The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-06-09
.,Pert.oens QuesrtSus.

The New York Herald in recent
issue, among 9th er subjects discusses
the conundrHm, Why should not the
Republican party go 10 pisces3 Why
should any enc of its honest voters
mourn over its disappearance P" 1t
says: a... = tt..i. .fnr ..s!. l,-..-..
!" People begin to ask themselves,
everywhere, what has this great Re-
pablicsn party done and what IS it
doing for the country? They see it
just now engaged in desperate fight
over the public pluuder, and neglect
ing every public interest in this dis
graceful scramble. And as they look
On with contempt at this exhibition,
which has about as much dignity as
first class dog fight, they recall the fact
that under Hayes it did little else than
carefully conceal the stealing which 1t
fostered, and that with loud and inter-
minable professions, eff virtue in the
last dozen years it has only produced
scandal after scandal, ,, until the whole
history Of the partylin this period is
made up of Belknap, Robeson, Pacific
Mail, star route, whiskey fraud, car
pet-bag, salary grab, aud multitude
of other jobberies of the basest and
lmost Vulgar kind, mixed in with the
most abject subjection to railroad and
other corporation infaences. And in
all that time no one Can recall without
an effort a solitary public service the
party has rendered 1t might as well
inscribe On its banners millions fsr
plumber, not one cent for public inter-
ests.' -. - -',''i '..'
":Ith has resisted every reform it has
prevented the repeal of every bit of
the obsolete and obstructive war leg
,islatien; it has maintained every bad
law on the statute book; it has shown
in every, imaginable way its total in
capacity to deal with public questions,
and whenever public opinion Il. has
pressed it TO do at least some trifiing
coed, il has adroitly got up some new
excitement about the South, or some
new, petty and uncalled, for quarrel
with the Democrats,with the sole view
to engage the attention of the people
aud draw theirminds away from pub
iic interests and real questions. "V'
-" The Republican party has in the
general opinion fulfilled its mission.
Why should il not 60 to pieces? Why
should any one OF its honest voters
oyer its dlsappearancea
Il: =: 1t may not be dead ct this moment,
but it is retten. 1t is the creature of
railroad and other ,corporation and
influences. Its most inti-
mate relations are no longer with the |
people. but with the railroad and tele-
graph kings, the Jay GOulds, Stan
fords, iHuntingtons; and others of that |
kind, who own and control its mana
gers and chiefs. To say that such par
ty, which chooses. Dorsey as onsof its
public manlpulstors and unblushingly
gives him public dinners; which has
protected and honored Robson, which
openly courts the friendship of public
which during four years
sheltered Brady in his star ronte' job.
berries. and took part of his gains for
ts campaign fund after the exposures
made Of him ID Congress; to say that
'tch q party, " hich scarcely ,conceals
Is relations with q dozen .lobbies, and
many. of whose, public men live by
obs-tD say that, this party, quarreling
low over the spOils, ought to live, is
Ibsurd. It, has lost even the respect
or public opinion which leads jobbers
Isually to divide their spoils in pri-
'stc-l ..ss u..f --iift .-.-fl+.-t 44-.4