National Republican., 1877-02-10
sATuRDAYiii,I,.l.i;.,,.!tlFEBRUARY 10, is7.

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sATuRDAY.,,u;,i,.;... 10, 1877.
PARTIzANsBIP THE DESTROYER OF RE-
PUBLICs.
The vicissitudes of free government have
never before offered 80 complete demon
stration of the real causes which lead to the
decay and downfall of republican nations
as that afforded by the present condition
of things in the United States. Aud this
Is 30 because there Is no other instance on
record In which the acts and opinions Of
the politicians have been brought out In
such strong contrast with the wishes and
sentiments Of the people.
Our people, having just emerged from
the convulsions of war, aud seeking
repose ffom the distractions Of further
tumult, directed by their appeals the
adoption of some means which should
peacefully determine the result Of the elec-
tlon, as between the two great and evenly
contending parties, by o fair and reasonable
constr action of the constitution framed for
their guidance. This course was demanded
by the general desire to close the contest
then raging In the barren fields OF assertion,
and to avoid all possible danger of hostile
collisions, which experience taught could
result only In distress and suffering 10
them, and violence to the organic law sup
porting the structure of their governm ent.
And such were the earnest and unceaslng
asseverations Of the people of their wish to
see justice meted out under the forms of
the Constitution and in pursuance of its
provisions, and Of their fears that anarchy
would other wise supervene through at.
tempts at an adjustment by means subver-
sive Of It, that Congress responded by the
creation of commission to carry out the
popular will, whose agency was confined
within the purvicw Of the con secrated in.
strument.
But when the impressive and solemn
trust imposed by the law came to be exer-
cised by those appointed to the duty, Its
execution disclosed disparity Of reason
and dissimilitude of judgment that startled
and dismayed the country. Not that there
was any longer cause Of fear from violence,
but because Of the now patent fact that
party, and not principle, would have con.
trolled the conflict had it once set in, and
the liberties Of the people would have been
at the mercy Of martial madness. Not be-
cause Of the danger In prospect, but of the
danger escaped The representatives Of
one party, blinded by zeal, or over.wrought
by considerations Of equity, real or imsg
ined, voted to cast down the bulwark Of
government, that the way might be clear
TO pursue and disperse the obstacles erected
by alleged fraud in their pathway to the
Presidency. In so far as their action could
effect such result, they declared in favor
of overruling and setting aside the Consti.
tuition upon mere allegations OF fraud, to
he proven, ir at all, by partisan testimony,
in utter disregard and contempt of the ex-
press Injunction of the people, who sought,
through the Intervention Of the Commis-
sion, to which they had committed the
sacred charge, to have Its ordinances invio-
lably maintained. And this was done
without accountable cause, without prece-
dent in all the realms Of constitutional
construction, but against the whole body
of precedents since the foundation of the
Government. 1t was likewise In violation
Of the Scriptural precept and all moral
msxims. 1t was the manifestation OF
willingness to root OFT the tares, without
reference 10 the destruction OF the wheat,
and apparently careless Of the conse.
quences to those who sowed the field.
Can any one suppose that single member
Of that Commission six months ago would
have held that there was power in Con-
gross, or any other branch Of the General
Government, to do the acts his vote would
now justifyH No. Nor would either Of
them affirm Of himself, that such would
have been his judgment then, or nop, had
the question been presented In the abstract,
unattended by any prospect Of practical
results to follow 1t. But 1t is not an evi.
dence Of corruptness. 1t is rather one of
sacrifice. It only shows, as we said yes
terday, that great crises change the hearts
and control the judgments OF men, imper.
ceptibly to themselves, In obedience to the
sympathies and impulses of association,
and uninfluenced by the convictions or
canonizations Of the past