The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1882-10-25
EFFECTS OF sTALWART METH
DDS.

In the campaign of 1880, there
was much disgust among Republic
cans at the means employed by
their managers. The undisguised
prostitution of all the civil depart
ments of the general Government,
by making them parts of the ma
chine, created feeling of alarm
that was not confined to Democratic
circles. The means resorted to for
procuring campaign funds were con-
demned by thousands who did not
think that a proper time to show
their disapprovaI by open revolt.
The manner in which vast sums of
money were expended left no doubt
in any reasonable mind, of extern
sive, systematized corruption.
Indeed, the tone and general
bearing of the managers was that of
men engaged in corrupt practices
and insolently defiant of public op-
inion. They snapped their fingers
in the face of Republicans who pro-
tested against their grossness., feel
ing confident that the emergency
was sufficiently pressing to compel
the dissenters to smother their dis
gust and vote the party ticket, 1t
has never been seriously denied,
nor can it be successfully denied,
that the election of 1880 was bought
by the money carried to Indiana in
October and the funds disbursed in
New York city a few weeks later.
The Indiana corruption was deem
ed so good thing that it was the
theme of general hilarity in Stall
wart circles, and was one of the
main sources of amusement at the
Dorsey banquet.
But ''tIme at last sets all things
even" Justice is sure to come to
those who have patience to wait for
it. The emergency that compelled,
or which was deemed sufficient to
compel disaffected and protesting
Republicans 10 vote for their party's
candidate in 1880, is not present in
1882. But the Hubbell committee,
unwarned by numerous signs of
open revolt, taking no note of the
indignant protests of tie best men
and the most influential journals of
the party, has intensified the almost
brutal coarseness of its repulsive
manners and methods. Instead of
trying to conciliate the growing OPP
position, this committee, backed by
the Administration, has defed and
insulted all Republicans who have
ventured to criticise or openly dis
approve its plans and modes of OPP
Grafton. 1t has laughed at the con-
science of the party, and sneered at
any manifestation of outraged de-
cency. 1t has snapped the party
whip, and cried'"fall in there" with
the bullying air of a chain gang
boss.
The organs of this committee and
of Stalwart Republicanism general
ly have taxed their ingenuity to de-
wise means of exasperating the dis
contented. The vocabularies of the
slums have been raked for epithets
to be hurled at them. The Pelion
of insult has been piled on the Ossa
of injury.
This most ill-advised course of
procedure has produced and is pro-
ducing its natural, inevitable effects.
The men who, under pressure and
under protest, voted the Republican
ticket in 1880, are not voting that
way now. The returns from Ohio |
show that in districts where the liq-
uor question had little bearing, Re-
publican losses are heavy; in dis
tricts where the -Stalwart feel
ing is most pronounced the Demo
cratic gains foot up surprisingly. |
Coarse abuse and the party lash
have not induced the disgruntled to
vote for their party nominees.
More than one wise man in the
Republican household has predicted
the defeat and ultimate ruin of the
party by the very means which
have produced its present demorali-
zation. The most imperative de
mand of the times is for a distinct
line of demarkation between the
public service and the party ma
chine. This demand has been treat
ed with insolent contempt by the
faction now dominant. The Ohio
election gives foretaste only of the
results that must come from Stall
wart rough-riding over the convic-
lions of honest men.