The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-06-01


peace, in order to save the spoils, it woult
disgust the great independent element Of the
party, which would prefer to go with the
Democrats than with party which no mat
ter how it would arrange a peace cannot de
it without stultifying both factions and bring
ing the whole into just contempt. The
whole matter hinges on the strength of the
liberal independent element, which is what
the administration is relying upon,
and which thus far has shown is the great
mass Of the people Of the North, and possi-
bly, large minority of the South. This war
has been going on beneath the surface for
years, and it has long been only question Of
| time when it would assume an active, open
| phase-a time which has now arrived
Precisely the same influences have been at
work IN the Democratic party, and the divi-
sion within it is as hopeless, If it is not so ap-
parent, as that which divides the RepuDli-
cans. Hancock was q mere figure head, and
would have proved as much, had he been
elected, FOR the differences and natural mis-
trust Of the Northern and Southern elements
Of the party and the Eastern and Western
elements, are such that one faction or the
other would have controlled the administra-
ton and the organization, and the fight for
the control would have assumed al intensity
even greater than what We are now witness
ing in the Republican ranks. The spoils
xrvbi In; Ioo 4o rfI,o
a party's hold on the Government when that
party is harmonious, and has no conflicting
elements within itself, is equally a source of
weakness when there is division, for while
in the one case it will encourage unity by
even distribution Of emoluments, in the
other it encourages boiling and desire to Sc
cure the advantage to one section, especially
where that division is sectional, as is the
case with the two great parties to-day.
There is one party in the United States,
which has no past, and is identified with
none of the diarupting forces which caused
the civil war or were engendered by the
struggle That party, though fulfilling the
aspirations Of The great mass Of the voters of
both parties in the Northern and Southern
States of the Mississippi valley, has not
proven sufficiently strong to induce disin-
tegratioa Of either Of the old organizations,
although tendency to disintegrate in both
has been strong, and several times has been
imminent. In the St. Louis convention, in
rs, it was with the greatest difficulty that
this difference was healed so far as to admit
a strong canvass, and the success Of that
canvass was nullifed by the action Of the
Southern Democrats after Tilden's famous
letter had caused them to prefer Republican
to Democratic success, and who afterwards |
sold him out completely for the price of local |
option in South Carolina and Louisiana.
That the Democratic party is united now is
owing to its negative character-a character
which would disappear at once should the
events Of the coming three years place it is
power, and we should witness the same ele-
nents at work which have disrupted the Re-.
publican party.
If the disruption Of the Republican party
becomes as complete and irreparable as now
appears possible, it will become apparent at
once to the independent element Of that party
hat If power or Office is to be secured, it
must be with alliance with this new and pop
liar element, and when this once becomes ap-
parent, the scramble to get out Of the one and
nto the other will be as rapid and completeI
s from the old Whig into the Republican
,arty in the years Of Pierce and Buchanan.
Then the point to consider in speculating up
n the probability of Democratic success, is
low much the new party will affect the
Democratic organization. Will the Demo
ratio party retain its masses, or retain the
oliticians who may consider their present
hances IN a new party, which has no past,
quail to what they may hope for in the old
ne? The question is one which cannot be
orecasted, but, judging from the differences /,
oW apparent in the party, there is 9 proba-
ility that large portion would go with the !,
eW party. The agricultural and artizan !.
lasses of the North, and also Of the South, !,
ave undoubted social sympathy with the
ew movement, and if the new movement :,
lould once get headWay and thorough or /
under good management, We be- +
eve the stampede would Lbecome general !
I'D effective. The leaYen has long been 81 :
ntly working, and only awaits opportunity 9
become apparent and active. We believe t
at the conflict in the Republican party will
ing it out* from its own incapacity to re-
instruct itself; and also that one term is
| that the Democratic party can possibly
n.-4.l.r... .-..f g