National Republican., 1878-07-20

'oO'-stOOi VI pOWcr-llu tnis snNicr Nu'h
the bone is withheld The effect Of all this
is that DANA, having sotvn to the storm,
is reapng Of the whirlwind, stands pre-
emncntly the object of almost universal
contempt aud hate. His crop is bountiful,
and his garner Is more richly stored with
the fruits of his sowing than that of any
mnn Of equal prominence in the country.
This is legitimate, for the reason that hav-
ing utterly deserted principle he has degen-
ernted TO mere political guerrilla, whose
hand is against every man, and hence every
mans hand Is against him in return. This
is the fate Of mere personal politics, where
principle is ignored and hate bears sway in
political action, and that party which nurses
this influence within its organization will,
sooner or later, disintegrate and pass into
decay.
Ifpcrsonal politics was confined to DANA,
Il would not be Of sufficient consequence to
excite attention or remark, but he is type
OF class of politicians that are Nesting too
numerously within the Republican party.
Almost every prominent man in the party
has his ardent hatcrs, and this feeling seems
to he the prorelling power to action.
This must be changed, and wiser and
more propitious era must ensue, or the
Republican party will hang its harp upon
the willows and chant its own funeral dirge
by the dark waters of discomfort and dsso-
luton. The only cohesive power in politics
that guarantees success is devotion to the
great principles which are inscribed upon
its banner. BY this sign-and by this alone
1t conquers. Personal ambition, personal
| hates, personal attachments, personal ends,
must all be laid upon the altar of the ma
tons welfare to secure and hold power,
The campaigns which twice elected LINCOLN
and GRANT were campaigns Of principle
and hence the battle was strong and the
triumph certain. Personal politics began to
crop out strongly in GRAMS second cicc-
tion, but, fortunately for the success of the
Republican cause, its element sloughed of
and driited into the ranks of the enemy
thus losing much of its power for mischief
and rendering Republican success NOR,
certain. When the party met at Cincinnati
in lS76 To select its stsndari-bearcr for the
opening campaign, personal politics ruled the
hour. Tho contest for mastery was very
strong, until II surrendered to the nomina
tion OF Mr.. HAYES, and the delegates re
turned home greatly elated over the dcica
OF all the rival factions and the nomination
of a candidate who had been but faintl.
considered outside his own State. Persona
politics were chained for the hour in whicl
the party was engaged with tho common
enemy, and Mr.. HAYES was declared e!cctet
by majority of one. This close poltica
shave should have admonished the Rcpub
lican party that it has no political estat
left upon which 1t can safely riot in persona
differences and difficulties; but il has no
proven very tractabo or wise scholar
The present Administration has no
been entirely exempt from persona
politics in working the machiner.
of Government. 1t has not bee
without its personal revenges, an
this naturally begcts alterations an
arrangements within the party which CAV
it power to act We arc now drifting j
this shape, and unless happier currents j
the political sea are found for its navigation
the old ship, crowned with the victories {
seventeen years, has fought its last success
hIl battle. The only hope is in the prospeC
that the people may take charge and guid
the Republican party to safe harbor i
1880, leaving personal politics to those VIII
prefer it to the great principles of politics
economy and right.