The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-07-15


The struggle which began two yeau
ago at Chicago may be said to have 70
commenced at Philadelphia lastAKea--
nesday. Underneath Grantism and the
third term at Chicago lay bossism and
anti-reform Those who championed
the two former knew that their. sue
cess involved the triumph of tho.
two latter, and those who opposed and
defeated the former believed their sue
cess involved the speedy and permanent
downfall of the latter. Possibly-nQt
probably-.the Expectations Of the ma
iority might have been realized, to q
certain extent at least, had Garfield
lived to complete his term; but his
death swept away every chance of that
desirable result, and left bossism and
anti-reform in full possession of the
field. just as soon as he had laid aside
his official mourning President Arthur
began to do precisely what Grant would
have done had he been nominated and
elected: reward his friends and punish
his enemies, without the slightest re-
gard to public interests. The manner
of the work has been more graceful,
but the matter the same. The bosses
have been as promptly and emphatical-
" recognized, and reform as coolly
whistled out of sight, as if Grant were
in the chair; and the immortal 306 and
their allies have very properly congrat-
ulated themselves upon the providen-
tial dispensation which gave them sub
stantially all they could have obtained
by victory at Chicago. Past experience
encouraged them to think that the other
wing of the party would, after a little
| preliminary fussing and Tuning, decide
to accept the inevitable and make the
best of it. and that no serious revolt
would occur until the eve of the next
Presidential nomination, if then.
The Independent Republican Conven-
ton at Philadelphia is an official Motif
cation to the Stalwarts that the fight is
to be renewed on the old issues, and
that their enemies do not intend to quiz
city submit to the change of policy in
augurated by Guiteau. The platform
adopted is broad and comprehensive;
| evidently as much intended for Repub-
licans outside of Pennsylvania as inside.
1t is not leveled at Boss Cameron in
particular, but at hossism in general;
and what is said of "the machine"
"the spoils SYSTEM and .'the prostitr-
/ ton of the public service to private
uses" is as applicable to every other
State as to Pennsylvania. In short, the
| platform and the entire action of the
Convention is nothing more nor less than
Republican indictment of Republic
an Administration; the arraignment of
one wing of the Republican party by
the other-and must be judged accord
ingly. What it may do in the way of
breaking the Cameron yoke is of small
importance as compared with its effect
upon Republicanism elsewhere. 1t is a
banner, not of merely local but National
Instruction; and Republicans every
| where must rally to it or against it.
Neutrality is impossible, and It will be
Interesting to watch the course of those
Republican journals which are continu-
ally preaching reform within the
party" while insisting that nothing
must be done to disturb the harmony of
the party. The New York Times, for
instance. some days before the Conven-
| ton met said this:
determination against the machine and
against the spois system and bossism and the
bos ses, and resolutions in favor of true civil
| service reform are practically worthless If
| they lead to nothing more than change of
| machine managers. When a party arises
which is ready to take firm stand against the
use of patronage in politics, which viii labor
openly and definitely for law that will open
all subordinate appointments to the best men
without regard to politics, then there will be a
| beginning of the end. Such party would
gather strength steadily until it finally won,
tics would once more become possible in the
United States"
Well, the Independent Republicans OF
Pennsylvania have taken the initiative
in bold and straightforward fashion.
They have said nothing about their own
grievances, and cannot be charged with
favoring "nothing more than a change
of machine managers. They have
offered Republicans in the country at
large the best possible opportunity to
show, by sympathetic words and actions
or the reverse, whether the party is pre-
\ pared for the new departure toward
better things. Win the Times, as the
leading organ of the party, assist that
departure, oppose it, or sit on the fence
until pushed Off We shall see.
Meanwhile it is safe to predict consid-
cradle music in the Republican atmos-
phere. The bronze medal ''Old Guard
and all whom they represent, will GER
tainly not be backward in coming for
ward, and the anti-Stalwarts cannot
consistently refuse to meet them hall
way. Ali the forces which joined battle
at Chicago must again confront each
other in q wider arena and settle the
question of relative strength AS for
the Democrats, they viii simply be inter
ested and amused spectators; not ex-
actly Indifferent to the outcome, but moi
specially concerned as to its character.
The family quarrel is none of their bust
ness, but the probabilities are that be-
fore its conclusion something will be
evolved to their advantage. They can
afford to watch and wait. deriving such
sweet satisfaction from the stormy scene
as is suggested in the familiar proverb
that "when rogues fall out honest men
craf their duas Isl L0uis RennhLic0n.