The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-12-28
Ths stalwarts and Half.Breeds.

4d0tfOHS - cbttf f1s <tf " Anu = dHtl-
.StaIwarts, or = Half breeds were
dsvided what are the points at issne
betsgeen then. aHd the prospects Of
MOI 9ssI Issa s1s5', 5sqg; 4 ns WITHIN the
4seh, Sfl eoIIss lIsiiily no opp6sing s. S
81 course, I'M ossi BE 20 trace with ab-
tsa i aIas e & 's'Se1s en- !
Republican party is, however, suffici-
emily plain. As early as 1855, when
Fremont was candidate for the Presi-
dency, Republicans were by no means
a unit in feeling, except SO far as beat
ing the Democracy was concerned.
One wing, composed of the old Aboli-
tionists and their sympathizers, favored
the immediate extinguishment of
slavery; while the other, composed of
old Wings and converted Democrats,
was content with preventing the extern
sion of slavery into free territory. In
the campaign of 1860 the two wings were
still at odds on this question, and the
Conservatives, as they may be called,
had their hands full in keeping such
radicals as Owen Lovejoy and others
from doing fatal damage on the stump.
In Illinois, for instance, it was consid-
cred doubtful and dangerous expert
ment to let Loveioy speak as far south
as Alton, and not until he had promised
to be discreet did the Republican man
ayers give him permission. The cleo
ton of Lincoln and immediate breaking
out of the war tenn porarily suspended
the family disagreement, but it will be
remembered that one of the most seri-
GUS difficulties with which the new Ad-
ministration had to contend was the
persistent grumbling and interference
of the Abolitionists. They charged
Lincoln, who was born in Kentucky,
with being "a Southern man, under
Southern Influences" therefore un-
worthy and unfit to lead strug-
| gle baptized in the sacred blood of
john Brown. His unconquerable pa
tience and marvellous tact enabled him
to hold his worriers at bay until the
war was virtually over, but had he lived
year longer they would have forced
him to yield to their demands OF
made his second term more uncom-
Portable than the first. The experience
of johnson in attempting to carry out
Lincoln's Southern policy shows what
was in store for his predecessor. When
the Fifteenth Amendment and Civil
Rights laws had supplemented en1arlci.
patton, the radical Repu licans concen
trated their efforts upon the South
which owes to them the ineffable infa
mics OF "reconstruct!on.1 from 1861
to 1874 the party was to all intents af1e
i purposes radiealized, though there wa.
always a respectable minority having
conservative procivities5 and occasion
ally making feeble effort in the direc
ton of reform. Grants second term
for reasons not necessary to mention
brought heavy reinforcements to thi
minority and threatened to change tn
balance of power. Then it was tina
Blaine, bitten by the Presidential taran
tuia, endeavored to rally the Radical
around his flag and bestowed upon then
the name they have since borne. Th
man whom ''Staiwarts'' now hate wit
!. intense and inexorable bitterness
was the first 'Stalwart, and the nom
ination of Hayes over Blaine in 1877
was the first Stalwart defeat
When an immortal crime had place
a usurper in the Executive chair tn
Stalwart and anti Stalwart Republican
assumed the relative positions the
occupy to-day. Hayes sided with til
ants; released the south from the. bay
onet and carpet-bag yoke, patronize
reform in small way, snubbed Conk
ling, and took no stock in the thir
term business. Among the Stalwart
, it may be said that
. :" None knew him but to curse him;
None named him but to damn"
Directly and indirectly, however, b
I contrived to pay bacS. his enemies wit
interest. and probably considered hin
} self ''even' when the second Stalwal
defeat came in the nomination of Ga
, field over Grant. Of the brief trump
of the antis, the longer triumph of the
opponents, and the earthquake whic
. has lately flung both factions "in
, heap" it is needless to speak. AS the
now stand. what is il each represents
This question is easier asked than al
swered. but it is sufficient for our pre-
! ent purpose to say that Stalwartism
understood to mean, in one shape {
another, boss and machine" rul,
the Civil Service just as it is. jul
, enough reform in that and other thine
, to fool the people, ''the spoils system
| in its utmost perfection, and any devit
short of actual force that will 'restol
Republican supremacy in the Soutl
t Anti -Stalwartism is understood to mea
e the destruction of "boss'' and en-
: chine" rule. some important changes
q the Civil-service Department, some re-
. reform there and elsewhere, and lettin
:. the South in general and the negrot
in particular entirely alone. Her
: then, is a wide and deep gulf, til
first indications of which were visib
: twenty six years ago, and through wh; {
flows the stream of accumulated diffe
e ences. jealous;es and hatreds. Ho
v may this gulf now deepened and wi,
: ened by crushing disaster for whic
f each faction blames the other-be su
: cessfully and permanently bridgec
d This is the problem that is puzzling r
publican engineers. and must be solve
in time for the coming presidential co
test. Whether it can be or not the ne
, eighteen months viii tell. Meanwhi
|, a united and iubilant Democracy a
, preparing with conf dent courage
{ meet and beat the enemy in whatev
shape he may present himself. To 6
human appearance nothing but Dem
! cratic folly OF the worst type can p eve
3 a Democratic victory in 1884 as decisi'
, as that of 1SS2.-SL Louis RepubIica
q -Cloaks lined with ostrich feathe
, are now in style, but the worst of Il
, fashion is that if woman leaves it u
buttoned she is accounted shoddyi
, more anxious for vulgar display tha
+ comfort, while, if she keeps it buttone
it might just as well be lined with r,
flannel, for no one can see it.
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