New-York tribune., 1877-08-11
advocates of single standard viii object
TIE MINE RESOLUTIONS.

TIE MINE RESOLUTIONS
The differences i'm the Republican ranks, u
j. we'll to remark. are with reference to mere
! obstract;ons. and do not touch any vital pehd-
ing question in politics. They regard what mas
been done already and cannot he undone,
and are simply differences OF opinion as 10
whether the things done were Wise ana VIII
rebound to the country's welfare, or were weak
and impoitic, and sure to end IN disaster
Our Democratic friends built their hopes 10"
high and on too weak n foundation When
they locked forward to breach III the hc-
publican party upon the abstract question
whether the Administration was Wise OF uh-
wise in taking the step III Southern al
fairs which cannot be retraced. There may
he Republicans who lament IL as MIS-
take. and who can hardly reconcile them
selves to it: and there have been, no doubt,
angry discussions and fierce denunciations of
the Presidents policy among Republicans of
prominence and influence. But what of all
thatl 1t by 10 means follows that tho disaf-
fectcd have any intention of breaking away
from their old political associates, or OF divid-
ing the party. Because, when we come 10
consider the position of affairs seriously, there
really remains no practical question upon
which division could be had. The act, the
wisdom Of which is in dispute, itself settled
the question it raised. 1t is not pretended
that the Administration can, under any pre-
text whatever, restore Packard and Chamber
lain, or reestablish by military force the Re
publican State Governments and Legislatures.
The only question that can be raised about IL
is on abstraction; opposition can take TO prac-
teal FORM offer no remedy for what 1t con
siders wrong; it must either yield gracefully
or b, content to sulk and wait Its opportunity
to SAY " / told you So"
The gentlemen who in the Maine Rcpupllcah
Convention on Thursday insisted with great
I earnestness and elOquence that the kepuoncans
of Maino should distinctly indorSe the ADMIN
istration and subscribe their approval ot us
| nolcv. were not vt odds upon any practicai
| issne with those who, on the other hand'
urged the passage Of resolution strongly
scuintinc at disapproval of the Presidents pol
lev: the difference is purely one OF senti-
uent Senator Blaine uncovered the whole
situation. and disclosed the impractlcablity
of the dispute and the usclcssness OF the
discussion, when he reminded the Convention
that. whatever might be said or done there, the
"experiment,n if such il is, will proceed. How
ever tho Republicans of Maine or any other
State nav feel about it, there is nothing for
them now but to wait the result III patience
and in hope. Those who are implacabe and
will not listen to reason may, II 1t gives theil
any comfort, suk away their discomfort.
They can do no more, for there's nothing Tor
them to fight. Just at this time, indeed, there
is no opportunity for them to influence hatIonai
legislation. or let their hostility crystalline IL
I -. -. ff,.rtfr .gQ
| They can only grumble thelr dissatisfaction, ana
that does not pay. The Maine Republicans
under the advice and leadership OF Senator
! Blaine, adopted this view of affairs, anu Nhiie
refusing to indorse unquaiedly the poiiey ana
/ acts of the Administration, wisely reirained
! from giving expression to any feeling OF doubt
or disapproyal, or pronomcing anything that
might seem like ccnsure. They have done, III
| short. what THE TRIBUNE forecast as their
probable action the day before the meeting OF
the Convention and the opponents OF the Adj
ministfation, who were expecting stormy time
and split in the party, have been disappointed.
Meantime events are taking such shape in
the South as TO make it quite possible that be-
fore the election of a new Congress what Is
called the Southern question, at least IN lts
present features, will be removed from the
field of national politics. The separate states
of the solid South, now that they have entered
the ENJOYMENT of Home Rule and tho delights
of nobslructed aud unopposcd Democratic
government, find themselves confronted by a
question which tho Democratic party has
never vet met without dividing upon it. 1t
is the question whether they will pay their
debts or cheat their creditors. 1t always con-
fuses the party to come upon direct issue OF
that character. About nine ont of ten of its
leaders and statesmen are saturated with the
dclusion that the average citizen is more dis
honest than honest, and always ready to take
any advantage by which he can save or make
a dollar. And so they set to work rettifogSing
and schcming to dodge the debt ana cheat the
creditor, and win the popular vote. This Is
their present work in Virginia, Georgia and one
on two other Southern States. Shall we pay :"
is the question that viii break M the solid
South. The Democratic party cannot meet 1t
squarely and honestly, for it never has, and
there are surely honest men enough in Che
South to establish u party. When that is done
the Southern question, which seems now TO so
disturb some Republican leaders, Will disap-
pear. --