Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-03-02
Republican Party Prospects.

Republican newspapers are very in
dustrious in pointing out the symptoms
of discord in the ranks of the Democrat
ic party, especially in the South. This
sort of party tactics is resorted to as a
sort of counter irritant. There is evil
dence enough that the Republican party
is held together by nothing but the CO.
hesive power of public plumber. This
may at any time prove to be only a rope
of sand. Strong as it has proven during
the venal period of Republican rule, it
is bond of union which always has in
it the seeds of its own dissolution. The
financial theories of the Republican party
of the East. if reduced to practice, or
pressed to the point of giving them real
vitality, will inevitably drive the States
of the Pacific slope and also Colorado
into the Democratic fold. The Repub-
lican majority in those States, if it ex-
lists at all, is very doubtful. And yet
the Republican party, weakened by the
loss of them, would be in a minority.
Belford, of Colorado, has been openly
rebellious throughout the present ses-
sion. And the language of Senator
Teller, of the same State, recently ut
tered in the Senate, is full of significance.
After saying the present tariff is not the
tariff the people demand and condemn
ing the policy that would strike out of
existence one-haf of the money of the
world that men holding the securities
might have betteran stronger grip up
on the people who hold the money and
who pay the taxes in this country" he
said: 'sMr. President. was educated
in the Democratic party, and when it
failed to represent my sentiments l had
the courage to get out of it, and pro-
pose upon this question to represent
myself and not allow the Repub-
lican party to be put in a position of
misrepresenting the wishes of the great
people of the West and South
The slumbering hatred of the anti
third termers may be stirred into ac-
tivity at any moment. The stalwart
element have the advantage just now
in the possession of the executive
branch of the Government, with all its
patronage, but this serves only to in
tensify the jealousy and disappoint-
ment of the defeated faction. Conk-
ling and Robertson menace the har-
mony of the party in New York, and
the fierce war which is now made on
Blaine not only endangers the success
of the party in Maine. but is an ominous
sign of general unhappiness among the
faithful.
Even the South, which is looked upon
as so promising a Republican recruit
ing ground, presents its difficulties.
Such Republicans as are there will prove
themselves of singularly meek and
self-sacrifcing kind if they shall consent
to the entire immolation Of their inter-
ests and total sequestration of Federal
patronage. which they regard as right
fully theirs. They were tractable in
Virginia under great pressure, but it
will be a marvel if they view with en-
thusiasm the purchase of unprincipled
and half-hearted Republican allies with
honors, trusts and patronage which have
always and everywhere been regarded
as the guerdon of party fidelity. They
will begin to ask where the advantage to
themselves is to come in. The organi-
cation of the Democratic party may not
be as compact as it should be, nor its
elements as homogeneous as could be
wished. but it certainly does not face
greater dangers nor require nearly so
much skillful management rs its oppo-
nent. 1t should win easily and deci-
sively as the coming contest now ap-
] pears.-iSt. Louis Republican.