National Republican., 1882-04-10
Fight the Enemy for n While.


turbing some, but as to that the main
body of the people care nothing.
Boss" Wolfe is bowling in Pennsyl-
vania against bossism, by which he
means that any man placed in high sta
ton by the people must be Immediately
torn down, on the ground that his eleva-
ton proves him TO be boss. a consid-
cradle number of voters are confused by
the jingle of words but they may, and
doubtless will, come to their senses long
before election day, and will wonder why
the whims and caprices of Wolfe should
concern anybody but himself
In New York there are few malcon-
tents, and these have nothing left TO
stand on. President Arthur refuses to
fulfill the predictions of enemies who
thought he would be governedby motives
as paltry as their own in the exercise of
the appointing power Some complain
because he will not recognize fidelity to
faction as claim to Office. This they do
by insisting that, instead of making
merit and fitness the only tests, he must
further examine applicants and ascertain
how they voted at Chicago in 1880 or
how they stood with reference to the
struggle between men on that occasion.
But this will only excite popular derision.
Those who are clamoring for places as q
reward for having been on a particular
side of the convention at Chicago are the
very men who have most vehemently
protested against having appointments
based on any such considerations.
The President need only go to the
platform of the Chicago convention for
his vindication when complained of for
refusing to give offices as pay for votes at
that convention. The Massachusetts
delegation insisted upon and obtained
an amendment to the platform as re-
ported, which concludes with demand
for the cooperation Of the legislative
with the executive department Of the
Government, and that Congress shall so
legislate that fitness, ascertained by
proper practical tests, shall admit to the
public service"
During the debate on this question Mr..
Flanagan, of Texas, said: "After we have
won the race-as we will-we will give
those who are entitled to positions office.
What are we up here for?"
But when the debate was ended, and
the convention had decided that fit
ness " should be the sole qualification for
the public service, Mr.. Flanagan said no
more. 1t remained for Whiteaw Reid
and few other chronic GROWERS to re-
vive the cry on behalf of "the majority at
Chicago" and to cry out from day to
day: "What were we there for" if our
support of Blaine, Sherman and Garfield
is not to be rewarded with Office? Per-
haps the Tribune man has not appreciated
the close resemblance between his present
complainings and Mr.. Flanagan's ex-
pressed position. Mr.. Flanagan ac-
quiesced in the decision of the convention,
while Mr.. Reid and his few associates
rebel and insist on knowing what use it
was for men to have voted for Garfield,
as last resort, if they cannot
now get offices as compensation for such
faction service.
The question of adherence or oppos-
ton to one man or another is not a vital
one. A man may be a very good Re-
publican without fighting for any par
ticular man to be the next President.
What is most wanted is an occasional
manifestation of hostility to the old
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Democracy.
If certain great editors, claiming to be
Garfield Republicans" would make an
impress upon public affairs let them sus-
pend their fierce assaults upon Republi-
cans and deal few blows at our ancient
enemy. They can only restore the Bour-
bons to power by their constant efforts
to inhame Republicans with lust for
Foflice which cannot be gratied for want
of Offices enough to 60 around.
For our own part, THE NATIONAL RE-
PUBLICAN shall not contribute to divisions
within the party. 1t will not be silent
when wanton assaults are made upon
men, calculated to create dissensions but
it has never commenced controversy
concerning men, and it never will. We
repeat that the best work Republican
editors can do now is to manifest little
hostility occasionally to the Bourbon
Democracy. That is what will best please
the main body of the Republicans of the
country.
A RECENT fire in Mobile is said to have