National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-05-08

promulgated describing that condition
and appealing to the people to look else
where than in the ranks Of the party
hacks" for a candidate, and every
man who does not agree with these
played-out politicians and senile pub
licists will be denounced as party
hack. They will decry against machine
candidates, and every candidate who is
not willing to submit the control of
the machine to their weak. kneed
and dilly daily influences will be de-
nounced as one who "runs with the ma
chine" Assuming the airs of superior
integrity, and arrogating to themselves all
the political wisdom OF the country, they
will establish kind of selfselected, close
corporation 'aristocracy, and refuse to
recognize as worthy of the slightest con-
sideration any one who does not bow and
kneel at their beck and bidding. They
may go so far as to threaten third party,
a reform % party, party of purity and
all that sort of thing, and in so doing will
claim that the feelings of the Independent
Voter mus: be conciliated by the conyen-
ton. or the most direful results will GER
tainly ensue. In short, they will bug
bear the situation.
The question is whether the average
honest Republican voter can be bug
beared in this way. Past experience war
rants the prediction that he cannot and
will not. He knows that enthusiasm
among the masses is the great prerequisite
of victory, and he knows further that kid
gloves, fne-spun theories and diltetanteism
never inspire enthu siasm among the
masses. For example, bluff old Ben Wade
is type of man whom the public ad-
mire, and William Walter Phelps is a
sweet-scented, hair-parted-i the middle,
always, astride- fence incarnation of the
Priests and Saints. As certainly as the
sun will rise and set on the 18th
of June, the George William Curtises,
the Sam Bowleses, and all of that kidney
who may be present will suffer unequivo
cal and overwhelming defeat on that day.
The spirit of the masses will assert itself,
and some man with "sand in his gizzard,"
to use homely expression, will be chosen
as the victorious leader of the party in the
coming campaign; some man who, like
Lincoln, had natural, and not an artifi-
cial or hot house, hold upon the people;
some man who is the fitting embodiment
of solid and everlasting principle.
Meanwhile it is interesting to note the
drift of public feeling. The instincts of
the Priests and Saints incline towards Ger
tain men, while those of the substantial
voters incline towards others. There has
been no complete development of those
instincts, however, except that the namby
pambyites have declared open hostility to
Messrs. Morton and Conkling, while
Messrs. Blaine and Bristow seem to be
hanging in the balance. 1t is true that Mr..
Blaine has latterly endeared himself to the
loyal people of the North by his magnif-
cent demonstrations against the encroach-
ments Of rebel power In the lower House
of Congress: but, as we have said before,
he is handicapped with the seductive
approaches of the Independent Voter.
However unjust it may be, 1t is never.
theless true that this is Mr.. Blaine's great
est drawback. No one doubts his Repub-
licanism or his patriotism, and those who
know him best do not doubt his integrity;
but there are those who look with suspi-
cion upon the fact that some of his sur
are tainted with the Liberalism
of 1872. How much effect these suspicious
may have upon his prospects. it is impos-
sible to predict, but it is to be hoped, in
behalf of his partisan responsibility, that
the Priests and Saints will find enough
Republicanism in his am
nesty speeches to induce them to place him
under the ban with Messrs. Conkling and
Morton. As for Governors Hayes and
Hartranft, it is certain that when
their time comes, and when
their records are thoroughly. analysed,
the Independent Voter will be sorely
tempted to give them wide berth. Mr..
Bristow-well, we shall see what we shall !
zee. 1.-The has done anything for the pub |
lie good, and no one doubts that he has,
It is because the Republican party placed
him in position to perform important |
duties, and because he has been sustained
in that performance by Republican Ad- |
1t remains to be seen
the result of his labors shall inure
to personal or party benefit. II he throws
himself into the arms of the Priests and |
Saints the former will be the case; but if |
be remains true, as he now is, 1t will be |
he latter.