National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-03-22

tive reorganization Of political parties, in
consequence of The new ISSUES presented
by the proposed reforms il the Admins
ustjon of the Government. n tina ing our
belief that the result win b the ,esppsar-
ance Of the old Wing party and the dis
membermeht Of the Democrstic party ss a
present constituted, We pursue the sub
Jet further.
1t Is within the memory Of many and
the knowledge Of all. that the Wing party
was consumed by the fires Of Abolition.
which nearly destroy ed the Democratic
party also-did. In fact for time utterly
envelope It's being, rendering IL powerless
for any purpose, save only as . nucleus
around which to gather the fragments Of
opposition In the North to the preservation
of the Union by the prosecution oithe war.
From year to year, for along period before
the fiict, ardent Wings in the
South reluctantly separated themselves
from the party, and either remained
aloof from political aflilistion or went over
to the Democracy. believing the former
organization becoming hopelessly Free
soil In its tendencies, and the latter repre-
sentipg all the energies of the Constitution
In the erection Of barriers against Its en-
croachments. Thus the Wing party in
the South gradually diminished until Il
disappeared altogether, and the Demo
cratic party succeeded TO liz estate, while
dwipdlipg at the North in the same man
uer until II nearly ceased to be, and would
have persisted but for its Southern ally, In
whose interest II continued FIRE in the
rear of the Union army during the entire
contest, gaining occasional new leases Of
life by reverses in the field. until st last the
war closed. and Its skeleton form skulked
from the scrutinizing gaze Of the people
waiting for some new misfortune to the
country to give ii vitality. Meanwhile
the Republican party. sprung from
the ashes Of the conaagration which con-
sumed Its predecessor. maintained the
Government, abolished slavery, and
engaged in the work Of reconstruction.
Here new difficulties arose, and with them
came forth from its retirement the Demo
cratic party. The Southern people were
not instantaneously restored to the fall
privileges Of citizenship. while for their
own protection the freedmen were Cd
vanced to that condition. Thereupon
multi,udes from the North, observing the
opportunity for control and self-aggrsndise-
ment bore down upon the PROSTATE Stssea.
took possession Of their SURFACES, and have
since administered the governments ofsome
of them. For this the Republican party
was not responsible, as there was no power
vested anywhere to prevent the immign-
ton. Govern ments erected In this manner
were of necessity recognised, as no others
contested their authority. But the Democ.
racy no more deprecated the situation and
the mischief resulting than the Republi-
can party. However, not being charged
with the duty Of dealing with those States
in Official relations, II was easy to denounoe
the policy adopted In reference to them,
and to characterize the governments set up
as an outrage upon the sovereignty Of the
States So thought the great body Of
the Republican party, but no way
was open for escape until made
by the people themselves through
the erection Of opposing governments.
And now that this has been done by such
an organization Of the people - can en-
force the governments they represent the
Republican party purposes at once 10
recognize them, rejoiced in being relieved
Of the thankless duty Of maintaining order
between contending factions. sBut now
that the right Of local self government is
about to be restored. portion Of the De-