Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-07-07
THE QUESTION OF THE CAM.
PAIGE.

inder usual circumstances, would be
of but little interest. No State
officers are TO be chosen, and the only
thing in which political feeling will be
called into action, aside from the adhesien
to party which requires us to support our
own party friends when all things ale
equal, and thus aid in preserving our party
organization, will be presented in the
choice of Members of the Legislature.
\ full Assembly and twenty Senators are
to be elected, and the two houses will
Jointly choose United States Senator in
the place of Mr.. Sargent. The Senatorial
succession is, then, the chief result TO be
gained by party success. 1t is well then
20 consider what is TO be gained, or lost,
By the gain or loss Of United States
Senator.
For years the Republican party has
steadily lost strength in the United States
Senate. 1t pursued liberal policy to-
ward the reconstructed States, and thus
lost the advantages it might have held
had it chosen to retain power by an iron
grasp. The sins Of the rebellion were
forgiven, all its participants were gradu-
ally restored to the privileges they once
held, but forfeited when they took arms
against the government. The result of
this humane policy is not encouraging.
While the North acted on the principle
of amnesty and forgiveness, while it
sought TO wipe out sectional lines, differ
ent line was pursued in the reconstructed
States. There the cry went up for a
United South, and where fair ~ means failed
in this purpose, other, and more question
able ones were resorted to. Practically,
the South is, to-day, united in favor Of
the Democratic party. The voice of
Republicanism is hushed in every State
south of Mason and Dxon's line. Its
adherents are few, and in many places
are adherents at the peril of life and prop
erty. i. is not fatterng picture we
have drawn but its truth cannot be con-
troverted. Its represeEtatio in the halls
of Congress has dwindled to a mere hand
full, ard in two years more, unless rad
ical change takes place, will disappear
altogether. While sectional feeling has
been repealed to successfully in the South,
at the other end Of the Union it has been
ignored. Freedom Of thought, freedom
Of speech, and freedom of the elective
franchise, has been ai,owed to the fullest
extent. We have settled Down to the
old state of affairs which existed prior to
the time when the nation was called to
arms, and with us parties contend for the
mastery through the medium OF the ballot
box alone, There is no prescription, no
social or business ostracisn for opinions
sake, with us. This is as it should be.
The policy of State and National admin
istrations were acknowledged to be a fair
subject for criticism and disapproval, and
where the people believed abuses of Gov
ernment to exist they signifed their dis
appreciation at tho polls. The party in
power was jnstly held responsible for the
acts Of its appoirtees, but in seeking a
remedy the people did not better them
selves. Under the specious cry of Re
form," the Democrats succeeded in max
ing the people forget their old record, and
in the temporary reaction which went
against the Republicans in 1874, they lost
several Senators from Northern States.
These, joined with losses in the South,
place the Senate very near upon an even
balance politically. The loss of three or
four Senators will give the Democrats
the control of that body as they now have
of the lower House.
If there was any honesty of purpose
among Democratic politicians, if the pa
cification Of the country, and the return
to " local self government " were, as they
claim the grand object for which they are
oontending, they would approve the policy
of President Hayes and yield cordial
support to his administration. The Pres
ident has extended the olive branch, but
how is it received The only thing n
Democrat can sec in this policy of con-
cilation is, that there is hope that it
will be the means of breaking up the Re-
publican party and restoring his party to
place and power. Only this and nothing
more. He cannot see that the sectional
spirit which gives United South to the
Democracy is n dangerous one, but he
can see that it is if attempted as an offset
at the other extremity of the Union.
With true Democrat, the words of the
President that she serves his party best
who serves his country best" are mean
ingless-no good can come out of Naza-
reth. And now we come to the question
of the campaign. 1t is idle to hope from
Democracy. However we'll it may be
pleased with the Presidents policy, it
will not sustain it. The support of his
administration if it comes at all must
come from Republican sources. We be-
lieve all Republicans should lay aside
their differences OF opinion as regards Mr.
Hayes course toward the South, and
unite in the election of Legislature
which will send Republican to the seat
held by Mr.. Sargent. The hands of the
President must be strengthened, and this
can only be done by returning Repubi-
cans to the National Legislature. If
Republicans are displaced it will be by
Democrats, and the little sample of Dem
ocratic rule which was given by the last
House of Representatives, in which, they
unfortunately had a majority, is not cal
cuiated TO promote confidence in either
the integrity or patriotism of that party.
Aside from the Southern question, the
attitude assumed by the Administration
upon the subject of Civil Service Reform
ic na1nnlatnJ -, n I