Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-10
TIE "sTALwART" AND "HALF-BREED
QUESTION II TIE FUTURE.

termination on the part of Grants special
friends to force a continuation OF the
quarrel between the fStalwarts and
Half Breeds" At this moment some
thing ike systematic assault upon Blame
is being made, with the obvious purpose,
first, of breaking him down, and second,
of showing that President Garfield was
misled by him. Thus far this undertaking
has been very unsuccessful, it's Only effect
having been to cause the publication of
number of letters from Garfield which
prove that he acted throughout on his own
Judgment, and that he was at no time
mere instrument in the hands OF Blame.
This attack upon Blaine, however, coupled
with the preceding charge in regard to
| Grants conduct while abroad, Iustities the
SUSPICION that an organized movement is in
contemplation to crush out that wing OF
the party which is represented by Blaine.
Whether the President is concerned in this
movement does not as Jet appear. Ii the
representations Of his intentions which have
been made are true, it is very unlikely that
be would engage in such a factional move
ment. But no such doubt need be felt in
regard to Grants friends, and it is unfor
tunately but too apparen. that they intend
to force the Administration on to Stall
wart !" basis, if they can.
And nothing could be worse policy than
this, as every unprejudiced Republican can
perceive. President Garfield was under
stood to have a programme Of his own.
That programme was already known to be
in antsgonism to the programme of the
misnamed "Stalwarts The latter repre-.
sented only small minority of the party.
The Garfield sentiment was emphatically
the majority sentiment. Blaine stood for
the Garfield ideas as much as any man,
and his popularity with the masses was
questionable. The assassination of Presi
dent Garfield suddenly placed in power a
representative of the Grant or "Stalwart"
minority, and thus practically deprived the
majority of what they had a complete
right to, namely the fulfiilment of their
programme. So far as divergence Of
opinion went, indeed, it is hardly too much
to say that the change OF admiDistt aticu
which occurred upon the death of Presi-
dent Garfield was as marked as If Demo-
crat had succeeded him; for the schism
had been wide and deep. and it is well known
taat no enmisies are ever so bitter as those
of old friends. The Garfield Republicans
could not but feel sore under the circum-
stances, and very little was needed to make
them feel resentful. The situation was so
critical that only the most cautious and
prudent management could avoid a danger
Gus rupture, in fact
And the delicacy of the situation has
not passed away. For while no doubt
there has been much talk of impartiality,
and avoidance of fractional movements, and
even-handed justice, it is pointed out that
only one kind of Republicans have received
iLldt 40 Vi lUFOI tnC VI tuG
Administration, and it is also shown that
Grants friends at least evince no DISPOSE
ton to be conciliatory, but on the con-
trary appear to be making every prepare
ton for persistent and savage attack
upon the Garfield Republicans. This is
very unfortunate state of affairs, and it
may easily pass into fatal state. For it
is quite evident that if the Garfield Re
publicans, or 8" Half-breeds," are attacked,
they will fight back, and that if this quar-.
rel is once seriously opened, neither Presi-
dent Arthur, nor Mr.. Blaine, nor any other
msn, would be able to stop it. And
though the control of the "machine :" is
with the Stalwarts," they are altogether
inferior in numerical strength, and in
moral prestige. The Garfield sentiment is
unquestionably that which is held by the
Republican masses everywhere, and should
it come to division of the party, three
fourths of its members would step over to
the side represented by Mr.. Blaine and his
friends.
1t is of course impossible to tell anything
about the aspirations of politicians in a
general way, for rumor ascribes Presi-
Dental ambition to every prominent public
man. 1t has been said of late that Grant
was willing to renounce all further expec-
tations in that line if he were put upoa the
retired list of the army as General. 1t is
said also that President Arthur ia a candi-
date for election to the Presidency. If the
latter be true it is his interest to weaken
rather than strengthen the Grant party,
and to get rid of Grant in any way possible.
But it would alao be his interest to get rid
OF Blaine, and therefore it is difficult to
assign the present attacks upon the late
Secretary of State, with accuracy. In any
case the tendencies of the times are suffi.
GENTLY alarming to those who think that
the Republican party has not yet outlived
its usefulness. There is undoubtedly a
great deal of bad blood within the party.
The Garfield men feel disappointed
and Iesentful. The Grant men are
aggressive and overbearing, The change in
the Administration has given the apparent
control of the organization to the minority,
and this minority does lot seem to he
wisely advised. A very little would suffice
to precipitate collision at this iuncture,
and if collision is precipitated Demo.
cratic President will almost certainly be
the result. For there are causes OF quarrel
between the two factions Of the Republi.
can party which could not be adjusted if
once open war was declared, and the party
as a whole is not strong enough to with
stand any kind of a secession in advance of
q Presidential campaign. It is then incum-
bent upon all concerned to procesd warily
and in the most cautious way, and unless
this is done we are afraid it will matter lit
tie who is nominated by the Republican
Convention of 1854.
The JOINT WORK OF MALICE AED
IGNORANCE,