The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-01-26
sTALWART FICTIONs,
A Discussion of Issues Within the Repub-
lican Party.
1.-THE Americana

- AA i'm bAA4S Va AhtAouuSAuR q mOEE
tolerant policy toward the South, some very
pronounced Republicans felt themselves
a~lienated from sympathy, and were nxiou
that he should pursue q more vigorous policy
in defence or the colored voters. In the cir
cumstances, this sort of dissent was legiti-
mate enough, and the public began to distrust
it only when they found it so much associa-
ted with strong convictions about the distrib-
uti0n of offices in the North. When Mr.
Hayes refused to place the official patronage
of certain Northern States at the disposal of
certain Republican Congressman of those
States, it was found that a great deal of in
dignation about those offices cloaked iteelf in
the garb Of dissent from the Presidents
Southern policy. Personal loyalty to such
leaders as Messrs. Butler, Conkling, Gamer
on and Logan-the readiness to wear their
collars and run their err~ands-dubbed itself
to public amusement, stalwartism. And
the fundamental doctrine Of the stalwartism
of these gentlemen was that the Republican
party was SO far exalted above the Ten Com
mandments that, like "the King" it could
edo no wrong"
At this present moment there is but little
difference of opinion as to Mr.. Hayes South
ern policy. The party as a whole has given
that policy q solemn and public approval, in
its resolution approving the general conduct
of the present administration. No d looks
to Mr.. Garfield to pursue a different course.
All good citizens unite in the desire to see an
end to sectional bitterness, and to the evil
which provoked it. No one, unless it be Mr..
Boutwell,, wants to see the restoration of ne
gro and carpet-bag rule in the South, and the
return of military support to tottering gov
ernments. This does not mean that the party
has ceased to complain of what has happened
and is likely again to happen in the conduct
of Southern elections. But no one has given
better or more emphatic expression to its dis
satisfaction than did MIR. Hayes in his last
message to Congress and il SO doing he has
been quite consistent with his whole conduct
toward the South.
But stalwartism is as vigorous as ever. In
oSAu 1t5 CACuSC " GA SlCACC Al uaS uOG lOsl
its motive, for whatever cant it may talk
about the South, that motive is to be found
in tie offices. The stalwarts are members of
great political associations. under personal
leadership, for the acquisition of as much
power and pap as leader and followers can
secure by their joint efforts. In Mr.. Grants
me the existence of these associations inside
the party was fostered by their having q mo-
nopoly. Under Mr.. Hayes they were held
together by hunger and hope. How will
they fare under Mr.. Gariell? That they
have special claims on the new President,
some of their organs have the impudence to
assert. They almost reckonei every Repub-
tican vote cast in a county where Dir. Conk-
ling spoke, as a personal present to the can
didate. They now depict Mr. Garfield as
mourning the misrepresentation which are
current of his personal relation to Mr. Conk-
ling. and quote him as saying that only mis-
chief makers have sought to create o GOODNESS
between him and the Senator who at the
opening OF the campaign refused to call on
him, although they were stopping at the same
hotel. And in the present struggle for the
Scholarships in New York and Pennsylvania
doubtful voters have been warned that unless
they vote for the Conkling and Cameron
nominees they may expect nothing from
Washington for themselves and their friends,
for the old distribution of patronage is be re-
vived, and all things are to be revived as
they were in the golden days>o the Grant adj
ministration.
These stalwart 6ctions appear and reap
pear il Sc many independent quarters, as to
indicate a general agreement to whistle all to-
gether to keep stalwart courage up. This
proceeding is necessary, for in Mr.. Garfield's
hands lies the poWerto break up these asso-
Citations inside the party, and everything in
his past career indicates his readiness to use
the power. They are already weaker than
they were four years ago. For four years Mr..
Hayes has been sending offices in the other
There IS already q great body Of
Republicans, with tile advantage Of official
experience, who have either never worn the
Senatorial collar, or who have put il off for
ever. T'This policy of preferring lndepend-
ents and prescribing stalwart2, we believe
not to embody the highest wisdom. 1t was,
indeed, Grantism Under another guise, for it
repeated Mr.. Grants fundamental blunder OF