Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-09
WHAT IS REPUBLIcAaIsM,


The following cogent arraignment OF
the new administration and its allies,
might excite only passing comment II
il came from Democratic source, but
coming as it does from the leading Re-
publican paper Of New England, the
Boston Herald, every word OF it must
strike deep into the convictions oil those
who are watching the course oil events
and must beaccepted by discerning Re
publicans as well as Democrats,as worus
Of truth and soberness. IL says:
Judging by the course OF the party
leaders since the Inauguration OF the
new administration, Republicanism is
but another name for Northern Bour-
bonism. II would be impossible for
student OF our affairs, coming to an in
spection of the government with only
such knowledge OF its purpose and ten
denotes as is furnished by the action OF
the Senate-and, II must be added, by
the policy OF the President-to come to
any other conclusion than that the Re.
publican party is party OF the past,
with no higher aim in getting power
than TO hold on TO il, and no
mission more noble than to
dispense the patronage" None OF
the burning questions" OF the canvass
survived the election with heat enough
in them to start a smoke. Even that
last, sad relic Of the southern question
that served 10 keep the party IN power
so long-the wrongs upon the suffrage
needs careful nursing to keep 1t alive.
The most ultra BOurbons OF the South
have reached a point where they dis
claim any hostility to a full and free
ballot, while the progressive conserva-
tives are casting about for some more
legitimate and reputable means OF re-
tanning good local government than
were employed to secure it. II the
northern Bourbons mean to depend
upon shrieks about the suffrage for their
warcry, they will find their supply OF
wind shut off before another election
comes around.
With this ragged remnant Of an issue
| falling them, where will the Republic
cans turn? To LOOK 10 their platform
/ for principles recalls the cynic's dehnl
| ton of fame: a few words on tomb
stone, mostly lies" A political plat
form is a mere bridge, TO be burned after
il has carried the party safely over. The
| Chicago platform affirmed ii 10 be the
duty OF the national Government TO AID
in the work OF popular education TO tht
extent of its constitutional power; and
within three months after the election
| Republican representatives aldei IN
smOthering, without attempt at amend
ment, bill for this purpose which haC
passed the Senate by an almost unani
neweI the pledge of respect fol
the constitutional rules govern
ing appointments 10 office, anC
adopted the declaration OF Presiden
HAYES, "that the reform OF the clvI
service should be thorough, radical anC
| complete" And vet, before the new
| President was warm in his seat, there
was inaugurated at Washington the
| most shameless inquisitiOn for the spoil:
| seen since the days OF Jackson and Van
Buren,. All prominent nominations
| thus far have been either personal OF
| political, or both; the constitutional
rule" governing appointments has been
| kicked ont OF the Senate, at the lnstlga
ton OF bosses who have usurped the
| power conferred upon the Executive
| the business-like collector at New York
| has been invited TO give place, in the
middle of his term, 10 practi'
| cal politician; and competitive ex'
aminations, whichthe platform Endorsed
in its demand for fitness, ascertained by
proper practical tests" as the condition
| of admission TO the public service, have
been abandoned in the Interior Depart
ment, where they had been most sue
cessfullv established. The Chicago plat
form affirmed that the public credit
should never be impaired; and yet thl
Republican Senators, for the sake OF com
pleting their hold on the government
made an open bargain with 4 notorious
repudiatOr, and have put stop to the
public business, and brought scandal
upon our highest legislative body
in an effort to complete the
transaction by installing two un'
fit men in the chief offices OF the Senate.
The administration and the Senate, each
in its own way, have made it clear that
the pledges are writ in water" Upon
any really important and practical ques'
ton of craftsmanship, the party is not
united within itself, or divided from the
opposition. Ii has no longer moral
principal upon which to stand, nor ap,
parently any definite purpose except Il
promote harmony" among its office
brokers and to prepare for another Presi
dental term. II President Garfield is
the man the people believed him to be
when they elected him, it is high time
for him to give new definition to Re-
| publicauism.