The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1882-03-24

The condition Of the Republican par
" to-day is one Of the most remarkable
spectacIes in the history Of politics That
Of the Democratic party in 1860, pre-
ceding the great catastrophe which
swept II from power. Is more nearly .
parallel than any other; but It j. not
complete one. The difference between
the two wings Of the Democracy at that
time was difference Of political princi-
pie in relation 10 the extension 81
slavery; while the present difference be-
tween the two wings Of the Republican
party relates only to the spoils Of Office
and the ambitions Of rival leaders
The Republican party has been N
power 50 long that il has ceased to be
Republican except in name. Il has no
longer any higher aspiration than 70
hold Office and digest patronage; no
policy but that Of Capitalization. with
the natural incidents OF jobbery and cor
rupfion upon National scale. Its great
leaders do not contend with one another
over questions Of economy or Of Consti-
tutional construction. They are simply
divided over the distribution Of the com
mon plumber. A great principle one a
the most sacred traditions Of American
liberty. was. It Is true, involved in the
STRUGGLE At Chicago; but II can scarcely
be said to have been met BY the over
| throw Of Grant. Opposition 20 . third
! term, pure and simple, had very little
| to do with the defeat Of the Old Guard
BY the narrow majority arrayed against
IL after many days Of doubtful conflict.
Even Mr.. Blaine never committed him.
self unequivocally against the third
term-never declared that he would
| vote 40 ainst Grant II nominated. The
result. SO far as the Republican party
was concerned. determined almost moth
/ ing as to the only principle or likeness
| Of 4 principle that entered into the fight.
The third-tcrmer supported Garfield
I precisely as Garfield would have sup
ported Grant had the latter been the
| nominee instead Of the former. They
| waited, sulked, threatened; and then
seeing the Garfield managers IN sufIi
cientIv desperate state, they made theil
own terms, and throwing themselves
into the contest 1t the critical moment
won Il ostcnsibly for Garfield. really fol
Grant and themselves! The treaty 2
Mentor was q reality. Il made 9 kepuD
lican victory possible after defeat haf
been confessed. and the Stalwarts wer'
Justly incensed when every obligation
arising out Of the bargain was either Is
nored Or trampled under the heels Q
the triumphant faction.
Mr.. Blaine had his day under Garfield
and was neither modest nor moderate 4
the use Of his opportunity. Now IN
Stalwarts have theirs. The exiles ar
recalled. The Old Guard has, BY IN
fortune Of war, risen from the sunke
ditch and swept the field. Its CHIEF
tains are singled out for Executive favo
70 the exclusion " the Half Breeds, VIII
. but the other day had them under fool
= And IL the history ~ Arthur's fe'
! months ia the White House were no.
: ID be written by the outlawed Ha
/ Breed. he would simply borrow with
D change Of names the story Of Garfield
! brief term - II was written by the e.
( lied StaIwart. Situations are precisel
: reversed. and the rancor Of the LA
: Breed Is even worse than was that
4 the Stalwart-
l. The President having nominated 4
/ high Office that Republican who h
J. done his party more distinguished an
e valuable services than any other lvir
i. man. his action i greeted with col
h certcd howl of indignation By the Ha
(, Breed newspapers, and by = Passiona
+ and malignant assault in the Senat
It seems that nothing indicates 50 clea
IL the intensity Of feeling between q
Il factions as the unreasonable and fer
Y cious denunciation Of this appointmcr
4 Things must change greatly 4 the ne
y Republican Convention be not cv'
4 more inharmonious than the last on
IL ~ n Sun.