Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-04-15
Republicans and Democrats in Con-
greBs.

The Republicans in congress are di-
vided into three pretty Well-deffned
classes in their views as to the proper
nominations to make at Cincinnati.
There are first the men who wish to
make administrative reform and war
fare upon the rings the distinctive and
overshadowing idea of the canvass, and
to express this idea markedly in the Sc
lection Of candidate. Availability in
other respects they do not stoOp to con-
slider. Purify the government Down
with the thievesn they would make
the battle-cry. The argument they pro-
pose to present to the people is as fol-
lows: 1.-THE Democrats are corrupt and
unworthy of your trust. We scknowl-
edge that the Republican party has also
been corrupt, but it has washed itself and
is once more clean. It alone gives you
the assurance of an upright administra-
tion." These men have all gravitated
to Mr.. BristoW, for the sole reason that
he has attracted the attention of the
country by his practical efforts to accom-
plish great reform in the revenue SER
vice. A few months ago this element
was Just as ready to attach itself to Mr..
Jewell or to any other man OF ability
who might manifest an earnest desire
for correcting abuses and furnishing
rsscals, but it happened that
Mr.. BristOw had both the Op-
portunity and the courage to ac-
complish something in the right dlrec-
ton. He has won the hearts Of the re-
formers, and thay have no thought now
of looking elsewhere for candidate.
The second class Of Republicans believe
in organization and work. Sentiment
is q good thing, they thinB, but without
discipline and effort it can't accomplish
much. They, too, want thorough re-
form in the motives and methods Of the
national administration, but they insist
that for the Republican party to make
this the dominant issue in the canvass
would be ruinOus. 1t would, they say,
be pleading guilty to the indictment
which the Democrats will bring against
it, and trying to escape judgment by
loud pTOtaststiOns of an intention to re-
form. The party would be thrown upon
the defensive from the start, "YOu are
corrupt,n the Democrats would shout
Increasingly, and the Republicans could
only answer "We know we are, but We
are going to do better" The programme
of this element is to give the country an
assurance of practical reform by the
character and Rntecedents OF the nomi-
nee for President, and to make sharp,
aggressive fight on the southern ques-
tion. Mr.. Blaine, is, of course, its leader
and candidate. With censummate ss-
gacity he sounded the keynote OF this
policy last winter. Many Of his best
friends then thought he had made
frightfnl blunder, but he understood the
temper of the Republican masses better
than they. The New hampshire can
vsss showed that no questions OF cur
rency or administrative reform have ef-
faced the memories OF the war, and that
the prejudices Of that period are easily
revived, and when once aroused over
master all others. It is due to the Blaine
movement to add that it's most active
promoters desire an entirely new order
of things at Washington, and believe
that the ex-speaker's instincts, expert
ence, intimate knowledge of men and
affairs, and ambition to make brilliant
adminis tration, are the best assurances
of the mplishment by him of all
practicable reforms in the public SER
vice. now come to the third element
that shows itself in the Republican party
as represented here. It might be called
the allied White House and senate ring.
l am aware that "ring" is hard name
to apply to a political combination, but
there is no other word that so well de-
scribes this organization. Itembraces the
thick.and-thin supporters Of the admin
istratiOn in both houses, but its focus Is
in the senate, among the men who have
done their best for many years to con-
vert the government into sort OF oil
gsrchy, in which they could deal out the
offices and exercise dictatorial powers
generally. 1t has presumably the coun-
tenance of President Grant, and openly
| the support Of the kitchen cabinet, the
District ring, the custOmhouse ring, the
Indian ring, the southern csrpetOag pol
iticians, the navy.ysrd joDbers, the
thievish contractors, the Bidders
in short, Of the whole knavish crew that
have found protection and plunder un'
der the wing OF the present administrs'
ton. The purpose Of this unholy COM
binatlon is to prolOng the existence oI
Grsntism with MIR. Morton or Mr.. Conk.
ling as President. They hope to control
the Cincinnati convention by combin.
ing the forces Of the disTeputAple pOliti'