Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-27
THE DECAY OF TIE REPURLICAN
P4RTV

Inc present seems to be the period of
change in political parties. For several
years past the process of disintegration has
been going on in the ranks of the Republi-
can party, and it's dissolution is near at hand.
Since Grants last election the majorities in
the reliably Republican States have been
gradually diminishing, and in many of them
have wholly disappeared. In Maine, where
the party majority ranged from eighteen to
thirty thousand, there is now no majority at
all. In California there is majority of
twenty-five Thousand against the party. In
diana has taken her place in the galaxy of
Democratic States, while Massachusetts,
Wisconsin, Ohio and even Minnesota are
considered debatable ground. But three or
four of the States which in 1879 elected
Grant to the Presidential chair are now re-
garded as reliably Republican, and these are
by no means the most important in deter
mining national elections.
The causes that have contributed to the
decadenoe OF the party are many. No party
that has ever existed has had grander oppor-
tunities to make for itself proud record
on the pages of history, and no party has
ever more shamefully neglected and abused
its opportunities. Coming into power dur
ing time of great popular confusion and
patriotic impulse of the American people,
BY wise policy pursued at the close Of the
war it would have deserved the praise of the
whole nation and perpetuated it's name and
existence indefinitely. But the unwise and
arbitrary reconstruction policy and the
abuses that crept into the management of
the Southern States under carpet
bag rule alienated every State
IN that section from the party.
Instead of being the benefaotor of
the South, the Republican party became it's
oppressor. Not only did it's course in the
matter Of reconstruction ALLEVIATE the South,
but it also drove some of the best men in the
North into the ranks of the opposition.
The financial policy of the party has been
as bad and as ruinous as it could possibly be
made. To this policy We can trace nearly
all the ills from which the business public
have been suffering in the p.at. Il was con.
cocted and carried out in the interest or lilo
wealthy and to the detriment of the laboring
classes. Then the Offices have been filed
With class of unscrupulous, knav-
ish men, who have robbed and
plundered the people at their own
pleasure. Ring rule has held sway
in every department of the government, and
the taxes wrung from the people have been
consumed by a hungry horde of public plum
derers. Under the Republican party the
only purpose the people have been able to
serve has been to satisfy the rapacity of the
large army of Office holders who have fast
ened on the country.
All of these causes and many more have
contributed to the overthrow of the party.
No more corrupt organization has ever e1-
listed, and the people have begun to weary Of
it's long expressions and demand change.
This they must have, and they are turning
hopefully to the Democratic party as afford.
ing prospect Of release. By ueglectiog its
opportunities to do good the Republican
party has sealed its own fate. -a5'r @s, 49,.