The New York herald., 1879-12-14
THE REPUBLICAN PERIL AND HOPE.
Mr. A. K. Mcclure. the editor of the Philadelphia
| Times. in Q letter from Washington. says:-

Mr.. A. K. Mcclure. the editor of the Philadelphia
Times. in letter from Washington. says:-
The one chief hope and at the same time one of
the gravest peris OF republcansm is in the entire
dependence OF the party upon the inhrinies OF the
democrats for its issues in 1896 and il. contrary to
all the records OF the last quarter OF century. wis
dom s9ouid happen to rule the deliberations or the
democrats. republican defeat would be inevitable.
This frail position OF the once heroic republican
party is painfully manifest here. where it's grandest
intellects should be grand in honest republican
progress; but where they? / looked them
in the Senate to-day and it was sad picture. The
hard lines OF disappointment and unrest mark
their faces; ambition quickens the cunning of the
eye and halts the manliness of speech and great
Senators skulk to their like weled spaniels
when the courage and patriotism of the republican
leaders Of Lincoln's time called for. He who
most cleverly hurl his invective and most success
fully Hing his taunts at the impetuous Southerner,
Is the republican statesman OF to-day, and the
Southerner who can most calmly endure insult is
the most trusted lea 5er of the majority This is the
statesmanship that is charged with the destiny Of
nearly Atty millions of tree people. and it may be
searched in vain through both temples for an inspra
ton that scars above the possession OF the
ernment to part its spoils. What the republican
issues for 1880 shall be will depend wholly upon
the wisdom folly the democracy, and until the
democrats shall have declared their policy the
publicans will be IN ignorance of what they must
believe and defend in the coming Presidential battle.
Republican trust is therefore, predcated entirely
the certainty of democratic mistakes. Judging by
the past it would seem to be reasonably safe re-
lance; but what pitiable attitude does great
party present that has written the most illustrous
annals Of the nation and now has hope Of popu-
lar commence save in the assumed greater weak
nesses wrongs Of its adversary? If wisdom
should at last guide the deliberations of the demo-
Gratis and the Confederate brigadiers should
be silent when Conking sneers and Blaine
tsunts. in what hopeless emptiness the stall
warts would find themselves when time is called
for 1880! The stalwarts nothing IL not
tempestuous, and one side cannot make tempest
ITSELF II sectional strife shall not be rekindled in
Congressional debate and no sectional issue shall be
famed into flame by Congressional fools or dema-
gogues the stalwart cause will have appeal to
carry to the country and republicansm must either
reform its lines the issues Of craftsmanship 1t
must suffer disastrous defeat. In that case there
OF the republican leaders. They would be COM
PEELED either to take Grant and Cancellation Sher
man and the retirement of the greenbacks, for
Blaine would be dstanced in the when stalwart-
ism capituates. Such is the attitude aud such the
perils OF republicanism. With two great parties
ready to accept any faith to win the Presidential
battle the accident Of day make either master. and
repubcanism is simply waiting for the lottery to
III