The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1876-03-25
The Republican Party Responsi-
bic for the Txisdeeds of the
Men ia has Put in Office.

mitted Who put Gen. Grant in ot1ce,
and from whom did Belknap derive his
power to convert the War Department
into brokers' establishment where post
sutlerships were bought and sold like
merchandise? Where did Creswell get
MS opportunities By whom was Robe
son invested with office? Certainly not
by the Democratic party, or from any
source deriving its authority from 1t.
10 come down to State affairs, who
elected Ames and the smaller offenders,
Davis and Cardozo? Responsibility at
taches somewhere, and there is no cum
ming sophistry which could place it any
where except on the shoulders of the
party that in spite of the remonstrances
of the intelligent, tax-paying classes OF
the people, conferred upon them the
trusts which it is now conceded they
have forfeited.
These are the kind of agents the Re-
publican party, deliberately selects to ad-
minister the State government. In
August, 1873, the Republican party select
ed seven candidates for as many State
offices. Three of this number have been
impeached of high crimes and INSIDE
meanors. Two of the three have resigned
their offices under circumstances which
implied confession of guilt, and their
crimes are dwarfed as a mole hill
bv the side of a mountain, compared
to the ofenses Of the third whose
trial is yet to take place. In all
the history of State Administrations,
was there ever a parallel case? Missis-
sissippi has not proclaimed her wrongs as
loudly as some of her sisters in msfOr
tune, but has she not had more than any
of them, even South Carolina, to try her
patience and her capacity to endure the
evils of misrule?
To recur to the common sense PROPOSE
ton expressed in the title of this article,
that the Republican party is responsible
for the acts of its agents, and by their cor
ruptions has proven itself unfit to be
trusted with power. The orthodoxy of
Harpers' Weekly as Republican journal
will not be questioned. The little organs
may grind out what music they please,
but here is what that able and authorize
tive Republican journaI says:
Recent events, eliminating in the crime
and disgrace of the Secretary of War, the
return of our Minister in England under
charge of swindling and the declaration OF
the Attorney General that he has "ascer-
tained' the private secretary of the Pr esi-
dent to be a thief of private papers, leave
no sensible Republican in doubt that there
is but one way in which Republican success
can be assured in the Presidential election
of this year. That way lies in a radical and
thorough change of the spirit and character
and tone of the Administrations 1t is puer-
lie to sag that M Bezk,edp is only an indiuid4aL
and that a party should not be held responsible
for the conduct and character of oil aCItO choose
to act aoih it. Our Government is one of par
ties, and the party in poooer cannot eUade its re-
sponSi6iIay What is the value of party prin-
cples and professions if the men trusted to
put them into practice are unfaithful or dis
honest? Can the Republican party, for in
stance, claim to be a party of civil service
reform merely because at its last National
Convention it declared for it in the most
unreserved terms, but when it had gained
power contemptuously discarded it? Or
can the Democratic party claim to be in any
sense The party of hard money, whatever it |
may say in New i ork or elsewhere, while
its majority In the House shivers and yields
to the rag champions? The truth is unde- |
niable that ten years ago the Republican |
party had the fairest opportunity that was |
ever offered to political organization. Is |
it any less true that this year its only chance |
OF success lies in its power to persuade the |
country that it is not hopelessly corrupt?
The President mast bear his share Of the re-
sp0nSibtlty for this Iamentable result. The |
very fact that his administration has been
peculiarly personal government-that he |
has regarded his office as a reward given to |
him for his great services, and not as trus
to be administered for the common welfare
exposes him to stronger condemnation.
The sordid crime of member of the Cab
met has served to conform popular suspi-
cions which were most unwillingly enter
tanned No newspaper can give any reader
any information in regard to the results of
the exposure upon the public mind. They
have been most disheartening. 1t is not On
ndtUiduGI 0fenSe. 1t not only affects an
and a party, but the good
name of the country and the principle of
popular government. Every American
shares the reproach, and the indignation will
logically and properly turn toward those
who under our system must be held respon-
'iole. Every intelligent Republican knows
his.
There is deem and rpnaraI 1road Of No., |