The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-12-28
Judge Tonrgee on the Republican De-

. - - = - :
The late reverse has been frequently 4
compareI to that which befeI the Re-
q blican party in 1874 There is in
fact, no parallel between them. Then
there was no hostility. no rancor, no
clearly-de6ned line of internecine
strife. It was only lethargy. inaction,
or undefned dissatisfaction that brought
disaster then. There was no factional
bitterness displayed. The party fought
under terrible disadvantages. There
were some desertions; very many
shirked the conflict; men were pp-
pressed with terrible sburtle ;of fnan-
cial disaster, and vaguely hoped that
cfianoe might ,briniS Telief, but no one
whetted his knife for the slaaghter Of
his comratie, and no one feit when the;
|confiict was over that he had been hlade
q victim Of revenge or been betrayed
Eby the ambition or envy Ct IN ally
This state of feeling is one TINT is not
easily overcome. Nan are human.
Iswhether ..Stalwarta or {; Half .Breeds,s =
"a & - fAix A. q
portion of patriotism and honesty in
the one faction is not perceptibly dif-
| ferent from that in, the other. Men do
not readily forgive each other for call
| ing them either ''scoundrels' or ''trai-
tors" even though such appellations
are well deserved. Only the fusing heat
of some great national crisis can bring
the two factions together so as to act
harmoniously in the campaign of 1884.
There may be protestations of union.
The pipe of peace may be smoked in
crowded wigwams. The hatchet may
be buried with ceremonious ostenta-
ton. Kisses may be exchanged.
Sorrow and pardon and oaths of
fidelity may seem to mark a complete
recohcilement, but the lesson which the
.'Stalwarts' have been taught in '82,
the sslndependents" are morally certain
to learn in 'S4. The Republican par
ty, as distinctive political sorganiza-
ton, is as dead to-day as if Cheops had
been builded over its ashes There
exists now only one party-the Demo
cratic-which is warranted to resist all
change. no matter what the exposure.
Over against it are set two hostile fac
tions, either of which would rather the
Democracy should prevail than that the
other should triumph. Only some great
vital issue, some question having a mar
row of universal right can unite these
factions. 1t is by no means certain thai
such an issue can be raised during the
next two years. That such an issue
soiH not arise during that time woult
seem to be as morally certain as any
future human event can be. 1t is no
| as we would have had it. 1t will wrins
J many a heart to admit that the gran(
old party of human liberty is a thing o
the past. But it is better that it SHOULD
die of internal discord than of old age
1t has had stormy and eventful career
J and it were far better it should perisl
by dissension than die of dry rot. ON
consolation every member of either fac
! ton may take to himself-th Republic
an party might commit ha7i kari, but n,
. enemy was ever able to compass its de
: struction- The King is dead. We waitfo
, what shall come after If wisdom an,
patriotism prevail in the councils of tn
Democracy its opportunity has come
l With seventy -four per cent. of a major
8 ity securely IN its grasp m tfic States .
; the South, there is no apparent reasol
: why its term of power should not be a
: long as that which its late adversary ha
, just concluded by an act of f-destfnc
!, ton. Very few of either faction, it
8 probable, regard the result of the lat
e election with entire satisfaction. tn
t severance of established political asse
: Citations is sure to bring regret. N
$ friendships live longer than those whic
n bind earnest-minded partisans, to eac
g other. The man who is intense enoug
b to fight for an idea is sure to acquire a
S affection for his comrades in battle. Bt
: yond this there is perhaps little to be n
6 GREETED. When party has no commo
underlying ;dea-no specific moral pu
d pose to justify its future existence, ver
e little harm can result from its deatl
8 1.-The Lord reigns, the Government {
y Washington still lives,'' and the prol
g lems of the future await their solutio
= at the hands of the American peopl,
d without regard to the specific agencit
: they may employ to carry their will I'M
d effect.-Judge 1ourgee, in Our CohttHefl