those who have not
made it Il study-and the financial ques-
ton still more so. But the people know
that there are extravaganccs frauds, and
stealings all through and about the de-
partments of government, and that the
party of reform is pledged to put a stop
to all this. They know what that means.
On this issue we have our hands all full
OF arguments, and every Democrat is
fully armed for warfare. We are glad to
see that so able and influential paper as
the St. Louis Republican agrees in this
view, and brings forward an historical in
1910 the Democratic party had been in
undisturbed possession of the government
for twelve consecutive years. Though
the machinery of politics had not then
been reduced as nearly to perfection us it
now is, yet the iron discipline OF jackson
and the skilful diplomacy Of Van Buren,,
seconded by the efforts of u large number
of remarkably shrewd men in and out Of
congress, had given the Democracy Il
hold upon the country which it seemed as
If nothing could shake. The Wings were
not merely in the minority, but so dis
couraged and demoralized by repeated
defeats that, while always ready to make
a gallant fight, they scarcely felt That sue
cess was within the range of possibility
Leaders, such as no party has had before
or since, were only able to hold the rank
and file together by appealing to those
chivalrous feelings and hereditary antip-
athies which no amount OF misfortune
could utterly crush But even the lead
ers themselves saw small prospect of vic
tory in the future Yet when u chance
was offered, the officers and privates of
the old Wing army were quick to see it
and quick to improve it. They did not
waste their strength in battling with
wind-mllls, or allow the enemy an OPP
portunity to recover his lost ground by a
flank movement. They saw where the
popular nail was located, and without
looking to the right or to the left, struck
it sGuarely on the head and drove it home
in a campaign which is still regarded as
the most brilliant and famous in Ameri-
can annals.
How was this result accomplished?
Briefly thus: Whether by Democratic
mismanagement or not it is unnecess any
now to inquire, the country was passing
through such an ordeal Of hard times as
had not been endured since the war Of
1872. Business was PROSTATE, money
scarce, credit rotten, and public confidence
destroyed. All classes We're suffering
from q combination OF commercial. and fl
nancial evils which, though they could
not precisely understand, they were ex-
ceedingly anxious to hold somebody ac-
countable for. That somebody the Wings
were not slow to point out. They said to
the people this: Yes, times are hard,
and will be harder; prices are low, and
will be lower; money is scarce, and will
be scarcer; the country is sinking swiftly
and surely toward universal bankruptcy
and ruin. Who is to blame? The Demo-
Gratis of course, They have been in pow
Ell twelve years. They have had things all
their own way. They have devised new
and clumsy schemes of finance. They
have been reckless in their expenditures.
They have tapped the public pocket in a
thousand different places. They are the
rogues who have wrought all the mischief
and to put Il stop to the mischief you must
put out the rogucs" This was the sum
and substance of the arguments which
battered down the walls of Democratic
supremacy and landed Harrison in the
White House. Observe that the ~ higs
We're not such supreme asses rs to pre-
pare and submit in advance Il plan for lift
ing the country out Of the mud, and stake
their fortunes on the acceptance Of this
plan. They did not say how they would
treat the patient. and thus give the oppo-
sition chance to pick flaws in their prac-
tice. They SAID: "The patient is very
sick, but we can cure him. Discharge the
Democratic doctors first, and we will pro-
duce the prescription afterwards" And
the Democratic doctors were discharged.
1t is thirty-ive years since this exhibit
ton of political sense and strategy was
given. Have Democrats forgotten it II
they remember it. can they not see that
an opportunity is now offered them vastly
superior in every respect to the one which
the Wings SO splendidly utilized in 1910?
The Republican party has been il power
fifteen years. During this period changes
have been introduced in every department
of government-changes all for the worse
none for the better. Under Republican
administration fraud, corruption, and ras-
cality of every kind have reached point
never attained before. They have not
merely brought discredit upon the Amer
lean name at home and abroad, but they
have set in motion influences which are
carrying us rapidly toward national bank
ruptcy The Republican party must Shout
der the responsibility Of the hard times
which now at1lict the country. They cam
not dodge it or shuttle it off. They have
had exclusive control Of the government
al apparatus, and when the engines break