National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-17

port 1t, it falls back upon hatred, prejudice,
criticism, obstruction, as its resources. 1t
will not learn, nor permit learning !;
it is simply protest or complaint
of affairs as they are-not that they
are not right as they are, but that they
are not as they might have been. Now,
this has continued for many years. The
party has sunk under it, and new gene
ration is almost ready to take up the re-
sponsibilities of political life. At this
juncture Senator Malone resolves upon
his experiment, or rather brings it to an
issue, for this task has been the purpose
in view in his election to the place he
holds. His situation is singularly fortui-
tous-designedly so, for he comes neither
as Democrat, in the old sense, nor as a
Republican He is the representative of
an independent vote and idea. In the
pursuit of his purpose he affiliates with
the Republicans simply because in that
direction there is life to the idea
he represents; in the other way, toward
Bourbonism, there is no hope, no pro-
gress, simple supineness or obstruction.
The events which met the Senator upon
the threshold of his new departure are
familiar. The spokesman of the Bourbon
element tried all his powers of persuasion,
cajolery, and maledietion upon him in
vain. Senator Malone, supported by his
convictions, his rights as vested in him
by his people, and by his own force of
character, bore the brunt of the attack
and returned it with more force than it
gave. And so the matter rests. He
is committed to an effort in behalf of
his people from which he has no wish to
retreat. 1t is political success or absolute
failure now. He has. for his people, as
sumed the responsibility of new idea
But what does the idea itself, in its
broadest sense, signify. Simply the effort
to elevate class of the people. The Solid
South is solid in prejudice only. Collec-
lively, it eherishes a delusion-the delu-
sion that there is difference between its
people and those of the North. That
their aims and purposes are unlike. This
may have been so before the war, but
there is now no essential fact to keep the
whole American Nation from unity. And
we can even go further and say that the
best minds of the North and South, in
all essential particulars as to the welfare
of the Nation, are in actual har-
mony. Prejudice is all that sep
arates them. The collective mass
of sentiment of the South holds it
together as against the North, but behind
this barrier there are men on each side
thinking alike. The object of Senator
Mahone's movement is to bring them ae-
tually together in the pursuit of good
and patriotic purposes. It is therefore
an independent movement of the highest
consideration, and deserves the support
of all good men, irrespective of party.
But the question may be asked. Where
is the Republican gain in this independ-
ent movement? We answer, Republi
canism exists in its vital principles.
These are and will be attractive to all
men. When it ceases to offer what is
best in government OF policy, thinking,
independent, patriotic men will cast it
aside. This is precisely the position of
Senator Malone. He has cast off dead
party. He has set his face toward bet
ter and more wholesome political life for
his people.