National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-12
PLAIN TALK,
To The Editor of THE RErrnLIcAx


Political parties are intrinsically the
legitimate offspring Of opinion. They exist as
necessity, and when founded upon sound princi-
pies they are valuable as eliciting the popular
ideas on important public measures, and also q
wholesome balance Of power between the public
interest ami the seductive tendencies Of Office the
one party operating As Il check upon the other
The legitimate adhesive property Of parties Is
public necessity and the measures applicable 70
that necessity: hence, when the necessity i past
and the measures have been either adopted or
abandoned, the adhesive property ceases 10 exist.
and the public mind Is restored TO its natural
social equilibrium. The Republican party has ac-
compli>hcd very much for advancing civilization
and national pr0spcrity-mOre than has any other
party since the adoption of the Constitution; but
the necessity which called it into existence has
not 10y any means
CEASED TO EXIST,
nor viii il until the results of the civil war shall
have been permanently and effectively acquiesced
in by all. There should be but one-there is but
One-trUe Republican party: but, unfortunately
like vessel after long cruise barnaces have be-
come attached TO it which seriously impede its
smooth sailing. These barnaclcs consist of those
pseudO-refomcrs, politicians who believe that
there are such things as political principles but
who, at the same time, think that the
elevation of particular individuals is of more
consequence 10 their private interests or Will tend
more 10 their own private political advancement
than the advocacy or maintenance of principles
If they can CRAFTY their Hvarice or ambition,
their antipathies their animosiues ii is all they
seek for or desire. They aTgue-men can bestow
favors men Gun give consequence and political
strength by their cOuntenance and friendship.
Principles cannot DO these things. and the man
who relies upon them must look TO his conscience
for his reward
THESE BARNACLS
should be scTaped off; these SOi-diSdut reformers
should be made TO know explicitly that they must
be for against the party, else political death mu>t
inevitably come over what before was fun of orgaT-
lied life, and the party be decomposcd of its ss-
tanning clements and no longer be body, but
m;sS-& mass of putreScent ana fcTInenting atoms
With what show Ofreasou political Sacity isth!s
bitter pitctul political warfare wagUd against the
tried and the true oplaCatC an infinteSilnal num-
Der Of self-Sty.rd TCtOr:nerS, whose ONLY claim to
favor is political apOstasy? Or is the L.r tqEioRiS
unScTupul0usly applied only as q conduit 70 vent
the pent up spleen of personal cnmity III a single
Individual Soured by disappointed hopes and am
b.iion: After an unbiased and dispassionate
survey Of the political field during the past
SX weeks II Is difficult 10 believe otherwise
than that those who are waging this bitter political
war upon the best,
THE MOST INFLUENTIAL
ami reliable leaders OF the Republican party arc
not At tbs: same time contemplating change of
tlsiT political relations not by sudden transfer of
* " ttiS Dtt DN Il CUIll-
plc!e separation from the Republican party, 10
whose Stalwartism alGue is due to-day our ma
uonai integrity. prosperity. and advancement. The
man who -ri.d TO sit two stools and failed the
donkey which. peEpleXed by the rival attractions
OF TWO different stacks of hay stood irreS0iute be-
tween them and starved; the chicken with two
heads and four legs, OF which were available
because of the peryerSc actions of the Others unite
20 read lesson which the authors and abcttOrS of
the hrtaionis policy which is being applied with
EenomOus bitterness to the best elements of the
republican party should take to heart a. warn
ing SUFNSTGSF