Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-12-21

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Republican Senate will not confirm his
nominations he will make no party bar
gains nor enter into any party under
standings with the Democrats. Yet by
temperament he cannot be violent
partisan, and he is perfectly able to dis
tinguish between party spirit and pa
triotism.
This is the most striking distinction
of his message. The first impression is
that it is the work of man chiefly bent
upon the common welfare by common
cooperation. Party appeal and party
argument are wholly wanting. Upon
two of the three great questions that he
discusses-the Southern situation and
the finances-his views are perfectly
clear and firm, but they are the views
of a patriot, not of a partisan. We are
not now considering whether he ought
not to be, in the Usual sense, r partisan,
or whether the Government can be car
ried on except upon party basis. We
are simply stating the fact, and the fact
is most significant, because it suggests
that parties are exceedingly disturbed.
The President is Republican, yetwhat
he says upon the vital subject of the
finances, of resumption, of remonetiza-
ton, is unqualifedly condemned by
many Republicans, and unqualifiedly
approved by many Democrats. Yet It
is also notorious that unsound views
upon paper money and reputation owe
their SUCCESS to Democrats MS a party,
and are resolutcly opposed by Repub-
licans as party. The Southern ques-
ton is substantially closed, but that of
the finances becomes more and more
prominent. If parties are to have any
other significance than that of combina-
tiOns to secure office, if they are to rep
resent great policies and measures, on
what common ground can Senator Bay
ard and Gen. Ewing presently stand, or
Senator Hoar and Gen. ButlerP Mr..
Hoar is stated to have professed his
general agreement with the President
in the Southern policy, without approx
ing every act, and he certainly agrees
with him upon the financial question.
Upon two of the three most important
political questions Mr.. Hoar is, there
fore, really in accord with the profess
sions of the Democratic party of Massa-
chusetts. We presume that Senator
Hoar's Republicanism is satisfactory.
But the fact is certainly suggestive. No
one will accuse the President in the
financial part of his message of John
sonizing," or deserving his party. He
is, in fact, in no part of it more Repub-
lican.
Viewing the message, then, as the
paper of a Republican President, what
do we find to be his view of Republic
anism? Constitutional self-government
of States; resumption of specie pay
ments with gold standards; and re-
form of the methods of appointment
and of political dictation in the civil
service. Those are the three subjects
that are paramount in the message and
in the public mind. Could the Repub-
lican party, could any party, occupy
firmer ground? Even if dissensions
among Republicans as to methods and
details should rupture the party, a new
political organization would certainly
gather about those policies. No sane
man believes that the success of the
present Democratic party would secure
honest money or administrative reform
They are essentially Republican de
mands, and if they cannot be obtained
under that name, they will be sought
under another. The non-partisanshiT
of the Republican message is symbolica
| of the great relaxation of party spirit.
The chief ailment of that spirit has re.
Gently been the sectional hostility that
sprang from slavery and the war, care
fully stimulated by partisan appeals fol
the protection of the negro by force Of
arms. But there is an undeniable and
rapidly-growing Republican conviction
| that the military force not only cannot
and does not remedy the wrongs of the
negro, but that it has been used for the
selfish purposes of those who make the
wrongs of the negro cloak for theil
own advantage. Obviously the Repub-
lican party can never again be rallied
upon a platform, direct or indirect, OF
military control of any Southern State,
If that be so, can any platform be pro.
posed more truly adapted TO the time
and the public interest than that indi.
Gated in the messageP Grant that the
Administration does not itself consist
emily stand upon it. That may be re-
GREETED, but it does not affect the plat
form. Grant that civil-service reform
is much more radical and cOmprehen'
sive than the message suggests. Thai
may be true, but it does not touch the
point. The message takes ground upon
which every patriotic Republican car
securely stand. Should the President
himself be driven from it, and by any
sophistry should he be induced to sur
render what he regards as the Execu
tive right and duty of nomination, hi
view of that right and duty would still
remain unassailable, and his conviction
in regard to the evils of office-holdinG
political mastery would still be that o
a large and most intelligent body of Re
publicans. In any particular contes
the opposition may prevail, but TIM
will vindicate the wisdom and the ex
pediency of a platform of honest none!
and honest reform. Harper's Weekly