National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-04-10


reason Of those acts Of ingratitude aud cruelty
Just mentioned, we have the double right Of
retaliation-of giving them taste Of their
own physic-and by doing so we will not only
weaken our enemy, but will add strength aud
harmony to our party. 1t will bring back to
us those who have fallen away because of our
ingrattude and want of recognition Of their
former services IL will unto all factions, i'm
pregnato anew with the fire Of enthusiasm MI
those lukowarm friends upon whom tho cold
winds of conservatism have been blowing, and
especially will it kindle aud encourage the Re-
publicans of the South, for in that section
there are the most Democrats holding Govern
ment office.
This is good preaching and sound polit'
ical doctrine, aud were it reduced to prac-
tice in the Treasury Department there
would be places for cxpectant, deserving
and needy Republicans, while numbers of
Democrats who have almost defed Repub-
lican authority in the Departments under
the potency of their Democratic influence,
would be meelly seeking their pay and
provender elsewhere. But we fear that this
seed falls upon stony places where it willnot
(ructify and bring forth fruit. The picture
presented by the World which paints Secre-
tary SHERMAN in the imagination rs issu-
ing, ain most solemn and public manner,
"a general order requiring all principal
officers controlling patronage TO Mt once,
" or as soon as 1t can be done without certain
dctriment and loss to the public service,
remove Democratic office holders, calling
upon them to appoint, or submit for
~ fnf lOVnl
and stalwart Repu blcaus in their places,
is unctious to the Republican hope, but we
fear it will prove like the fruit of the Dead
Sea, ashes on the expectant Republican lip.
When the preaching of the World is reduced
to practice by the Secretary of the Treasury
many Republican heart will leap with
joy. This, however, is no new thing
Democrats have been long time in Office
under n Republican Administration, and
the power that keeps them there turns n
deaf ear to protest and entreaty which seek
reform of the practice. They are con-
tinued in place, much to the disgust of Re-
publicans, aud to the detrimeut of the
party. The fruits of a Republican victory
belong to the members of the party
which wins it, all things else being equal
Under the rule and policy of our opponents
every official position in the country relat-
ing to the National Administration belon s.
to and should be enjoyed by Republicans
but they are not There is scarcely Custom
House, an Internal Revenue office, judicial
office, or o Postoffice south of MASON and
| hnI ic fn1 wit III
Democrats 10 some extent. This fact has dis
gusted and disheartened and brought par
alysis upon the Republican party through
out the South. This condition of thing
exists in our District Government, whicl
hangs upon Executive favor for its politica
character. The Democrats have more 20
sitions than the Republicans in the gov
eminent of the District of Columbia, Will,
every one knows from experience that wer,
the case reversed by having a Democrat,
President in the Executive Mansion, not ;
Republican would be found in position un
less he practiced deceit and disguised
himself in Democratic uniform. The party
in power is entitled TO the patronage ant
benefits that relate to that power That
good politics, while the reverse i
bad policy for the maintenance o
party strength. A party which give
away its patronage to its opponents is lik
the army which surrenders share of it
ammunition to the enemy in the midst o
an engagement. 1t is TO be hoped, there
fore, that Secretary SHERMAN and thu
other Executive officers of the Government
may be led TO reduce the preaching of tn,
World to practice all through the admins
tration, though late in the day.