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


change in political parties. For several
years past the process of disintegration has
been going ON in the ranks of the Republic
can party, and its 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
four of the States which in 1872 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. .ss.
The causes that have contributed to the
decadence 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
excitement, it became the symbol of the
patriotic impulse of the American people.
By a wise policy pursued at the close of the
war it would have deserved the praise of the
whole nation and perpetuated its name and
existence indefinitely. But the unwise and
arbitrary reconstruction policy and the
abuses that orept into the management of
the Southern States under carpet
bag rule alienated every State
IN that section from the party.
Instead of being the benefactor of
the South, the Republican party became its
oppressor. Not only did its 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 past. 1t was con-
cocted and carried out in the interest of the
wealthy and to the detriment of the laboring
classes. Then the offices have been filled
with class of Inscriptions, 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 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 ex-
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 neglecting its
opportunities to do good the Republican
party has sealed its own fate. -f-1s
WHAT COY. ROBINSON H4S SAVED
NEW YORK.
Gov. Robinson's letter accepting renom-
ination at the bands of the Democrats of
New York is published. 1t is document
that ought to be carefully perused by every
one, for it presents in striking contrast the
advantages of Democratic over Republican
rule in that State, and especially the success
that has attended his efforts to effect re-
form in the State government. For many
years the canal system of New York has
been source of great expense to the people,
having amounted to $5,s42,75O in 1874,
nearly all of which was derived from direct
tax. Since Gov. Robinson assumed control
of affairs this expense has been reduced to
1908, 1000, all of which is now paid from the
revenue of the canals. The tolls are lower
than ever before, and the service is in every
way better than under the old and extrava-
CANT management. The State prisons have
also been placed on self-sustaining basis
instead of being source of expense as here
tofore, while the discipline of the institutions
is great improvement The State debt has
been decreased since the close of the war
from fifty one to eight millions of dollars,
and the small remainder will no doubt be
extinsnished within the next two years if the
present administration continues in power
These resultsare highly complimentary to
the present administration. The officials
have performed their duty honestly and in
diligently. They have changed the old Gus
tom of general inefficiency and neglect, and
have brought to the management of the af-
fairs of the State little of that good judg-
ment and integrity that characterizes bust
ness men in the transaction Of their own af-
fairs. The debt contracting policy has
given place to the debt.paying policy, and
as consequence the taxes have been re-
duced and the people are more prosperous
and centented than ever before.
In commenting on the facts We have
epitomized above Gov. Robinson says:
! It concerns the people to know that those
who have carried on these reforms and achieved
| these results have been true and faithful to
! their trusts where others had betrayed them
by gross negligence and unfaithfulness. And
the question now submitted to the voters of
the State is whether they will have continu-
ance of the reform policy or whether they will
abandon it for the profuse and corrupt expen~
diture of former times, with their inevitable
attendant of increased and burdensome taxa.
ton. I have myself no doubt Of their de-
cision. The great mass of our people desire
good government and economical administra-
ton. They are not deceived by the sophistry
of the dishonest or the clamoring denuncia-
lions of the disappointed- They mean that
this reform shall go on, that our State govern
ment shall continue pure, and that the. rotten.
ness of municipal administration which now
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