The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-02
Periis OF the Republican Party.

tttIttfV OtJoit Std " 'i"'N-
Periis OF the Republican Party.
An informal caucus OF the Republican Sem
Rtors at Washington, called to consider the
political situation, and to discuss the rela-
tlons of the party TO the Fraudulent Prcsi-
dent. ended without reaching any practical
result. Mr.. CoNKLING and others whose
counsel is usually sought on such occa-
sions, were absent, but whether by design
or by accident does not appear. While the
sentiment OF the great body Of the party
in Congress, IA in the country, is positively
hostile to the Administration, and has no
confidence In the men who compose il, there
is timid element which lacks the courage
for heroic treatment, and halts about taking
the only stop that can save the Republican
organization froid impending downfall.
Inside Of twelve months the Republican
party may be said to have disappeared In
all the Southern States. The few members
Of Congress who were elected as Repub-
leans two years ago are doomed to defeat
this fall. with perhaps rare exception, to
make the rule Of exclusion more visible
The South will be soldly Democratic. and
cast one hundred and thrty-eight votes at
the next Presidential election. and will be
represented in the House Of Representatives
Of the Forty-sixth Congress by nearly II not
completely, an unbroken Democratic
column.
This is the achievement of Mr. HAYES and
his policy in one year. And while he has
thus solidiiicd the Democracy in the South,
SO that both the section and the party are
stronger more compact, and more united
than at any former period OF our history,
not excepting the most marked period of
pro-slavcry domination, when large Union
minority existed, he has also succeeded i'm
weakening the Republican party in the
North by internal disscnsion and distrust.
So long as the Administration Is tolerated
and allowed to stand by passive acquics-
cencc as the exponent OF Republican ideas
and principles, tens OF thousands who for
long years made sacrifices for both. and
held up the flag in the face Of all perls will
refuse to accept the treachery, or to kiss the
rod that has smittcn the party as with
palsy. Many thousands have driftod away
already from disgust and Indifference.
Other thousands are fusing into new forms.
Everywhere the organization is feeble and
lettering from the want Of vigorous tone
and unity, partly caused hy the infusion Of
iiA fNlFil tlNi lil' Nl4''ttl titfUinflA hN'fl
10 plant the seeds Of dis,url, but mostly
because the Republican leaders at Washing
ton have failed to draw tine iaa broadly he-
twccna false and weak Administration and
the party which il has betrayed
One hundred and cshty-iiyc electoral
votes are necessary t. elect tine next Prcsi-
dent. The Democracy Will ou'cr the con-
test with a certain uuli of one hun
drcd and thirty-eight from the South.
They will therefore oui. llcl forty-scvcn to
insure success. They n.V have control of
the State Government .'Yucc,.cut. New
York, Now Jersey, Ohio. .l..n, and Cali
fornia, which togethcrc 3D. double the
necessary number toc.'.. .. added fhe
solid South. Then they h.ia urge maioy-
ity in Pennsylvania over the Republican
candidate for STATE Treasurer last fall
These facts are stern and tuil of admuni-
tiun. They demonstrate that, under the
most favorable conditions, the Republicans
must poll u full vote t. elect thr next Prosi-
dent; and that vote must come from the
North exclusively.
In presence Of this demonstration, arc the
leaders willing to allow the present dis
organizing process to go ON; IL they are,
the contest of 1850, if there is to be- one at
all, had better be abandoned in 1873 by Il
general surrender Hesitation now to throw
off the incubus which wei chs down the Re-
publican party, and to discard boldly and
rcsolutcly the Fraudulent President, will in
cvitably bring defeat two Years hence, no
matter who may be brought forward rs the
candidate. courageous policy, such as
was pursued by Mr.. CuNhLINn in this State
at the Rochester ConNcnl iou, will rouse The
party from it's seeming lcthargy, recall
those who have wandered or and become
lukcwarm, and, like a buglc blast summon
the old guard for action.
Compromise with the Fraud will not be
considered, except by the cravcns, who al
ways magnify the dangers to follow dccis-
i've dealing, and never trust to the 'nobcr
instincts which attract the masses 10 brave
actions. The Republican leaders at Wash
ingtOn who are expected to point out the
way to their followers and TO make the is
sue squarely, have II mighty rcsponsibility
TO confront If they shrink from the duty
imposed ON them, they will deserve the
crushing defeat which may be surely pre-
dicted. Ii they abandon Mr.. HOWE, after
having counscllcd his courageous stand, or
fail to carry forward the standard which he
raised, the cpitaph Of the party may be
written. The opportunity will not recur.
The End of the Mexican Plot.
EtsaV .fi,. 4 IA, ..t.I a..