Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-09-17
HE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY

fAhIf.
Just at the time when the Republican
party was on the verge OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT
the President was struck down by the bull
let of an assassin. That shot did not re-
store harmony in the ranks OF the party !;
it merely suspended the exhibition of polit-
zeal animosities. As the leader of one wing
of the party, the sufferings of the Pfesi-
dent would naturally call truce. But
the antagonistic forces which confronted
each other in mortal political hostility have
not concluded any treaty of peace. The
death of the President would have turned
the tables completely in favor of the stall
warts by placing the entire Federal patron.
age in their hands. The confirmation of
Robertson proved the force of Exec
utive influence, and the accession
OF Vice. President Arthur to the Pres
idency would have changed the attitude
of the Republican members of the Senate.
The restoration of the President to health,
and the reassembling Of Congress, will wit
ness resumption of political hostilities at
the point and over the precise issues which
divided the councils of the party on the
unfortunate first day Of July. We are
strongly inclined to the opinion that the
nomination and confirmation OF Robertson,
the defeat of Conkling, and the strong
manifestation of disaffection on the part
of General Grant, were political conflicts
which have engendered practicable ami
mosities. We regard any future recon-
citation between S5alwartism and hide.
pendent Repuhlicanism as extremely doubt.
full. In New York at least we can scarcely
expect again to see the forces which
have commended for supremacy in the
party again marshalled under the same
banner by any measure of compromise.
Leadership is all powerful with party
factions, and the wounds inflicted by the
leaders of the contending factions were too
inoisive and mortal to be forgiven. There
are no animosities so irreconcilable as those
growing out of family feuds. When all
faction of the party may hope for is to
perform the mental service of aiding to win
victories for the opposing faction, then the
success of the common enemy is to be pre-
ferred. Neither the Independent Repub-
licans nor the stalwarts are possessed of
that kind of patriotism which will consent
to place the fruits of victory in the hands
Of the other. Recently the Republican
State Central Committee of New York
held meeting to attend to some business
relating to tine organization. The committee
is composed of friends of Mr.. Conkling. As
it was an official meeting of State politi-
cal body some resolutions of regret or
Indignation at the attempted assassination
of the President, or at least some indica-
tion of sympathy, was expected. There was
a significant silence on the subject The
committee had not heard of the attempted
assassination, SO far as might be learned
from its proceedings. Politically this com.
mittee did not gy;.np;:ssthize with President
Garfield, and it evidently aid not care to
attempt any expression as committee of
the sympathy felt as individuals But the
silence was significant as betraying
a sullen political antagonism, which
only awaits the death or recovery of
the President to make itself strongly
manifest. To any who will carefully
consider the reason why the nomination
of Judge Robertson was the occasion Of
such mortal offense to Mr. Conkling and
his following, the approaching schism in
the party will become apparent. 1t was
evidently Mr.. Conkling's supposition that,
in consideration Of the services rendered
by himself and friends in carrying New
York for Garfield, the anti-Grant Republi-
cans were to be ignored Mr.. Conklings
action proves conclusiyely that had he and
his friends suspected that the anti. Grant
wing of the Republicans would receive the
slightest consideration or recognition at the
hands of Gar6eld's Administration they
would not have supported the Re-
publican national ticket. The unity
of the Republican party in New
York in the last campaign was the
result of Misrepresentation and not the
outcome of compromise or reconciliation.
The stalwart faction appeared to have be-
come reconciled to the defeat of Grant, but
the offense taken at the nomination of
Robertson proves that they believed for
some reason best known to themselves that
they would secure by the election Of Gar.
field and Arthur what they had lost by the
defeat of Grant at Chicago. In the light
OF more recent developments we cannot
believe that the Grant wing OF the party
in New York would have supported Gar
field could they have realized the proba-
bility even of Mr.. Blaine's promo.
ton or Mr.. Robertson's triumph.
The unity of the party last year
was therefore due to misunderstanding
of the relation of the factions in the fight.
Each supposed the other to be in process
of complete extinguishment by the success
of the Republican ticket. In reality the
party was divided then, and how hope
lessly divided revelation of the real at
titude of the Presidential candidate toward
them would have proven. In this view of
the situation it requires no gift of prophecy
to foretell an irreconcilable schism in the
Republican ranks in New York this year,
and not alone in New York, but in all
other States where stalwartism constitutes
considerable element of the party.
4 CASE ILLUSTRATING MANY THINGS.
A contemporary referring to the fact
that the jute works at Oakland employ
eight hundred Chinese operatives, suggests
tnat the employment of eight hundred
white operatives in place Of these Chinese