National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-15
A Danger Signal.


which most interests the great body of
the voters, without whose aid and ear
nest support leadership is good for moth
ing There must be somo soldiers to
fight under our generals, and even the
civil-service reformers cannot get at
the'party oHal, for which they are always
clamoring, unless the party itself can be
saved from defeat. There will have to be
thinking, talking, and acting upon other
subjects than the distribution of the
Offices if Bourbon restoration is to be pre-
vented. The Republican party is losing
disconnected spoils-hunters who call their
soreheudism Reform. Shallow and super
ciious pessimism is doing its best to
show that political cooperation between
men who are agreed in a public purpose
is wicked and corrupt. What is being
done to countcract these innuencesP
What need is there of the continuance
of the Republican party? If thcre is any,
what are our leaders doing to enthuse
the millions ofvotcrs who have for twenty
years kept faith with each other in re-
Pharaohs? What has been done, or is
doing, to convince majority that the
Republican party is the best organiza-
ton through which they can preserve a
government The people, for the people,
and by the people? We do not propose
to attempt to answer or argue these
questions. They have meaning which
Republican Senators and members OF
Congress can readily divine if they will
but ask themselves what clements most
prevail in the conduct of party affairs.
What legislation is retarded or defeated,
and by what influences? What meas
ures for the many are defeated by the
few?
Tho men whose votes must rule the
destinies of the Republic, for good or i'll
do not dine at the club, nor vote in rail
road or bank directories A vast major
ity of the men who voted for Abraham
Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, r. B. Hayes
and James A. Garfield did so because
the Republican cause was the cause o
the people. TO preserve the Territories
from slavery, that freemen might there
earn the wages which could not be paid
where servile labor was admitted-fol
this was the Republican party organized
by people who were weary of serving
the slave power in either of the parties o.
the day They nightly prevailed, and
have maintained the power they thus
created.
The men who now lead the party and
who are in representative places mus
beware of losing the sympathies of the
people behind them. The means mus
| not be substituted for the end. Tit
Democratic party was stung to death b!
material interests, which demanded ant
secured the allegiance of its chiefs. TIL,
Rcpublicanparty sin danger of a simila
fate. The gap is widening be
tween the gentlemen and tn
men. The workshops and the farms ar
not always sufficiently consulted. Their
are too many men who have bushes
with our party, and who fear that gen
erous consideration of the wants an,
complaints of the people will lead t
communism. 1t is time for our navi
gators to take an observation, and to Sc
just how far we are from the reefs an
shoals plainly marked out on the char
of political history.
There is an apathy in the Republican
party which must be overcome. Misera
BILE croaking over the Offices is an insul
TO the men who make our maioritie'
with no thought about Offices except t
want them honestly filled. They wan
legislation viewed sometimes with refer
ence to its effect upon them. When
measure is proposed in the interest o
free labor, and is admittedly free iron
any conflict with the rights of others a
home or with treaties with foreigl
powers, it should have full Republican
support in Congress.
The Chinese bill recently vetoed cor
tanned provision which the Presidcn
and a majority of Republicans in Cor
gress believed to be in violation of treat
obligations. So believing, it would hay
been dishonorable in them to havegiye
their assent. The objections have bee
removed in the bill since perfected, an
on Monday next members of the Hous
must vote yea or nay upon the new bill
1t will be for Republicans the
to show whether they are {
much devoted to free labor no
as they were in 1860, when the vote
of its advocates made Lincoln Presider
and challenged all corners to the combs
which followed. 1t will be for Demo
Gratis then TO show whether they ar
against Chinese immigration when the
can suspend it or only when they canno
The workshops in every State will liste
to the roll-call. The Republican mi
chanics and factory operatives will quickl
discover any change Of tone from tn;
our leaders gave out in the fall of 1880.
S
Mr.. Hatton and the Reformers.
The old oflice-seeking gang who thin
they hide their bodies from view by run
ming their heads into heaps of ciyil-se
vice reform sand are peckiug away !
First Assistant Postmaster-Geneal LA
ton on the subject of his recent letter r,
storing post-ofIice employees TO either
ship. They persist in saying that he ha
rescinded an order made 10y PresidoI
Grant concerning the acceptance
municipal offices by officers of Il
, Government, This is simply untru
The order Of Grant referred TO related
officers only, and not to mere clerks n
I, = other employees. All that Mr., HIATT,
! SAWS Is ihat IL men In subordinate plae