The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-19

washington POSt.l
By far the most important result of the
great investigation thus far is that, for the
first time in twelve years. the radical party
has been thrown completely on the defen-
sive. 1t is not possible TO over estimate the
importance of this fact IN a general political
sense, while its bearing upon the future of
the investigation itself is of almost equal
moment Ever since the war The tactics of
the radical party have been those of the
highest-handed aggression, and its strategy
the most recklessly offensive. Never cover
ing base of operations and never falling
back, the radical party has pushed its way
through history by the sheer momentum of
its attacks. The strategy of Grants campaign
in the Wilde rness has been followed IN in
the politics of his party since the war, and
the present is the first real check that has
been imposed. Beginning with lis attack
upon Andrew Johnson, the radical parry has
maintained steady aggressive ever since.
NaiDly has the democratic or conservative
element of the country intrenehed itself be
hind the constitution, the laws and the doc
trlnes or retrenchment and economy for
whenever the issue has been Joined the radi-
Gals have concentrated their strength in
charges along the whole line, with the bloody
shirt for their banner and remember the
rebellion" for their battle cry, and by these
signs they have invariably conquered. Es-
sentially military party, both by organizs-
ton and by tradition, the radicals have
never regarded the constitution as anything
but fortlfcstion of the enemy 10 be mined
aud blown up by legislation or taken by ex-
ecutiye storm whenever it stood in the way
OF their designs: while the laws of the nation
and of states have been of no more conse-
quence in their eyes than so many outlying
rifle pits would have been to general in the
field
Year after year the radicals have moved to
the attack. and the democrats have fallen
back upon lines of defense No matter how
the campaign was planned, that has always
been the fate of il. But at last the radicals
reached the limit OF their offensive capacity.
Beaten in the campaign of 1875 in fair eom-
bat, they rallied all their energies for a des-
perate flank movement of fraud. and barely
succeeded. But the effort exhausted them
and now, when they are aSaied in turn,
they waver. AS il to demonstrate the te-
nacity of instinct, however, il is noteworthy
that even after the pass age of the Potter
resolution, and in the face of certain inveSti-
cation and exposure, the radicals made one
last effort to assume the offensive a. of old.
But the attempt was feeble and desultory.
They raised the ancient banner ar d shouted
the old war cries but the troops did not adj
vance as they used to. Then the sanguinary
gonfalon was fnrled the war cries hushed,
and, as we remarked at the outset, for the
first time in history the radical party took
up its line of retreat and began TO defend
itself as best il could. Its veterans are dead
or disabled, and its ranks have oeeT filled
with mercenaries like SchuIz and conscripts
like Key. The leaders who knew how to
organize victory are silent in private life or
suikiDg in their tents, and their places have
been taken by nondeScrIpt crew of ssnti-
malists psalm singers and sneak thieves,
who have neither the tact to com prehend
nor the courage ID coufront an emer-
gency. In this situation the remnants of
the radical party. once irresistible as the
hordes of Tamerlane are now QuakiDg and
dissolving under attack in way that is al
most pitiful. These facts are OF immense
Significance Apart from their political I'M
IOrtance as fOreSbadowing the final fall and
collapse of rsdIcalism. they convey an init
nation to the democratic managers of the
investigation that should not be ignored.
The radical party has been thrown into its
present state of rout and decentralization bv
the firmness, vigor and rapidity of the demo
cratic attack. Tactics which have already
produced such gratifying result should be
persevered in. Let the democrats stick TO
every point they have gained and push ahead
relentlessly. Let not the imputation of par
tisanship disturb the nerves of any de mo-
crat. Leniency to the persons implicattd in
the frauds under Investigation will be
blun6er, and mercy mistake. The country,
almost as one man, believes them guilty;
the popular prejudice is all to the advantage
of the prosecutors and no opportunity
should be given the defense either to rally or
to make good their retreat. We have gOt
the enemy at last on the run, and the bust
ness of the democrats now is to push things.