New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-02
4 CtRpEEBAG EXODUS.

| 1t is reported that certain Senators and
thirteen Representatives, of the variety called
carpct-baggers, have signed an agreement to
withdraw from the Republican party. Inc
news is too good to be true. They promise to
| give the Democratic party control OF both
houses of Congress, but, if even that advan-
tage could be gained, it would be purchased
too dearly by utilization with these persons
| The Republican party has been carrying them
| long enough to know what they cost. II they,
and their respected leader, Mr.. Butler. WISH 10
do that party the greatest service in their
| mower. we trust they will stand not upon
90 the order of their going, but go at once"
That they do not mean to do the Republican
party this favor, and will not go at all II they
can help it, we are fully convinced
The fact is, that the Republican party has
been running a political poorhouse quite too
long. The one fatal defect of its policy since
the war has been that it gave opportunity for
adventurcrs, who were utterly without stand
ing or consideration in any Northern commu-
nitv, and who if not propped up by United
States bayonets could not have been elected
to any Office by colored men of the South, to
fasten themselves upon the party and the
country as the representative Republicans of
reconstructed CidttS. NOOu hhth 40 VIII 40
bad men have gone from the North to take
part in Southern politics. But it is an unhappy
consequence OF the peculiar influence which
worthless men attained under Grants Ad-
ministraton that the most worthless OF all
the generation of carpet-baggcrs seemed to
have in the fullest degree, the sympathy ana
support of that Administration, were enabled
TO select officials who would serve them, were
thus recommended to the Republican voters
Of the South as the men of all others who
were trusted at Washington by official leaders
of the party, and secured Il controlling posi-
ton in the party at home by means OF this
Influence. We all know how decent men have
been repealed by this prominence OF I'M
scrupuous persons. All other plumbers put
together have not cost the Republican party
ms many votes as the single fact that 1t was
represented and controlled in reconstructed
States by unworthy men.
TO get rid of this incubus has been the one
thingncedful. Unhappily, it has also been of all
things the most difficult. For these schemers
have been cunning to represent that their
cause was the cause OF the cOlOred people
they have made many Northern men believe
that all opposition to them was hostility to
Republican principles and TO cOlored suffrage;
they have iiched for themselves whatever SYM
pathy the loyal people had for the wards OF
| the nation;'' and they have not been re-
strained by gratitude, conscience, deccncy, or
humanity from fomcntng bloody strife between
whites and blacks at the South whenever it suited
them to revive Northern memories of the war
These men have made the Southern problem
a hard one. Months ago we said that the Re
publican party could solve that problem only
by dropping the carpet-bag politicians who
have disgraced that party b. managing it at
the South. But to this day they have stuck
tighter than leeches. It las been impossible
to drop them, or to shake them OF, or to get
rid OF them on any terms.
| If this set of corrupt poll tcians will trans
| fer themselves to the Democratic party they
will render the country great service. Next
| to the advantage OF gaining men who
| strengthen party is the advantage Of losing
men who weaken it. As their unwholesOme
| influence has made more powerful every bad
element in the Republican party, so they are
| certain, if they go to the Democrats at all, TO
| contribute all their own INSCRIPTIONS reckless
| ness to It's most dangerous elements. Thereby
| the more decent and patriotic Democrats will
| be repealed, even as they will be drawn to the
| Republican party by the expulsion OF itS most
| odjous men, A real reconstruction of parties
| bringing together the best and worthlcst
| men of both political organizations, would be
| the natural result if the remnant of carpet
| bag plunderers would be good enough to
| transfer themselves to the Democratic camp.
| But the news is too good to be true. The
| scamps know that Democracy would only use
| them for day, and then drop them forever.
| They know that they have made themselves
| offensive in the last degree to the property
owning and substantial citizens of the South.
They do not like the liberal policy of Presi-
dent HAYES, but it is not possible for them to
be ostracized more completely than they would
| be within year after alliance with Demo-
Gratis. They thirst for revenge, but they hunger
| for the neshp0tS. Reform is Il bitter word to
| them. But they can tuIn refOrmcrs, and pre-
| tend to be Jealous adhercnts of the new policy,
| and hope even yet to get some place and retain
some influence. The danger is not that they
will go, but that they will stay. The Admin
istration would gain many supporters, not only
| from substantial citizens at the South, but from
the independent class at the North, for every
vote it may lose by departure of political
paupers. But the danger is that the paupers
will not secede from the pOOrhOuse as long
| there is the fantest possibility OF NlctGals.
| --------------------
| A RELLIGERENT NON-RfSLSTANT
| Mr. William IlOyd Garrison has written TO