Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-22
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

This word, of recent coinage, and of
political significance, describes a petty
condition of discomfort with and rebel
lion against national party policy. 1t
has been incident to the civil wars in
England, but more particularly to the
picayune revolutions of Central and
South American republics and now it
finds a home with us in the subsiding
ebullitions of the late fierce political and
bloody struggle between the States of
our Union. Inter drnaa legeS silent: and
violence supersedes justice. The minds
of men become disorganized and demon
allied; the qualifications for civil service
and administration yield to the arbi-
trary wills of military proves; and
when peace is again restored, solid mer-
il for "tts victories" is found at the bot.
tom of the political caldr IN, while frothy
scum bubbles on the surface. Re-
construction begins. Statesmen seek
to restore order by building
national parties on national prin-
ciples, according to their estimates,
respectively, of national needs ard of
the measures required to meet them.
Wise men move slowly, remembering
the Italian proverb: "Who goes slowly,
goes safely; and who goes safely, goes
long way" But impatient spirits in
the undisciplined temper of turbulence,
engendered by the excitements of war,
are restless under the eXigencies of the
time demanded for clearing off the scum
and returning to the normal organisms
of peace. Moved by their eagerness. for
change, and too often, also, by personal
feelings and by "vaulting ambitions.
they would turn things, at once, upside
down." and inevitably convert ruin into
chaos. Such men are unsafe counselloTs
and leaders.
1t is true that at the close of the war,
in the efforts to retrieve losses and dam
ages to private interests. the best of our
citizens, with few exceptions, took little,
if any part in politics, and, as a conse-
ouence, their manipulation fell into the
hands of a low and ignorant, but cum
ming class of politicians, who still con-
tinue, in great measure, to control our
primary elections, mass meetings and
conventions. But this is an evil grad.
ually curing itself as we drop sectional
discussions, and adopt in their steed
national questions of vital cOncera 10
the country at large. requiring Aolllty'
such as the tariff, civil service reform,
the national bank system, tAe national
judiciary, the currency, ane other mat |
tiers of importance that come nome 10 |
every citizen in some Gegree, great or |
small. This Is painful, but the only sure |
and safe return to the upper regions of |
general welfare, freedom and national |
independence.
Moreover. impatience is always to be |
distrusted. and especially when the |
CHANGES II callsfOr offer no evident adj |
vantages. andexhibit no palpable neces-
sItv for then. Why should any one |
abandon tie National Democratic party |
for AN Independent organization based |
unon noning national, and whose only |
clam rpon our fealty is in the names |
| and l,cal influences Of few men, who, |
for no sound reason that we can see, |
haStily cut away from the old ship, the |
| Constitution, the National Democratic |
lparty, in smooth weather, and |
take to the lone boat as if the |
old frigate was about to sink. To day |
the National Democracy is sounder and |
stronger than at any time since the war,
and better differed and manned, too |
1t IS true she has some ''muffs" and |
"skllkers" on the quarterback and fore
castk, but what of that? is that cause for |
leaving her and taking refuge in cookie
shelly" Mol no. "Urge that upon the |
marips, the sailors know better" Sen
sible forth Americans should not imi-
tate he vaporing rege1aeradOres of
petty South American statesmen,
who excite revolutions for the
purpos of getting into offices,
and fiji fault with every government
except that of their own individual
selves, IN the sole principle of Indepen-
dentisn which means, TO be refractory
and tuBulent out of power and marti-
netish nd self-willed, when possessed of
it. Thse Independents say that the
Nationt Democratic leaders of our
State pdtics are unfit to direct them: but
what garantee is given that the indie
pendent or RegenerGtOTs, as called in
South .merica, will do any better? Is
not thislike asking us to trade in the
dark, an perhaps swap the devil for a
witch2
DhooRAT OF THE OLD SCHOOL.