Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-04-19
A Party Cry.

J ~
WE speak elsewhere of an agitation
of the Presidents trial as a disturbance
that may possibly be expected should
the Democrats obtain complete control
of the Government. Many Democrats
and they are the best men in the
party--would undoubtedly deprecate
IL; others, the more uncertain members,
would show all the zeal of proselytes.
Mr. Bayard and those whom he repre-
sents would unquestionably discounte-
nance all movements tending to keep
the country angry and vexed over
settled question, while Mr.. Montgome-
ry Blair and the malignants might be
expected to be very earnest and per-
sistent in fostering such an excitement.
The probability of the effort, however,
does not depend upon its wisdom. The
country needs, above all things, conf
dence and repose to. enable industry to
resume its activity, and enterprise to
begin its undertakings. But this would
be the last consideration with this kind
of agitator. Indeed, Mr.. Blair is re-
ported to have said that the rcopening
of the question is the very thing to re-
vive industry and secure prosperity,
provided the President were turned out,
although nothing is more apparent than
that there is not the slightest popular
interest in the question, and that it is
kept alive at all only as a party cry.
We do not mean that there is no in
| terest in the question of avoiding re-
currepce of the conditions that led to
the situation of Past year. There is, in
deed, no deeper and stronger desire up
on the part of the best men of all parties
than that there shall be iudcious con-
stitutional amendment which will re-
place the present perilous, because in
determinate, electoral provision. What
we do mean is that there is no general
conviction that Mr.. Tilden was honest
! ly elected, for while there may be little
doubt that there were Republican
frauds, there is very positive conviction
that there was Democratic violence,
and that therefore there is and can be no
better and wiser solution of the difficult
ty than that which was provided by the
Electoral Commission. This is undOubt-
edly the conclusion of fair men upon
both sides, and they have no wish to
reopen the controversy. This cOnclu-
sion is the more acceptable to such
they see that the President has pursued
in many respects the course which they
believe to be constitutional, and which
they had not anticipated from any but
Democratic President. And to the
same kind of men on the Republican
side, because the Presidents course in
such matters seems to them to have
been not only the sole practicable course
but one which was in itself the policy
of true constitutional craftsmanship
Undoubtedly the intelligent and patri
otic Judgment of the country is strong
ly opposed to further agitation of thu
subject.
But the country knows the force o
party spirit. 1t is the settled policy o
the Democratic party, as shown il
every State Convention of the last year
, to denounce what is called the fraud
and to declare that Mr.. Tilden wa
: rightfully elected. Many who join il
the denunciation mean nothing NOR
than to use it as cry for 1880. Blu
tenacious insistence that if Mr.. Tildel
? was rightfully elected there is Lawful
way of giving practical effect to tn
, election can be made to result in action
, as the course of the Blair resolution il
, the Maryland Legislature shows, ant
those who vociferously reiterate tn
| party cry that the President has n
, right to his seat will hardly make a yer
: forcible resistance to the party deman
that he be legally ousted. Unless
! therefore, there be some sign of efficien
= Democratic determination that the agi
3 tation shall not be renewed, it is nc
| unreasonable to suppose that the Demo
| Gratis who wish no disturbance are ye
t disposed to leave all activity in tn
r matter to Mr.. Blair and his abettor
: until party momentum may aris
p which the wiser Democrats certainl
cannot command. This of itself woul
I naturally draw the true Republican lin
4 closer together, although the nor
| furious Republican opponents of tn
p Administration would doubtless pla
r into the hands of the disorganizin
r Democrats. From the point of view {
patriotism and principle there is notl
D ing more dishonorable and contempt
I BILE than the proposition to reopen tn
t agitation, while as party g business"
. is the chief of blunders. Nothing woul
- so surely reknit the fibers of the RepuI
n lican party as the conviction that
: serious effort would be made to unse;
; the President. -Harper'S Weekly.