The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-05-24
Party Issues.

:.
There is always more or less desulto-
ry talk about abstract party issues, and
it has come to be the fashion of late
years with some people to contend that
the Republican party has performed its
mission, that it has no new ideas to ad
vance, and that it ought quietly to dis
ent in politics is constantly ventilating
to expose its vacuity.
1t is certainly blessing to the coun-
try that there are no such startling is
sues before the country as slavery and
secession were. 1t would be q most
unhappy condition of things if party
lines could only be drawn upon differ
ences that shake the very foundation of
the Government. In a period of polite
al quiet and material prosperity party
lives and thrives, or languishes and
struggles, according to its traditions.
Party organization continues its useful
ness in its discipline and in the respon-
sibility which it imposes upon its public
men. If it be conceded that there are
no important issues, it certainly does
not follow that the Republican party
should give way to some new organiza-
tion to administer the Government un-
der the laws and in the spirit which it
has implanted in the American system.
Exciting issues, whether of section or
class, are not so desirable that parties
should be encouraged to invent them.
On the contrary, If it were certain that
q disruption of old parties and the con-
struction of new parties would lead to
q struggle over new issues. that pros
pect would be an excellent reason for
ha1I.,nr 70 90 ha ;,l
ist. The country can well afford to en-
joy peacefully the fruits of Republican
work in the pasta united country,
manhood suffrage, universal freedom,
the resumption of specie payments, and
the assurance of permanency which a
wise system of laws gives to the Repub-
lie. The people do not long for nervous
and exciting contests.
No theory of expedience can suggest
that the Republican. party should su-
pinely resign the field to make room for
the Democratic party. What issues are
presented on that side which promise
progress and Development The only
headway which has been made by the
Democrats at any time within the past
twenty years has been due to their
adoption of Republican ideas. Once
every four years the Democrats produce
a platform which is more or less an imi-
tation of Republican platforms of earlier
campaigns. Ii the Democrats have one
distinctive issue it is their adherence to
the pernicious and dangerous doctrine
of State sovereignty. The popular sem
timent of the country certainly does not
favor a return to that obsolete theory.
Whenever the Democrats have been
temporarily restored to power (and
they had absolute control of Congress
during four years) they have failed to
initiate any measures of great import or
public advantage. They We're never
able to agree among themselves as to
any measure of tax reform or political
advancement. There is nothing in the
Democratic record to inspire hope
that universal blessings would follow
upon comniittal of the Government
reason why the Republican party should
give up the ghost in order that the
Democratic party may be resurrected
it must be confessed that party which
is strongly intrenched in the public
confidence is better prepared to take up
and work out any live and burning
issues that may arise than would be
new party which might be constructed
to await their coming.
AS matter of fact, the Republican
party always finds something to do, and
generally does it promptly and efficient
". The present Congress has already
accomplished in one session more use:
full public business than has been done
by all the Congresses that have inter.
vened since the Republicans controlled
both Houses before. BY the time the
present Congress shall have adjourned,
effective measures will have been taken
to repress polygamy, to restrict Chinese
immigration, to regulate the count OF
the Electoral vote in such manner as tc
avert future dissention, and probably &c
inaugurate the scheme for readjustina
the tariff upon a more equitable and en-
during basis. ANY one of these accom-.
plishments is of more value to the peo-
pie than all the legislation to which the
Democrats can point while they were in
control of Congress. 1t is folly to con.
tend, therefore, that tie Republican
party is out of ideas or that there is
nothing for it to do. In spite of some
distressing factional troubles, it actually
does more than the Democratic party,
which is united in the common purpose
of securing the spoils.
Aside from all this, there is one issue
which will give the Republican party
vitality and force so long as that issue
shall be in doubt in any section of the
country-viz. the freedom of the ballot.
So long as the Democratic party in the
South shall refuse to recognize this
essential of free government, Just so long
may it be confidently expected that the
Republican party will be on hand tc
battle for it. Race prejudices. class
distinctions, State-sovereignty heresy,
fraud, intimidation, and violence as the
ruling elements of a popular election,
and all the striking features of Bourbon
ism at the South must be definitively
and honestly foresworn before the Re-
publican party will retire from the field.
In the meantime this party organiza-
ton, which on more than one occasion
has developed the rare faculty of cor
recting its own mistakes and Furnishing
its own offenders, will continue to pro-
tect its past achievements, which are
represented in the Constitution and laws
of the country, and will be quick to ap-
propriate all new issues looking to the
welfare of the American people.-Chi-
cago Tribune.
The discharge of thousands of poor
people who will be out of employment
by the retirement of A. T. Stewart &
Co., is the only feature of the case for
which Judge Hilton has any regrets
u. y. Herald.