The Owosso times., 1882-03-10
4 Word Of Caution.

uS'S WtS l'ioiisitSu w t.C VII III
number OF the atlantic Monthly
very able Political article entitled
<"rhe Political Situation" which we
earnestly commend as good reading
fpr those who believe that political
]Arties can driit along in this emil ght-
cned age. aud continue to be domi-
nant parties. by simply relying upon
taeit pas, record. or for those who
believe that parties must wait for
new issues TO present themselves. Ii
the present quiet means, that after
The fall elections Of 1882 are passed,
and il they shall prove that free cleo
tion, with an hlnest count Of the
votes cast, are the rule in the south
ard that the Democratic leaders
cannot check of The States of the
South in 1884 as they did in 1880
and say "these are solid for our
ticket because oar friends will carry
them" then the Republican party is
- ready to make issue upon the great
political issues which now present
themselves fer practical adjustment,
outside the issues growing out OF
she war. then all is WELL But the
managers ought to be we'll aware
that party composed Of such
intelligent and progressive men as
constitute the great body OF the
Republican organization, cannot be
made TO stand in battle array
and to englge,in vigorous campaigns
simply to officer that army and give
those officers the privilege Of parcel
ing out the subordinate positions to
their favorites AMI voting money to
this and that scheme simply to secure
the support Of local interests, nor
should the fict that the Democratic
party has lived for two decades, on
the mere expectation of winning at
the next election, tend to promote
any belief that the Republican party
can so live. Thoughtful men are
always considering what are the
things which now demand our atten-
ton; and while the Republican party
can justly "point with pride to its
wonderful achievements. We do not
believe it can live for a single
Presidential term upon any such
capital. 1t must be, to meet the
expectation of the masses Of the
party who are not politicians, wide
awake on all the active issues Of the
hour.
Many men apparently labor under
the delusion that the Republicans
ascendency has. for the past decade,
been maintained by a jndicious
distribution of ahe Offices, and that
all that is necessary to keep the
organization vigorous and intact is to
rely upon henchmen and their re-
tainers. They do not seem to realize
that this policy is seriously objection
able to very large class ofintelligent
voters who from principle have
acted with the Republican party,
and who have not revolted in the
past against the party management
because to do so would involve
disasters to the cause Of equal politi-
cal rights,to which they are profound
ly attached. 1t does not seem to
have occurred to these men that the
settlement Of the sectional issues
and the probable end of Bourbon
despotism and ostracism in the south
will soon bring the party to place
where it must take side on new issues.
Many very intelligent men believe
that the period of danger has passed,
and while we fear this opinion is a
little premature, yet there is no doubt
that the time has come when prompt
attention should be given to legisla-
ton in the interest of the producing
classes and for the prompt removal
of any abuses that may exist in any
sections Of the nation.
The "Atlantic" states what every
thoughtful and candid Republican
feels to be the truth when it says
"that the danger, for the party.is that
the progressive element will draw away
from the leader because the latter
will take sides against or occupy
neutral position with reference to
those reforms which must either
become party issues or lead to party
reorganization" To insist upon
continuing the machine and the boss
system will surely divide the party.
1t is true, and there is no denying
the fact, that the methods adopted
by a few leading Republicans in this
sta'e is disapproved by the mass OF
Republican voters. Will those men,
who regard themselves as leaders
take conizance Of the changes going
on in the political situation and get
into line with the progressive element
and thus ensure the Integrity and