The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-10
AFTER THE STRUGGLE.

The great struggle for political supremacy
in the United States between the two great
parties is over. The Democratic party has
exhausted the efforts Of political strategy to
combine elements of strength sufficient for a
successful issue, and has lost. The South
staked its last TO create solidarity, and that
solidarity has proved its most vulnerable
weakness; and after twelve years of %ineffect-
ual struggle, in which the Democratic party
was once we'll nigh successful, it again lies
PROSTATE, and whether it is not destroyed is
only a question.
1t was necessary for the destruction of the
sectional issue that one of the two parties
should overwhelmingly control the power of
the government, and thereby render further
resistance on the old lines impossible, and
it is fortunate that this decisive victory has
followed the creation Of this very sectional
issue. 1t is fortunate because no party will
dare again to go before the country with q
solid South behind it, and with the solid
| South will 90 the solid North, and the
| sectional issue will disappear IS the great
| distinctive factor Of American politics.
IF the expressions Of Southern newspapers
is d true reflection OF Southern public opin-
ion, the Southern people are inclined ID take
this same view Of the Democratic defeat,
and are ready to enter upon . path il ac-
cordance with the logic 81 their economic
and commercial necessities, and will devote
lis political energies to the development Of
its l~itnitless resources, and it will even accept
the assistance Of the Republican party Tathar
than to be further misled by the lgnis Jntuus
OF Democratic supremacy, which even it
maintained, could only be by its snbseFviency
to Northern ideas and policy, and between
Northern policy as represented by the Re
publican party, and the same as represented
by the Democratic party, the South has but
TO little choose.
Leave out the sectional issue aud there
is no great line OF division between the two
great parties. On the tariff and on the qles-
tions affecting the fnHnces, the division is
between the commercial and manufacturing
interests Of the sea-bound States and the
agricultural interests Of the Mississippi States,
divisions upon which the North and South
are equally interested. La the East there is 8
social tendency toward exclusion, and 9
an unrecognized, but powerful and irrespon-
sible oligaTchy id the West the tendency IS
for ! broader democracy and q fuller popu-
lar influence upon the government Of the ma
preston Of either party is divided according
to the differing interests Of the two sections.
And il is upon these broad lines, With the
thousand smaller issues that flow from each,
that the politics of the nation will eventually
be divided-and they will be thus divided as
soon as the issue between the North and
South shall disappear.
The policy of the Republican party has
been dictated in toe past by the Eastern or
oligarchic faction, and this has been its great
est weakness, one which would have before
| now destroyed it if its existence had not been
] rendered necessary by the greater evil Of q
hostile South. Can the Republican party
ia this day Of magnificent triumph discard
its incubus and represent again the popular
tendency and sympathy as il did n its first
and most glorious days? &c il can il will
maintain it, power for al indefnite period.
| If no. il will 90 the way 81 ali things useless
and destructive
Can the Democratic party throw aside its
| old-tima and Worn-out traditions and enter
into the spirit Of popular necessities and the
~sympathies Of tie great producing classes
Of the country ? If ii can there will yet be.
room and 4 time for II, but IL II can not It
| will remain the nonentify i Is to-day.
BIT the teachings Of time have shown that
Old psrties, like old people, seldom inbibe
new Ideas, and we believe the natural re-
suit Of the a~isin'egration Of the South as q
solid political factor will be the obstruction Of
both parties, or their thorough reformation
Oh new bases.