Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-06
0nr ReaI Sfafesmen-


Mr.. Conkling TO greatness, and shows
that in craftsmanship, so far as achieve
ment is concerned, he is the veriest
pigmy. A thrill of delight runs through
the ranks of the half breeds over MIR.
Whitridge's performance, and they hat
ter themselves that the object of his
unsparing criticism is exceedingly hui
INFLATED at being stripped of character
which his audaciiy and brilliant rhetoric
enabled him so long TO assume. Yet,
Mr.. Conkling's friends could subject the
entire band of prominent Republicans to
a similar test, and beside many of them,
Mr. Conkling, with all his defects, would
appear to splendid advantage.
AIr. Blaine, the idol of the half-breeds,
has done nothing to entitle him to the
dignity of being called statesman.
Seated for years in the Speakers chair,
he performed the duties Of that office
acceptably to his party and, probably,
as fairly to his opponents as-he could.
His bouts with Senator Hill in later
years enabled him to pose dramatically
to the galleries, and his noisy declama-
ton was dignifed By the correspondents
as eloquence. With the single excep-
ton of John Sherman, who is identified
with most Of the financial legislation of
the past two decades, none of the promi-
nent Republicans can claim the title of
statesman on the basis of active work
Senator Edmunds, who has opposed job
berry On numerous occasions, and whose
legal mind enables him to discern the
true character of enactments, has
the capacities of the statesman,
though party zeal has often prevented
him from standing out in defense of
right, prOpriety and justice. No Repub-
lican can be faithful to his party's tenets
and act the statesman unswervingly and
faithfully; and when he assumes the
character he usually offends the majority
of his associates, OF at least fails to enlist
their sympathy.
The browning achievements of Repub
licans were stupendOus blunders. The
freedom of the negroes, which they
claim as their chief merit, was more the
consequence of the stubborn resistance
of the Southern people than the fruit Of
Radical wisdom. The fall at Appomat.
tox freed the negro and not the emanci-
patton proclamation, performance as
QuIxOtic as any Of the famous exploits
Of the Knight of La Mancha.
The enfranchisement of the freedmen
was party move that redounded in the
end to the benefit of the opposition, and
which its authors would now gladly
undo. The reconstruction measures
treated as belligerents in peace those
whom the Radical party bad refused to
recognize as such in open war. The re-
sumption of specie payments was the
Work of the industry of the land, and its
speedy accomplishment was the sternest
rebuke ever administered to the folly
that rendered it necessary. 1t is on our
recent financial policy that John Sher-
man rests his claim, but none of his ad
mirers will base it on his earlier per
Torrance. and his chief merit lies in his
final assertion Of common sense.
The corner stone Of American liberty
is the autonomy Of the States, but the
whole history Of Radicalism tells of
efforts TO subvert independent local
government, efforts which failed of
full accomplishment only by reason of
the abiding force Of the warnings and
teachings Of our earlier sages. States
manship is z lost art with thorough
going Republicans. The party lives and
works solely for plumber. The only
display OF real craftsmanship in recent
years IS found in the gallant struggle
made by the little band in both houses
Of Congress, who steadily fought every
encrOachment on the rights of the
people, and who finally saw their num-
bers multiplied, until to day Conservatism
commands the support Of the majority
of the people.
Constituted as this republic is, there is
but one safe creed for the guidance Of
the people and their rulers. The gov
eminent was framed and completed ere
Radicalism came to disturb the harmony
of its workings. The work left by its
trainers TO their successors was merely
questions of detail. True American
craftsmanship is found in resistance to
needless and dangerous changes. Every
achievement OF Radicalism has been
such a change. The Democrats in Con-
gress have, as rule, fought those
changes, often hOpelessly, but at times
successfully. Those who have fought
best, whether to victory or defeat, are
our real statesmen.