The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-02-17
WHO ARE THE PARTlSANS!

puoiNah iCaaSiS, "PP"'>h''' "''l o">' w
rely too implicitly upon their boosted
party independence, would stop to
consider what effect the disposition to
concede to their opponents well-assured
party positions, based upon plainly guar
anteed Constitutional rights, may have
upon the perpetuity of the Republican
party as National organization. What
ever deceptious peace Henry Clay and
his old Line Wing contemporaries may
have secured by compromises with, and
concessions to, the dogmatic demands
of the slave oligarchists Of their day, it
but FASTENED the final destruction of the
Wing party, as National organization,
and which neither the ability nor hon
estv of its leaders were effectuaI in pre-
venting. Compromise, then, meant sur
render, and means no less to-day. In
fact we are not sure that the Republi-
can party in its entire Reconstruction
policy, forced upon it to a certain ex-
tent by mere popular clamor, did not
then surrender the power to perpetuate
its own existence as National organi-
zation If it be jeopardized to-day the
cause is directly traceable to the too
apparent disposition, again recently be-
trayed, to yield in a spirit of illy-con-
ceived magnanimity, the fruits of hard
earned victory. 1t is true, Democracy
and slavery never accomplished their
final design, but they outlved the Wing
party, and they, to whom the destinies
of the Republican party are to-day con-
fided, may prudently look to it, that I'M
reasoning independence of party obliga-
ton does not suggest concessions in
compatible with its existence and per-
manence as National organization.
We are indebted largely to this spirit
of party independence for the doubtful
blessing of the Electoral Commission
Irrespective of its final result, in no sense
desirable measure A dangerous gov
ornamental experiment, viewed in any
light. An expedient fraught with un-
certainty and doubt concerning a result
which had plainly Constitutional meth
DDS been pursued was fixed and GER
tain A compromise only entertained
by Republicans, because it was sup
posed that the Democratic leaders were
Offering it in good faith, and SO accepted
by the voters of the Republican party,
who did not quite so fully comprehend
the Democratic design as their more
experienced party leaders. Waving
their rights under the Constitution and
yielding to popular clamor for a"peace-
able" solution of the Presidential pro-
blem, the Republicans of the Senate
advocated the passage of the Electoral
Bill, and the Republicans of the coun-
try generally pledged themselves to a
peaceable acceptance of the result. Not
withstanding the protcstation Of good
faith on the part of the Democratic
advocates of the measure, no sooner
had the Commission rendered its first
decision than the partisan object of the
Democracy became apparent Although
seven representative Democrats obsti-
nately refuse to step across the party line,
vet there is echoed over the land a uni
versal wall of woe at the sad spectacle
of Republican partisanship. Justices
Clifford and Field, not vet willing to
lay aside their party prejudice, consent
by their vote that the States shall be
robbed of the undeniable prerogative to
decide legally their choice of Presiden-
tial electors, vet the coarsest anathe-
mas are hurled at the heads of equally
respectable jurists who conscientiously
determined that the will of States shall
not be defeated by fraud and violence
This is the ultimatum of the Florida
decision. That it can he acceptable to
Democrats, no one, for a moment, sup
posed. Could any thing short of sur
gical operation force the idea into the
non-partisan Democratic brain, that the
Electoral Commission was not an in
genious method intended to secure the
election of Mr. Tilden? Does any man
foolishly suppose that shrewd Demo
cratic managers would have advocated
the measure. save with an eve single to
the glory of Democracy alone? 9th
erwise, how could Republicans justly
regard it as a concession on their part
that might jeopardize result, the con-
troll of which was already in their own
hands! The very partisanship, which
Democrats now so piteouslv bewail, was
with them the inspiring motive IN their
support of the measure of which they
are already so unsparing in their de-
nunciations. Disguise the fact as they
may, their chief hope lay in the parti-
san organization of the Tribunal In
Justice Davis person was supposed to
reside the " ODD spirit that was to give
tone and temper to the whole. Sena-
torial honors were never more inoppor-
timely bestowed. None recognized this
fact more forcibly than Justices Cliff.
ford and Field themselves, for, notwith.
standing the thrice repeated assurances
of their colleagues unwillingness to
accept a place on the judicial side of
the Commission, yet they perseveringly
and persistently threw their ballots for
him, in the vain hope of securing his
partisan cooperation. If this be re-