The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-06-08
REPUBLICANISM IN 1880 AND 1880.
ST. Louis Republican

When, twenty years ago, the Republican
party nominated its first successful presi-
Dental candidate, it was party Of princi-
Piles, not OF mere persons Lincoln, Sew
ard and other competitors for the prize had
their respective friends who worked vigor
ously for them; but inside as well as out
side the convention all Republicans felt
that the political ideas of the organization
were OF infinitely more Importance than the
CLAIMS Of any individual, however eminent,
however popular These ideas came first;
the men long way behind them. Rather
than sacrifice jot or title of Republican
principle, or leave the smallest doubt In
the public mind concerning it, the Chicago
convention of 1860 would have thrown
Lincoln, Seward and their companions
overheard and drawn a candidate from the
depths OF obscurity Whatever else may
be said of the Republicanism OF that day,
it cannot be charged with a lack of firmly
held and clearly defined opinions on sub
lects of national interests and importance.
In the same city the same party opened
its convention yesterday. For many months
past the Republican clans have been pre-
pairing for the decisive struggle. The air
has been full OF the sounds OF preliminary
battle. There has been fighting all along
the family line. The rumble of the ma
chine has been echoed by the yells and
groans of the wrathful groans of that mod
ern Juggernaut The crack of the leaders
last has brought kicks and curses from in
dignant followers. Between the contend
ing factions there has been war to the
knife, and knife to the hilt," and wounds
have been given and received which
no partisan medicament can ever
heal. Yet, amid all this clamor
and strife, all this elimination and re-
elimination, all this desperate denagog-
uery on the one side and fierce antagonism
on the otber-not a single word had been
said about the principles at stake. Neither
before the convention nor in 1t has there
been the slightest alIusion to the funda-
mental ideas which are supposed to be the
cohesive element, the very life, of every
party. The question has been and still is,
an altogether personal one. IDEAS and
principles have been thrust out of sight
and out OF mind to make room for the can
didate. He is everything; all the rest is
nothing. Grant and ant.Grant, have been
the two gods Of the Republican ecumenical
council; worsnipped in Central African
fashion, with beating Of tomtoms, swinging
OF clubs, acd prodigious bowling. What
creeds the rival deities represent nobody
knows and nObody cares
So the party which owes its origin and
earliest success TO ideas and principles
making everything subservient to them, has
practically repudiated them altogether in
Sailing in their place man who may do
What he pleases SO long as he keeps the
party in power "To this complexion has
it come at last" In the republicanism Of
1880 no trail or trace of the republicanism
of 1850 can be found. II has disappeared
as utterly as lump Of lead dropped in mid
ocean. The man power has swallowed it,
and on the altar Of that power have been
sacrificed honor, honesty, consistency and
decency; all that makes a party respecta-
bic, all that lends it strength, all that gives
il the right to live.