Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-17
Mhn ShaIl r0ntrolf


GarfeId's plurality over Hancock was
so small as to be almost Insignificant. In
fact, Garfield was minority President.
Yet, owing to our peculiar electoral sys-
TEN, he secured handsome majority of
the votes of the States. His plurality on
the popular vote was secured by the Law
ish use of money in debauching voters
and by the high handed tyranny of the
privileged classes, who bullled numbers Of
their employees into supporting the Radi-
cal ticket against their honest convic-
tons. That party also. by every corrupt
means it could employ, secured control
of the present House and, by the notori-
Gus dicker with Malone, that of the Sen
ate, and Guiteau's pistol completed the
work. Yet, in the face of all these facts,
the Radical organs insist that the Repub-
lican party truly represents the masses.
But so far from this being true the
record of the party in the session of Con-
gress just closed was simply disgrace
full and outrageous. So shocking to
every sense of propriety was the conduct
of the majority that Republican jour
nails of the most pronounced type are
foremost in its denunciation. Yet, the
men that made up this majority are for
the most part seeking popular indorse-
ment in their respective districts, and
the very journals that now reproach
them will, when the time comes, be loud
est in their praise. The Republican ma
jority in Congress could have devoted
the last session to judicious and econom-
zeal legislation and relieved the people
from much of the burdens they have
borne so long. 1t chose otherwise, how
ever, and made assault after assault upon
the Treasury, until but modicum of the
great surplus it contained is left.
The people are aware of these startling
facts. To what conclusion as intelligent
men must they come? Eight years ago
they were confronted with an almost
similar state of affairs, and their action
was prompt and decisive. They rose in
their might and changed the arrogant
Republican majority into a sober minori-
ty Similar action is needed now.
There were reasons sufficient to persuade
the people to rebuke the Republican
party in 1880. Those reasons have been
strengthened hundred fold in the in.
terval.
but the Democratic party cannot be
trusted" cry the organs of Radicalism.
1t can certainly be relied on with far
more safety than can its opponents.
The Republican party has been trusted
not wisely but too well, and what is the
result? Since its restoration to power it
has plundered the Treasury of almost
the last dollar possible, while it has
steadily refused to legislate in the inter
ests of the masses. If the people can
not trust the Democratic party, whom
can they trustf The Democracy have
clear and well defined notions of popular
rights and the functions of government.
On the other hand the Republican party,
since its chief end was attained,
has lived on sectionalism, and
its notions of the structure
of our political system are crude and
pernicious. Its leaders are spoilsmen
pure and simple, ever ready to support
any job that promises profit. Their sins
have been so many that, were the party's
geographical distribution different, it
would long ago have been consigned to
merited obscurity.
There are but two parties in the coun-
try. The one has been tried repeatedly
and found wanting. 1t remains only
to try the other. If that proves recre-
ant, the people will still have remedy,
if they are true to themselves. Under
present conditions there are but two
choices. One has been made and it
would be folly to repeat it. Under these
circumstances there can be but one
answer to the question, who shall con-
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